We have taken on an allotment. Well, half an allotment, but that's plenty for us. It is totally overgrown, but 10 years ago, when it was last cultivated, some kind soul put down layers of carpet to keep the weeds at bay. And while it didn't exactly do that it did at least mean that the weeds have grown on TOP of the carpet. So it's a carpet of weeds on top of the carpet. So my friend and accomplice in this project and I have been pulling up layers of organic and inorganic carpet to reveal the nearly intact soil beneath. Only a few very determined weed roots, like some nettles, have made it through the carpet layer to the soil, so when we get to the digging stage of things it's not going to be too bad...
It's still really hard work, and we are discovering that we are weak little girls! One of the resident allotmenteers came over and helped out one morning, and such a difference a man's muscles made! Every one we have met down there has been really friendly and welcoming and happy to chat and offer advice and vegetables. Gotta love it! So far I have come home with 3 courgettes (zucchini for you Americans!) and a huge bundle of dark purple beans. Plus the promise of as many strawberry runners as I can be bothered to pot up. Our neighbours are Carol next door, and Helen and Denise across the path.
So far I have only taken Pip and Dude down with me while I have been working, since I can trust them to either help out, or at least hunt worms and stay in the vicinity. Spike is more of a 'free spirit' as yet, and is more likely to wander off and go picking blackberries from someone else's patch! So he comes down with us when we just go for a look, and a walk, for a chat to people, and for picking wild blackberries. All of the boys love it down there. This morning we took another friend and her three kids, and it will be nice to get them all down there to work/play/look for worms/have snail races etc...
Back on the home front the potato leaves have died down, but the potatoes underneath seem intact, so we have been digging them up as and when we need them, and they are so delicious, and so abundant. Potato growing is brilliant. Stick one small baby potato in the ground in late March or so, pile lots of dirt on top of them, ignore them for 3 or 4 months, dig up and find 20 to 30 times what you put in! If only the chap in the bible had invested his talent in a seed potato then when he buried it in the ground it would have been a different ending to the story!
My onions have also been very successful. Small tiny little onionlet put into the ground in spring, large fat mega-onion comes out late summer!
Our carrots on the other hand have been less than successful. I think our soil is too clayey. Not very impressive. Besides, for the same space that an onion takes up you only get one carrot. And while this is fine for an onion (you generally only need one onion per meal cooked) having only one carrot in your dinner is ... well ... not so great. So I think carrots are off my allotment list.
The tomatoes are big and green, but showing potential signs of blight... not great. Hopefully if it develops I can save what we have by picking it green and leaving them to ripen on the kitchen window-sill.
Borlotti beans have not been hugely prolific. Probably didn't like sharing the canes with the sugar snaps (which have all finished now). What they have done has been very pretty though. I will probably save some of the seed to grow again next year... if I don't have any seeds left. Must look through my leftover seed collection!
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