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-
- DIARY
2010


-
- As this will be my 20th year on the plot my aim
now is to continue to produce
- a good variety of crops throughout the year but
with the least amount of effort (if that is possible)
- allowing me to take a little time out to sit back
and relax. Any tips and advice very welcome.
- Please
comments@saundersallotment.co.uk
-
- JANUARY,
-
- 2009 ended with the plot being flooded
once again. It will be impossible to get on the ground for some
time yet but in the meantime I have taken delivery of another
load of manure which has been put in the compost bins to rot
down ready for the Spring mulching. January is not a good time
to be sowing many seeds as the light levels are so low at this
time of the year and seedlings will only become leggy but onions
can be sown in a cold greenhouse now if you can give them maximum
light but I prefer to leave mine till early March.
- A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
- 12th Hampshire Potato Day. Sat 30th
& Sun 31st January 2010. 10am - 3pm. at Testbourne Community
Centre, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch
- Entry adults £2, accompanied
children free.
- For more information http://www.potatoday.org/
-
- Second week and we are now in the grip of the 'Big Freeze'.
Water unable to drain away is now frozen solid. I am able to
pick sprouts, leeks, carrots, swede and celeriac but parsnips
are impossible to dig and will have to wait till the ground has
thawed.
.
.
- 24th of the month and now since the thaw we have
had more heavy rain the plot is flooded again. I have rescued
most of the remaining crops which just leaves the leeks as they
are on slightly higher ground.
-
- FEBRUARY
-
- The month has started with the flood
waters receding but the ground is still saturated. I have been
able to make some headway in clearing the spent crops and generally
clearing up. Much of the wood edgings are now rotting and need
replacing.
- Seed potatoes can now be placed
in boxes and set in a light but frost free place to chit. Mine
are in the greenhouse with a piece of fleece ready should the
nights turn cold again. I shall be growing Juliette, a second
early and 2 old favourites Foremost and Desiree.
- The month ended with yet more heavy
rain and ground is now so saturated it will be some weeks before
I can get on the soil.
-
- MARCH
-
- I would normally be thinking about
starting off some of the earlier summer vegetables in the greenhouse
now but as my plot is so wet I will be much later planting out
this year I shall leave most of them for another 2 weeks or so.
In the meantime I have set out onion sets into modules and sown
peas Greenshaft 5 to a 3" pot. Mid-month I shall be sowing
in the cold greenhouse, cabbage 'Golden Acre', Cauli 'Snowball',
Kohl Rabi 'Kolibri' , beetroot 'Bolthardy', lettuce 'Little Gem'
leeks 'Mamouth Pot'. In gentle heat tomatoes and celeriac. Towards
the end of the month if conditions are right I shall sow parsnips
and carrots outside.
- After waiting more than a year I
have now received my new raspberries from Marshalls; pot grown
'Glencoe' clump forming with purple fruits. I will have to delay
planting till conditions are better but I hope it will be worth
the wait. I will also be planting a new plum tree 'President'.
- A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY.
- The G.A.H. & G.A. will be holding
their Spring Gardening talk on Tuesday 23rd March at HEDCA, Coombe
Road Gosport. The guest speaker will be a return visit by Mr.
Barry Newman who will talk on 'The Modern Kitchen Garden'. Admission
is free to members and £1.00 to non-members. All are very
welcome.
-
- Last week of the month and Spring
has finally arrived The plot is now a blaze with sunshine from
a glorious display of daffs giving me the encouragement I needed
to get started.
- I have given the 2 sheds and compost
bins their annual coat of wood preservative,
- planted out the potatoes and well
mulched. I now plant with a trowel to make things easier for
me. Making the hole as deep as possible before inserting the
tuber and filling in. I have then earthed up to a good 9 or 12"
before mulching well with rotted compost/manure. They shouldn't
need any more attention now till I start to lift the first new
potatoes end of June/July which reminds me to divide and repot
the mint to have a good supply of young leaves ready to go with
them.
- Onion sets started off in modules have been planted out
and I have made a sowing of parsnips.
