More digging by moonlight

I'm starting to enjoy my late nights down on the plot, the sun drops over the trees, the earth turns pink in the late evening light and the moon rises above a low lying mist in the meadow....like a scene from Tess of the Durbyvilles. Tonight I prepared a new bed tacked on to the end of the roots bed, I was all set to add more carrots and snips, but when I opened my allotment bag, I noticed that Hugh had emptied all the seeds to the bottom in one mixed up mess! oh dear. I managed to salvage something, which looked like more chard I think, I'm not really sure, but I stuck it in anyway. I made up the rest of the area with cornflower seedlings and cavalo nero plants. At the back I stuck in a couple of globe artichokes, and in my squash area, there is now a new butternut squash plant. I found a great selection of veg at the Orchard Farm Shop on the A21( that's where I found the artichokes. All the seedlings look vibrant and healthy, and there are some unusual varieties too, I was quite tempted to pick up some black potato plants! I found a red gooseberry plant, a dessert variety, to replace my recently deceased one, I'm not sure whether to plant it in the same place as the old one, or find somewhere new?

Tonight on the plot I have:
Planted broccoli in place of the rotten potatoes
Planted Butternut squash, and two other squashes (mixed Italian varieties)
Planted Cavalo Nero
Planted Sunflowers
Planted Cornflowers and some mixed wild flowers

Sowed rocket

Weeded and watered

...and at home...

I planted out the courgettes into the half barrel tub, and the yellow beans (italian variety) too. Lettuce has gone in the potager, along with marigold and basil. Planted more berlotti beans, penstumen and dill

First casualties

Ok so I think I lost my gooseberry bush. I decided to dig it up and do some diagnostics. To be honest there wasn't much to see, apart from one wireworm, which I have been aware of on the plot, but wasn't sure whether it could do that much damage. I've removed the bush and stuck it in a pot at home and will see if I can revive it for next year.

Next problem, all my first earlies (pentlan javelin) have rotted, I thought they were taking a long time to come up, so check a few, then the rest, they were all rotten and smelly. Not sure why but have dug them out and now have a space there. I might grow spinach there as I don't think that will be affected by blight or any potato disease. So now I only have two very small rows of spuds. A bit upsetting actually as I was looking forward to fresh new pots soon! ...and some gooseberries for pudding :(

On a plus note, my asparagus has just started to push up, so next year I will be able to cut it!!

Toady

Saw a little toad on the plot today, it was hopping around my beans! Haven't seen a toad since I was a very small child, surely a good sign? this year is turning into a nature spotters dream after my sighting of a great crested newt in the garden last month.

Living shelter

Back in March I talked about having a living willow arbour or chair for the kids. This wasn't possible this year, as it was a bit beyond my budget and I wasn't sure how long we'd be in the area, so I didn't want to buy something I might not be able to take with me. As I haven't yet got around to making a seating area on the plot, I've instead erected a slightly shambolic lean-to for trailing runner beans. I don't actually like eating runner beans that much but they are reliable climbers, so I'm using them in an ornamental way, no doubt I'll end up eating some beans too! I also threw in some sweet peas I had left over from home and some wildflower seed around the edge. This area isn't dug particularly well, so I'll have to keep pulling thistles as they come up. I also added a small patch of alpine strawberries that I want to naturalise.

Busy busy bee, that's me!

Today we went from this

To this

Perfect colour combinations

Some lovely ideas from Fennel and Fern

Fashion fix

 know my blog is mainly about the garden, allotment and my family but there are just so many more aspects to me than I really express here. Since having children, most of my creativity has been chanelled into gardening, home keeping, cooking and crafts. Yet it has to be said sometimes I yearn to be cool again! I once (not so long ago) was a designer in London, wearing the height of fashion, frequenting cool bars and clubs and generally swanning around thinking I was the bees knees. Now that might sound very pretentious and it was, but hell did I enjoy it and it doesn't mean I don't miss it a little. Having spent a good 15 years living in various cities, travelling and working left me for a deep yearning to return to the country and be a bit of a bumpkin, but I'm not acting it out, it truly is an integral part of my being. Enough of the philosophising, the main point of this post is my deep depression of the state of my wardrobe, which was once my pride and joy. These days I have even taken to borrowing some of my mums cardis in the winter as this house gets so cold sometimes, which could be chic in a kind of vintage knits way, but to be honest, it's looking more like frumpy 30's mum really. I'm in a quandry as I have no real connection to what's cool anymore, even though I trawl the internet for inspiration, there's so much choice, I don't have an instant idea of what to wear like I used to. When I lived in Bristol and London, most of my fashion finds came by seeing what other people were wearing on the street, and this isn't an option anymore.

