This page is intended as a brief follow-up to 'A Year in the Life of our Plot 2000' to keep you up-todate with what is happening on our plot. Click here to go to the year 2002
JANUARY-FEBRUARY. 2001
For most of the first 2 months of the year our plot has been under water due to the very wet Winter. However, by the last week in February the ground is beginning to drain and dry out sufficiently in places for us to get some work done. John has taken advantage of the wood chippings which the council left on our site last Summer and has laid them on the paths which we had not paved. This has helped to soak up a fair amount of excess water and we are able to walk without sinking in the mire. Strips of old carpet were laid first to suppress weeds with a good 3 inches of chippings on top.
I have made an early start on some planting. Shallots, Red Onion sets and Parsnips. The weather has now turned cold and frosty and although parsnips take about 6 weeks to germinate, should they fail there will still be time to re-sow later.
The Hebe hedge at the entrance to our plot is now getting very woody so I have taken it out and replanted with cuttings I took at the end of last Summer. These have been over wintering in the greenhouse and have made good size plants. They are quick growing and by next year should give me a nice new hedge with purple mauve flowers the bees love.
We have also made 2 trips to the local stables to start replenishing our stocks of horse manure.
MARCH.
The first week in the month has been bitterly cold, no work has been carried out on the plot but I have been busy in the greenhouse making early sowings of Broad Beans -The Sutton, Beetroot -Bolthardy, Spring Onion - Lisbon, Cauliflower - Tulcan and Cabbage - Earliest of All, in the hope they will be ready when the weather warms up to plant out later in the month. John has started to repair the supporting posts which were damaged in the Winter gales and to erect the frames ready for Runner Beans, Peas and Tomatoes later on.
20th March and it is the first day
of Spring. What more can the weather throw at us. We have had,
rain, sleet snow and gales. The plot is again flooded and we are
unable to get anything done.
APRIL
Easter week-end and at last we have been able to get on the plot. Water levels around the shed and the paths have gone down although they are still squelchy to walk on. We have added large quantitites of compost to the highest point on 2 beds and covered with cloches in an attempt to dry out sufficiently to plant and keep out any more rain that decides to fall.
I have made a start by sowing carrots 'Rondo' the small round
ones, broad beans ' The Sutton', these I have had growing on in
pots in the greenhouse. Also cauliflower 'Tulcan' and cabbage
'Earliest of All'. The early potatoes have also been planted.
We are trying Jersey Royals for the first time this year and our
old favourites Rocket, Foremost and Aran Pilot. The parsnips failed
to germinate so I will have to try again.
At least the bulbs and polyanthus have survived the wet conditions and given us a lovely Spring display.
I think we have to count our blessings and be thankful our beds are raised. Most of our neighbouring plots a still very much under water as the next picture shows.
The last week in April and we have been able to finish digging over all the beds. I have re sown the parsnips, planted out spring onions, beetroot and stump rooted carrots which I have grown on in modules in the greenhouse. Main crop potatoes, Desiree are now in and the peas which I started off in pots and planted under a cloche are doing well. They are now ready to have the twigs put in for support.
On the fruit plot the Plum and Cherry
blossom has been a picture and so far with no frost we are ever
hopeful of a good crop this year. Goosberries are beginning to
form well and I am keeping a watchful eye for the sawfly which
can devastate a bush over night. I have planted out a few Gazania
but I will leave most of the bedding plants till next month.
MAY
The second week in the month and the weather has at last been kind to us. We have enjoyed long dry sunny days. Making the most of it, I have been planting out the remaining vegetables which were started in the greenhouse in pots. Broad beans, French beans, Celeriac, Lettuce Tomatoes and Courgettes. I have also made further sowings of carrots. All the potatoes have had been earthed up and pea sticks are now in place.
I am concerned that the gooseberry leaves have turned brown and the fruitlets have browned as well and dropped off. If anyone can throw any light on this problem for me I would be pleased to hear from you. We have not had any frost which could have caused it.