- The plum tree 'President' has been set between two stakes
to support it. There are several ways to do this but on our windy
exposed site I find this method holds the root firmly but allows
the top to bend without fear of it snapping in the strong winds.
- I harvested the first Purple Sprouting on the 30th which
is late this year but this should now encourage more shoots to
grow and give me a plentiful supply for at least 3-4 weeks.
- APRIL
-
- Easter week-end has started very
wet and windy and not a chance of getting on the plot but there
is plenty to do in the greenhouse pricking out earlier sowings.
Tomatoes, cauli, cabbage, kohl rabi, etc. can all now be potted
on. Setting them deep up to their seed leaves into 3" pots.
This will encourage further roots to develop giving a stronger
plant to set out at the end of the month. Leeks are best pricked
out when at their crook stage.
- I have now sown the first french
beans, courgettes and butternut sqash. 2 seeds to a 3" pot.
These prefer a little warmth so should the nights turn cold I
shall bring them indoors for protection.
- 6th of the month and although still
very windy I have been able to plant out the first beetroot 'Bolthardy'started
off in modules and the peas 'Greenshaft' supporting them well
with twiggy sticks and covering with netting to prevent bird
damage later on.
-
.
.
- For a selection of photos
taken on April 21st click
here
-
- The last 2 weeks of the month have
been glorious. I have been able to plant out the first cauli,
cabbage, pak choi and kohl rabi all under fleece as they still
need protection from the colder nights, pigeons and the flea
beetle. I also set them under a cage of netting as we have young
fox cubs now and they are attracted to the fleece to play on.
Unfortunately they managed to tear the netting and completely
demolish the fleece tunnels and I had to renew them all. (see April Photos)
The soil is warming up now and I have made a sowing of carrots.
- Back in the greenhouse, celeriac
is now ready to be potted on into 3" pots. Don't be tempted
to plant out too early as they do not like the cooler temperatures
at night until well established. I shall wait till the end of
May before planting out.
- MAY
-
- A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - GAH&GA will be holding a plant and gardening
sundries sale on Sunday 9th May from 10.30 am at the Brockhurst
site stores in Military Road. The stores will be open the day
before from 10.30 am to take in any spare plants, seedlings,
gardening sundries you may have to donate or please pass them
to your site storeman or bring them on the day. Bargains to be
had. Everyone is very welcome.
-
- Back on the plot, May is the time
to be thinking about hanging up Pheromone Traps in apple and
plum trees and ensure any grease bands that have been applied
are free from any debri. Check all soft fuit canes are securely
tied in to take the weight of the coming fruit. Remove dead and
dying leaves from strawberries, water well and mulch.
- I shall be taking a holiday to America
for the first time later this month so I am planting out as much
as I can before I go and fingers crossed there will be no more
heavy frosts. I will delay sowing any more vegetables now till
I come back. About mid-May is the time to be thinking about sowing
sprouts, swede all the winter brassicas and to make further sowings
of french and runner beans, carrots, kohl rabi, pak choi, fennel
and all the salads.
- 17th - Unfortunately last week we
did have some very cold nights and although my courgettes and
some tomatoes were under cover I have lost most of them. Fortunately
I did keep back some spare plants in the greenhouse so I have
been able to replant. A lesson learned. Celeriac is another one
that really doesn't like the cold so I am holding back planting
these until June now. Autumn sown onions are growing away nicely
now but some are throwing up seed heads; these must be nipped
off. The bulbs won't store but will give a usable crop for the
summer months.
- JUNE
-
- Back from my holiday to find everything
including the weeds are growing away at a rate of knots. I spent
the first day weeding trying to avoid disturbing the soil as
much as possible as there has been little or no rain while I
have been away and with an over-flowing greenhouse I am now planting
out as fast as I can. Everything needs a good thorough watering
in. Celeriac, lettuce, beans, fennel, butternut squash and courgettes
have been the first. Still to plant out are the sprouts and leeks.
The asparagus is still cropping well and I shall continue to
harvest until about the middle of the month before stopping to
allow the spears to grow on into the fern.
