The chubblies@19G

Hello this blog is about our experiences on our allotment (the Lotti):-

• We are Sandra and Peter.
• Sandra is retired and Peter is very close, but not quite there yet!
• The Chubblies is a knickname we picked up about fourteen years ago and since then we have embraced it and adopted it as our pseudonim.
• We think the 19G speaks for itself.
• We live in Kent and our allotment is just outside the village of Meopham adjacent to the railway station, approx 6-7 miles from our home.
• The allotment site is very open being surrounded by countryside, hedged on three sides and open to the fields on the other it is ever so slightly sloping and the open aspect faces west and apart from the gentle muffled hum in the distance of strimmers and rotavators etc. it is extremely peaceful and relaxing. Sometimes we find ourselves sitting down with a cup of tea just enjoying being there for being theres sake, and then realising we have been sitting there for half an hour or so, or even more. It’s almost like being on holiday somewhere with a pleasant view.
• Our plot is not overshadowed by any trees, unfortunately because of this it can be quite windy and being exposed it gets uninterrupted sun, (when it shines!) which is good for  the veg, but this means it also does dry out quite quick which is not good for the digging.
• This is a return to allotment gardening for us. We had a plot on the same site approximately 20 years ago, but sadly had to give it up because we were unable to put the time in to service it properly. Now with our sons off hand and still feeling reasonably fit enough to put the effort in we have been able to get this plot and are enjoying it immensely.
• Having taken the allotment on towards the end of the 2009 season and because of the condition of the ground, (akin to concrete), with the amount of work necessary to prepare it for planting, in our first year we only lifted the turf.  In 2010 we were late with planting and sowing of nearly every vegetable. However to our pleasure generally they all caught up to some degree and we had a crop from them all, although perhaps not as plentiful as they should have been. This year however is a much improved situation with each vegetable planted, many having been raised from seed at home, at roughly the right time. We now enjoy returning home after every visit with a harvest of some kind, and already we are beginning to supply neighbours and friends with our surplus.
• 2011 for us saw a very rewarding year. We had bumper crops of courgettes, onions, cucumbers, strawberries and we are still eating our own stored potatoes. To be honest our tomatoes could have been better, just as the bulk of the crop was coming ready for harvesting they all got blighted. Still not to be detered we have some ideas on how to avoid that next year and we are ready and eager to put them into practice. We tried celeriac for the first time and it is going to feature on our Lotti from now on and the spring cabbage were fantastic as well enabling us to discover home made coleslaw. Unfortunately runner beans were not the success we had hoped for, although they were tasty and stringless,  the rather leathery skins spoilt them.

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