The last week in May and we are praying
for rain. The ground is so hard it is like trying to plant into
concrete. I have made a sowing of Runner Beans and planted out
leeks and kale. We are continueing to loose more fruit. As well
as the gooseberries 3 apple trees, 2 red currants and the raspberries
have all died off. I have taken advice from the Whispering Nurseries
in Norfolk and they tell me it is probably due to being water
logged for so long and no air could get to the roots. Ironically
we should have been watering well if there was any signs of life
to save them. It is to late now so John has been hard at work
taking them all out. We will replace the trees with a pot grown
apple and plum, and replant the soft fruit in the Autumn.
JUNE
The first 2 weeks of the month and we have still not had any rain, watering is the number one priority. I have managed to finish planting the winter veg. sprouts, more leeks and main crop carrots, Autumn King. Broad beans and peas are beginning to fill out and to keep the pigeons from stripping everything in sight I have covered as much as possible with fleece and netting. John has now re-planted 2 trees, Apple 'Winter Gen' and Plum 'Czar'.
.
The last week in June has been very hot and still no rain but
we have at last been rewarded for our labours and have started
harvesting our first new potatoes Foremost, also carrots, cabbage,
beetroot, spring onions, lettuce, courgettes and lots of broad
beans. The plot is now looking more colourful and attracting the
bees and insects. For a selection of photographs taken on 26th
June, 2001 please click here
JULY
The first 2 weeks, and our main concern is for the long grass on the vacant plots not just on our site but all the others in Gosport as well. Everywhere is tinder dry and representations have been made to the council to have the plots strimmed.
We are continueing to harvest. The broad beans and peas are now finished and safely stored in the freezer. Blackfly has been the main pest problem this year and rather than leave the old beans and peas in the ground we have taken them out and put them in the compost bin. I have had a good crop of cherries despite the birds taking their share. Netting was put on one tree but somehow they still managed to help themselves.
The last week in July and we are basking in hot sunshine, ideal weather to finish drying off the shallotts. These I laid out on an upturned bread basket to allow a good air flow.
The runner beans are now in full flower
and although they have been attacked by the blackfly, I am glad
I resisted spraying as now the hover flies have arrived in droves
and are enjoying a great feast. The plants have recovered and
now look very healthy. We have also taken delivery of another
trailer load of horse manure which has kept John busy topping
up the compost bins which he has layered with plenty of grass
cuttings collected from a nearby Sheltered Housing Association
gardens.
AUGUST.
The month has got off to a great start with the news that for the second time we have been awarded first prize for our allotment in the Hampshire Federation of Horticultural Societies competition.
Throughout the month we have been harvesting Runner beans, tomatoes, carrots, beetroot etc. It is taking up a great deal of our time now keeping it all well watered during the dry spells for a continous supply. The birds have kindly left the Victoria plums alone and we have had a very good crop of large juicy fruit to enjoy. I have also prepared a new strawberry bed, digging in plenty of rotted compost and planted out good sized plants which I had taken runners from excisiting healthy plants. All onions have been lifted and dried off and are now waiting to be plaited on to strings.
Sadly we have lost one of oldest plotholders
this month. Reg Harris died aged 86 and had been at Elson for
more than 35 years. He had been riding his bike and working his
plot right up untill the end of July. Reg. will be very much missed
by us all.
SEPTEMBER.
The first 2 weeks of the month have been mainly to continue to harvesting for a regular supply of beans etc. We have also picked some large Williams pears. On a warm day eaten straight from the tree - mmm... delicious. I have well prepared a new bed for the Autumn onions, plenty of compost was dug in and a good scattering of chicken manure raked into the top surface before planting Senshyu and Radar sets. I have also planted 2 rows 'on trial' an un-named variety from Marshalls.
We are also helping out our neighbour Ray, who is in the throws of moving house. We have agreed to work half his plot untill as such time he can take it over again. Hopefully it will prevent the undergrowth from encroaching on to our plot.
Before 
after
first clearing
OCTOBER