- On the fruit plot the cherries are
starting to fill out and will need to be netted before the birds
get to them; as will the red currants but first I like to prune
the new growth back by about 2 thirds. The first of the Strawberries
'Marshmello' are starting to ripen. Goosberries are still quite
small and will need a good soaking to help them to fill out.
-
- 19th of the month and I have made
the last picking of the asparagus. Now I shall leave the spears
to grow into fern.
- I have now lost all the courgettes,
pumpkin and some of the tomatoes to the wild life. Foxes and
badges are doing their worst again. 3 new baby badgers have been
seen this year. As far as we can tell we now have 3 sets at least
at Elson. Not to be beaten I am netting and caging as much as
I can including 3 butternut which so far have survived but it
is an uphill struggle.
- On the up side I am now harvesting,
baby new potatoes, beetroot, carrots, lettuce, kohl rabi, cabbage
and strawberries.
- JULY
-
- I can't remember when we last had
any rain and most crops are really struggling now. Watering only
those that really need it are a priority. A good watering once
a week is better than a dribble each day.
- I have now planted out the last
of the leeks under fleece, more kohl rabi, pack choi and beetroot.
Tomatoes need to be tired in regularly now and their side shoots
pinched out. I have made two good pickings of the peas, these
don't seem to have suffered at all with the lack of water. I
think the thick mulching when planted out has benefited them.
- The soft fruit is becoming a short
season with the strawberries all but finished and gooseberries
just not filling out, still at the marble size stage I have picked
them all. Tayberries, Loganberries and redcurrants so far are
looking good and although the cherries are slow to ripen there
will be a reasonable crop.
- 8th of the month and I have all
but picked the last cherry. They have been fantastic. Firm juicy
fruit; the birds have been kind to me this year and left them
alone even though I didn't get around to netting them.
- 'Sunburst'.
- Although a bit late I have replanted
the courgettes and pumpkin which the badgers destroyed. I may
be lucky to get a late crop. I shall delay sowing main crop carrots
till we have had some rain.
- 21st of the month and still no rain.
The plot is looking very dried up now. Lettuce is bolting and
the french beans are slow to fill out. The one crop
- that is looking good is the sprouts
and again I think this is due to a good watering when the the
plants first went in. I have pulled the last of the early carrots
but the fennel and cabbage is holding well and I have plenty
of beetroot. The foxes have dug up most of my onions so although
a bit early I have laid them out to to ripen.
- The first of the early tomatoes
Red Alert are ripening now. I have planted out Minicole cabbage
which should be ready to give me an Autumn crop and stand through
the first half of the Winter. Because of the lack of rain I have
sown some quick maturing carrots Amsterdam Forcing in large pots.
- On the fruit plot the new raspberry
canes are doing well. Glen Magna and the bush forming Glencoe
which has made good growth and although not supposed to need
any support I have given them some to avoid being blown over
in the high winds. The blackberry is now ripening and doesn't
seem to be suffering from the lack of moisture. The French Marigolds
are giving a welcome splash of colour despite not having been
watered.
- For more photos of the plot
taken on 21st July click
here
-
- AUGUST
-
- A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY.
- The G.A.& G.A. will be holding
their Annual Summer Show on Saturday 14th August at the Alverstoke
Parish Centre. Show schedule and entry forms can be obtained
from any of the site stores or telephone Steve Broughton on 02392587662.
To make the day even more enjoyable there will be lots of other
things going on in the gardens including The Bee Keepers Assoc.,
advice on keeping chickens at home, rabbit breeding, a Woodcraftsman,
the Gosport Floral Art Club, (bring you own flowers along and
they will show you have to arrange them) the Recycling Team from
Gosport Council and the Gosport In Bloom team. The usual light
refreshments and a raffle. Not a day to be missed.
