escapethekids's Blog Just another Vegblogs weblog 

Oh gosh the school holidays …no chance of any me time at the allotment for a few weeks!!

Resorted to letting them have their own bit of the plot to grow what ever they wanted in…worked for 1 hour and then they got bored. God knows what might actually grow in it!!

3 weeks now with NO me time at the allotment – part due to school hols and part due to the terrible weather….  At least the hosepipe ban is not stopping everything being watered – the rain is doing all the work for me on a daily basis..

I am going to have to get up there in the rain next week if it does not stop – as the seed trays are getting rather crapped and need to start planting out soon.

My goodness …it was so hot at the allotment this weekend, I had to get the hose pipe out to waster already!!  Best make the most of it though as a hose pipe ban is on its way from April!  Watering our plot without a hose is going to be back breaking as the water supply is not that near by!  Anyone got any suggestions?  Me thinks a water but is needed!!

Seed tastic ….I have run out of window sill space to put seed trays !

Thanks for cold frame mini green house idea – have one now – but already full.  Going to have to wait a few weeks and start sowing outside I think…

Loving my husband this month too…..I got a days hard labour for my birthday present and some wood to finish the last raised bed. Bless him he also managed to level and weed all the paths too, so plot now looks pretty fab – if not a little bear still.

Anyone know when it is safe to put my chitted spuds in? It says March but I dont want to get caught by late frosts like last year!!

Not been to the allotment much this month …..couple of brief broc picking trips with the kids!  Too cold and ground frozen to dig or finish building the last bed ready for planting.

Still trying to beg, borrow or steal from skips – some shelves for the shed to that I can clear the clutter…no joy as yet though.

Also need to build my compost bin – have 3 pallets ready just need 2 more ( picking these up tomorrow from mum ).

Must be nearly time to start sowing seeds – but not sure where I am going to put them in the house – as window sills all full of kids stuff these days!!

Good news is the broad beans seem to have survived the frost and snow and the onions are still doing well!

  Why oh why is Jan such a depressing Month at the allotment…… my Kale is about all that is left standing and the site generally looks so sad!

I cant even image how it will look in a few months as things start to grow again !

Anyway, new seeds have arrived and now I just have to be patent and wait 6 weeks or so to start planting them.

At least we can start to chit our potatoes, I have 4 egg boxes lines up on my window sil already awaiting little shoots!

Has anyone got any ideas on what else I can be planting seed wise now?

1st day of the new planting calendar and I have already failed my promise to myself to get to the alloment today!

It was raining though and the plan is to go up tomorrow instead.

For tonight I am looking forward to a glass of wine and going through seed catalogues

www.vegatableseeds.net will be my first port of call – as I still have £10 voucher to use up on seeds galore …so exciting

I am also wanting to get some hens on my plot – is this easy?  I know costs and space needed but can anyone that has done this already advise on the work required and time etc …

Happy new year all …

There is nothing more enjoyable than an allotment bonfire on a frosty morning ( in the sun).

Hubby has the kids for 2 hours ( off swimming) so I have a delightfull 2 hours on my own in my fav place. Pure bliss.

There is still an amazing amount to harvest thanks to the warm weather and my discovery of xmas new potatoes. They are fab – anyone that has not found them yet needs too becasue fresh new pots in October are smothing else ( melt in the mouth )…

However I do have to admit that men do seem to have a nack when it comes to lighting bonfires ….that I dont seem to posess.

Oh it is looking sad on the plot now…..everything is starting to fad and fall over under its own weight ( runner beans).

I hate this part – as I know I am going to have to admit that the main season is over and start clearing beds and covering them over for the winter!

There is only one thing to do – the only thing to get me out of this downer and that is to start planning next years crops and visit www.vegetableseeds.net   and get shopping !!

Then I can draw up my planting plans and try and remember to learn from this years mistakes of planting too much courgettes.

The shed has had a makeover – thanks to my dearest hubby the shed – which was reclaimed from our next door neighbour – now looks like it may last through the winter !

It has had a lick of paint and a new roof in the last 2 weekends and not looks so nice I might move in and hibernate like a bear through the winter …

All I need now are some shelves in there so I can get organised and maybe a camping stove and a kettle for those little brew ups and hobnob monents.  Freeads and loot here I come!

Is it sad that I have ask hubby for wood to build a 4th bed for xmas ???

  As september approaches and the nights are too dark to escape after the kids are in bed …I find myself limited to grabbing an hour or 2 at the weekend if I am lucky !

Its odd though – I am sure this time last year we were still in full cropping mode – yet this year everything seems to be coming to an end already !

I have been keeping a log of all the produce we have harvested this year as I want to prove to hubby that it is worth all the love and attention that it gets…

So far I am well over £100 – which is pretty good I think!