This is the best I can come up with for my summer wardrobe, and I'm bookmarking it here to refer back to.
I think to suit my style best and bodyshape (good legs, terrible waist) For hot days I'll wear mid thigh denim shorts, white, khaki and dark navy with smocks and blousons over the top, with gladiator sandals. For weddings, I'll go for a mid range maxi dress from Monsoon, with some kitten heels (I have a Sept wedding only this year) and I quite fancy the idea of a couple of summer/tea dresses, one midthigh to wear with leggings and a belt, and a longer more fitted fifties style number for weekend events/trips. To top it all off I'd love a suede bomber jacket.

Well actually that wasn't so bad, big sigh. All I need now is a cash windfall and I might look like this!!

Picking up the pace

Went back to the plot last night as I want to get as much in as possible as everything is growing now at a rate of knots. Felt still slightly depressed by the amount of thistle plants rearing their heads everywhere, even in areas where I have double dug into the sublayer (and am still suffering with back pain as a consequence). Those roots must go down a mile. I've decided to just try and pull up as many as I can as I go along, giving the veggies a fighting chance against their enemy. Manage to pick up the last of the free horse manure from Sami's so took it down last night and made a new bed for my Duchy Organic french beans, which I've had in pots in the greenhouse. I also made a couple of pits, filled them with muck and planted some courgettes too.

Ok here is a little inventory to date what I've planted in my Brewer street beds!

Onions
Garlic
Carrots (nantes)
Parsnips
Asparagus
Broad Beans
Peas
French Beans
Potatoes (early salad, and maincrop)
Lettuce
Swiss Chard
Comfrey

...and at home...
Strawberries
Broad Beans
Peas
Lettuces
Cavalo nero
Sweet peas
Radish
Carrots
Potatoes

..to plant..
Beetroot
Tomatoes
Berlotti bean
Asparagus peas
Flower mixes
Courgettes

...to sow...
more french beans
sweet peas

I'm not growing any winter crops now in case we move over the summer, seems like a waste of time unless we are going to enjoy them!

Late night digging

I went to tidy up the plot last night, as I was feeling a bit guilty having neglected the plot lately. Actually I took Hugh to the allotment earlier in the day to plant some peas and dig in some manure, so got a bit of work done. I managed to tackle some of the overgrown areas, by chopping down the new growth on the thistles and taking the top layer of grass off in preparation for digging. I don't think I will dig these areas properly this year, just add some manure and grow courgette and squash here. I've got a feeling that the frosts have finished now so if I risk putting in some young courgette plants I may get fruit by early/mid June? a big maybe.

My gooseberry bush has wilted, I haven't googled the reasons why, so I'm perplexed as the raspberries and currants look fine. It's well watered and has been growing healthy looking leaves up till now, so not sure what to do about it?

No growth from the asparagus yet, but I haven't watered it that well so I'm going to have to make sure I get down to the plot a few times a week now to check on all the watering to be done.

Potatoes, first earlies, no sign???? main crop are up.

Freyja's 1st birthday

Last Sunday we celebrated one lovely year of knowing our little girl. Thinking back over the last year, it's been a real roller coaster, such highs and lows, losing my dad and gaining a wonderful baby girl in our family. I'm sure this is the way things happen, just when you think everything in your life is tickedy boo, you loose something precious and the whole experience of life is altered, almost enhanced in a strange sense. I've certainly felt that since losing dad, I'm more acutely aware of appreciating everything I've got in the present rather than dwelling on the little irritations, or wanting something hypothetical.

