Can't go out to play

Even though it has rained all day, it was not going to stop the Sunday trip to the allotment. We made some grow bags out of rubble sacks, filled with compost and then stapled at the end. Now that the beans are ready to be moved out of the little greenhouse we can fit six grow bags in there with four tomatoes in each, that makes lots of tomatoes. They really were looking very tired and limp on the kitchen window sill so they have moved to their new home quite happily. It also means that we no longer need to have the light on in the kitchen and daylight floods in again.

Unfortunately, the sprouts and cabbages have had to stay confined as it was just too muddy. No hoeing either so the only other thing to do was potter in the greenhouse. Or sit and balance a hanging basket on your head. Which ever takes your fancy.

Another exciting thing happened today (not allotment related); we have a dove nesting in the clematis outside the kitchen window. We haven't noticed it before due to the curtain of tomatoes blocking the view. All day long it has been going back and forth with twigs in its mouth in and out of the hold it has made. Good in one way that we will be able to watch its comings and going, bad in two ways, we will have to make sure that the cats don't take a liking to baby doves, and we will need to put a bird toilet on the ground or the lavender will not be smelling as sweet as last year.








The title of today's entry is not strictly true. We did have an exciting start to the day when we got up and out at 10am to go to the OBAGS (Old Basing Allotment Gardeners Society) plant sale. We splashed out on membership at £2 for the year, which was well worth it as we can use the shop, which is open every Sunday from 10am-12 noon, for great prices on all sorts of essentials such as blood, fish and bone, grit, canes, fleece and much much more, at greatly reduced prices. We treated outselves to a hanging basket complete with liner and two trailing toms (another £2 for the lot) a couple of garden plants and a lemon grass. It was also a chance to catch up on the news from our great friend Len Brickell (fellow bowler) who runs the shop now that he can't manage to garden. Still rolls a mean bowl though!

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Almost forgot the really big news of the day - you remember the walking stick cabbage, they have germinated and we have more than I expected. In fact, I think we have enought to give everybody a walking stick, make a deep bear trap and create an avenue as an entrance to the allotment. The bad news is that they are no longer on special offer, so if you missed buying them, you will have to pay the full £1.99.