We're back

After a long period of allotment lethargy, we are back this year with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

The greenhouse is bursting at the seams and what a difference a week makes.

One side is taken up with dahlias potted up in March.

Mostly named varieties but some are random bits that I found in the bottom of bags so could turn out to be any size, shape or colour.















 Just a month later and they are all springing to life along with a rather large nettle which has got through the gap at the bottom of the glass.


Too early to go outside yet but the space is desperately needed.

Taking a step back to the reason why there is a blue tarpaulin under the puts and how the greenhouse looked in February, this is the mess of bindweed that I pulled out - Yuk.











We decided that this year was the time to invest a little but of money in making raised beds.  We have a fantastic sawmill not far away so drove down and picked up 2 x 12ft lengths per bed cut to 8ft long by 4 ft wide.  I am not sure that it is what Alfa Romeo had in mind when designing their cars but it just about fit.

We had one bed already so two more on that side of the allotment with ground cover on the paths.

We have now started on the other side with room for five.

Nick does love getting his box of tools out at the allotment.

 We decided that maintaining two greenhouses was too much so one was taken away and the beds left have been boarded as a strawberry bed on one side and the other I am intending to plant with dahlias this year.

Unfortunately rain stopped play yesterday evening and the strong winds today meant that no path laying could be done.

Further updates to follow including details of the potato bed and the suitcase pottager.