So we celebrated Freyja's first year by having a little party, I don't think I realised quite how time consuming and costly even a small party could be, but I tried to 'keep it real!', although I'm quite guilty of getting carried away with nonsense decorations and party nibbles. The forecast for that afternoon was terrible, but by some miracle it failed to rain as promised (perhaps down to my fierce praying the night before) We had a bouncy castle, numerous outdoor toys and a few token party games like pass the parcel. I think we had just the right amount of toddlers, 4 boys and a couple of baby girls. The saving grace was the awning, which I sent Mike out for in the morning after a minor panic over the looming rain, it added a real focus to the garden almost like an assembly point. Anyway, all in all it was a huge success and everyone loved it, and the garden looked wonderful. I felt truly happy!

William Cobbett

I'm currently reading a book I picked up at the library called 'The English Gardener' by William Cobbett and I'm really enjoying it. I can't believe how much useful advice is in there despite the fact it was written sometime in the 19th Century. I guess gardening doesn't change much with the times. The words are still ringing in my ears about planting peas, which apparently dislike cold, wet soil immensely and should only be planted outside when the risk of this has passed. Following this advice, I have held off planting my peas directly into the soil on the allotment until today, which I did with Hugh this morning. I actually think we are heading for a little heatwave now. I also heard on the news that 'unofficially' we are expecting a particularly hot summer this year, and  I have to say I think we are due one!

Sap is rising

Hugh digging for victory

Looking over the allotment plot (this was taken on Election Day) everything has sprung to life. I love that unadulterated lush green growth that almost seems to be moving it's shooting up so fast!. Well apart from the fact most of the growth is from weeds not plants! When the plot was just dusty mud and some dead grass stems it seemed all the more manageable, now the true colours are showing, it's quite evident what was lurking beneath the crust. But I'm not defeated. Despite a slightly poisonous overheard comment from a neighbour of my plot (well I said to me husband 'I don't think I can cope with all this', and he replied 'well dear I will rotivate it for you' 'I'm so glad I did as otherwise mine would be all weedy too....' glancing around in my direction) , I will continue to tackle a small bit as I go, and plant something in place of the weeds. My next task will be to plant some beans, either french or berlotti, I haven't decided yet. I've also got some courgettes and squash growing nicely, so it would be great if I could clear and area for those to go in as they will hopefully romp around and suppress some weeds. I'm also planning to drop by my sister's stables to procure some manure (a poem?) for the squashes to wallow in.

Lilac

Our Lilac tree has come into bloom, and it's fabulous. I don't think I truly appreciated this tree when we moved in three years ago, now each spring I look forward to it flowering even more, as it signals the start of summer to me. Shame the blossoms don't keep well once cut.

My little man Hugh

Hugh has come on leaps and bounds in the past few weeks with his speech, what a relief as I was beginning to get a bit worried about it. I can pretty much have a broken conversation with him now and understand 2/3 of it. Although now I sometimes wish I didn't always know what he wanted as I'm now subject to repeated demands of whatever he fancies at various points in the day. It's quite strange that since he's had chicken pox, he's much clingier and whingier. I hope he grows out of that soon, and the tantrums as they've been quite a feature since he's been about 1 and a half. I put it down to his frustration at not being able to talk, but no, it's just when he doesn't get his own way! Pretty typical toddler. But, he still astounds me on a daily basis by remembering something from months ago, or forming a really good sentence, that makes me think 'you really are developing a little personality there'.

Rushed update of jobs done today

I went a bit balistic in the garden this evening. I thought 'I've got to plant more seed' as it's May and it's fast approaching the time when it's too late to get a crop of things like tomatoes, squash, sweetcorn etc as they need a longish season. So a super quick fire list here of things planted in the greenhouse:

Meraviglia di Venezia Yellow Beans
Minette Basil
Chives
Oregano
Sweetcorn
Wild/Alpine Strawberry
Lupin
Sweet Williams
Cornflower Blackberry Fizz
Dwarf Aster
Brompton Stock
Potted up Chilli and brought them inside (chilly nights here)
Brought in some tomatoes, nicotiana and sweetcorn

Planted in my veg patch are
Radishes
Carrots (in a fetching circular formation, hopefully to be flanked by sweet peas eventually)

Phew, what a mammoth planting session, I feel very virtious now, apart from forgetting to do my online food shop, I think I did really rather well :)

May day hols

Ok so Sunday was a washout, we did little but lounge around, visit B&Q and bake some scones. Hugh is a culinary genius, I haven't tasted such light,well risen scones. I think it was down to the quick assembly as a tactic of damage limitation to the kitchen! We promised Hugh a birthday party as he'd spied us buying a bouncy castle in B&Q for Freyja's party in two weeks time and wanted to go to a party right now (he doesn't have a concept of waiting) So we had a birthday 'tea' at home, in the kitchen instead, which basically meant sausages, sandwiches and scones!