-
- Back on the plot it is still very
dry. Must be 3 months now since we last had any appreciable rain
fall. The animals are still doing their worst and destroying
the lower tomatoes but they are ripening and I am now picking
a reasonable crop. French beans are doing well still and the
runners are just starting to form their pods. August is usually
a month to sit back and enjoy the summer crops but there is still
plenty to do. Now the raspberries and tayberries have finished
I have cut down the old canes and started to tie in the new ones.
Blackberries are in full swing and with the start of the jam
and chutney making season I have been busy preserving some into
chutney. My new plum 'Beauty' is living up to it's name providing
me with the first fruits of the season. A tedious job but a very
necessary one it to start thinning the grapes. Last year I didn't
have the time and ended up with masses of tiny fruits, this year
I am determined to do better.
- In the greenhouse the purple sprouting
is slow this year but should be ready to plant out in the next
week or so and I have lots of wallflowers waiting to be pricked
out.
.
. .
- Tayberry new canes tied
in and the Grapes before thinning.
-
- 6th of the month. Although I am
later this year I have now planted out the purple sprouting;
because the ground is so dry it was very necessary to dig a large
hole a good spade depth adding 2 watering cans full of water,
allowing to drain before setting the plants deeply then another
full can of water before mulching well. This should encourage
the roots to go down and chase the moisture. I am now starting
to lift main crop potatoes Desiree.
-
- Despite most of us struggling to
find sufficient crops to enter the Annual Flower Show was a great
success a again this year with many new comers exhibiting. for
more photos click here.
- Very unusual squash. The
seed was brought back from South Africa. Very hard skin which
needs a saw to cut through it but I am told the flesh is delicious
roasted.
-
- I am disappointed with the yield
from the Disiree potatoes. Although the tubers are of a good
size the yield is down I think by at least a third.
- Having mentioned this to other plotholders
is seems I am not alone.
- Now we have had a little rain the
beans are coming thick and fast and need to be picked daily to
keep them cropping well.
- Watch out for catterpillers on brasicas;
even if they have been netted the butterflies have ways a means
on getting in.
- I'm now planting out wallflowers
for some Spring colour next year.
- On the fruit plot, figs are ripening
now in abundance and need picking regularly. They give off a
delicious aroma when completely ripe. Victoria plums are just
starting to ripen and I have picked the first Williams pear.
- 'Brown Turkey'.
- SEPTEMBER
-
- With a definite feel Autumn is approaching
many of the summer crops are coming to an end and need clearing
to the compost bin. When digging the last of the main crop potatoes
make sure none of the little tiny ones are left in as these will
produce 'volunteer' plants next year and can be a nuisance to
remove. I have taken delivery of 3 tons of 3-4 year old well
rotted horse manure; this I shall be spreading over any vacant
ground now. Keep picking runner beans to keep them cropping and
remove the lower leaves on celeriac to encourage the roots to
swell.
- On the fruit plot cut down all the
old fruiting canes, select the strongest to tie in for next year
and give a good mulch if possible. I have picked the last of
the Victoria plums and removed any rotting fruit that will mumify
over winter. The first of the Williams pears are ripening and
these need to be used as soon as possible as they don't keep
well. Picked on a warm sunny day and eaten fresh from the tree
are delicious. The figs are still cropping well and I need to
make the second thinning of the grapes. I am picking the first
of the 'Rev Wilks' apples to enjoy as baked apples. These are
ready for picking when they come away easily when cupped in the
hand and given a gentle twist.
- I have ordered more strawberry plants
to replace the ones the badgers have destroyed and purchased
more daffodil bulbs to replace the ones they have eaten.
- For more photos taken at the beginning
of September click here
-
- [Home Page]
[A Year in the Life
of our plot 2000] [Diary 2001]
[Diary 2002] [Diary
2003][Diary 2004][Diary
2005][Diary 2006][Diary
2007] [Diary 2008][Diary
2009][2010][Typical
Plots on the Elson Site][Up-dated
information for Gosport & the Elson site] [Gosport's
Allotment Sites][G.A.H. &
G. Assoc Newsletters] [Wild
Life Area] [Conservation
Project] [Badgers] [Ray's Plot] [Links
Page][Hints & Tips][Archives]