Pink for girls

When Freya was born I made a concerted effort to buy clothes that weren't all garish pink. Then the other day I noticed some of her clothes piled up, most of which were... pink, yes. It is quite hard not to buy pink as if you want to save money and buy in bulk, inevitably two out of three options will be pink so you are kind of forced into it. I have recycled a lot of Hugh's clothes, but I cannot deny I'm a sucker for a pretty dress as Freyja is a butch kind of girl, it's the only way I can make her look more like a girl!

French Gardening

I found this site through Green Lane blog (thanks) what an inspiration. Beautiful kitchen gardening on a grand scale

As my dad would say...Odds and (*)odds

I haven't been posting much this month, as I've been concentrating on the house. I've decided to rest a bit, as we've had the house on the market for about 10 days now and not one jot of interest. The agent said it's early days, but now I'm wondering whether we have done the right thing? I'll hold off till after the election, if it's the same situation after 3 weeks, we may have to drop the price. Even though we've been planning this for a while, it still felt almost like an invasion of privacy when the 'For Sale' went up.

We have enjoyed a couple of lovely sunny weekends, a rare treat since the winter. Last weekend we took a trip to Hasting, had fish and chips on the beach and a walk along the seafront. Hugh loved the trampolines, and desperately wanted a go on the crazy golf, but we had to save that for next time as it was getting cold at that point. It makes me even more certain that our planned moved to the coast will be the most wonderful life.

Lots of time has been spent in the garden, I've cleared the patch under our giant conifer, covered with bark and made a rudimentary seating area (pic to follow) I'm really looking forward to Freyja's party as I've bought most of the decorations, and have planned to have fairy/cupcakes and sandwiches with tea and Pimms for the grown ups. The kids (mostly boys Hugh's age) can play on the assault course, bash the pinata, and I may do some games like pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel. If I can find a cheapish bouncy castle I may get one too. Here's a pic of Freyja enjoying her Mr Men sunglasses

Rain stopped play

I went to the allotment this morning but didn't get a chance to do much as it started raining, so I'm back for lunch and hoping to get a break later to return. I took Hugh with me, and his plastic lawnmower which he loves, although he was more interested in digging and finding wriggly worms. I was pleased and worried in equal measure with what I saw. First of all my Broad Beans have been attacked by black fly, there aren't too many yet, but the leaves are looking quite yellow and poorly, so I will have to act quickly with some soap spray, but this could also be down to the dry weather, as I haven't been there to water them lately. I must say they don't look nearly as healthy as the one's planted at home, even though they are the same variety, it is interesting to see the way they have grown differently. My ones at home have grown up, whereas the allotment specimens have bushed out but not really grown up at all, maybe they were more exposed and caught a frost?  The other worry is the thistle infestation, I thought I'd done quite well in removing the bulk of them, but they are up everywhere! At least I can see them now rather than just looking for sections of root. I'm even concerned about my covered areas, the 'weed suppressing membranes' are billowing like high seas with the weeds and grass growing underneath! I'm going to have to dig more up. My idea was to keep the matting down and grow squashes through the membrane with plug plants, but I'm not sure that will do now.

Well at least my onions have sprouted, my rainbow chard hasn't been eaten and there are some kind of buds coming on my gooseberry bush :)

I've been visiting mum often this week as she's had an operation on her knee, so I've been walking the dog and weeding her garden. On the drive down I noticed on the stall near her allotment, were fat bunches of asparagus for only £1! What a bargin, so today I enjoyed a lovely allotmenteer's lunch of asparagus and bacon soup, with chestnut mushrooms and watercress on toast. Hmm.

Two perfect pearly whites

Freyja has sprouted her first teeth. Two little pearls appeared at the bottom front!