Long week.

Bit of a week really. Was hoping to be back on Wednesday but house moving stuff prevented that. 
Why can't people tell you the truth?
Onwards and upwards....

In the meantime, this is Acorn, trying out his Halloween outfit.

X

Strawberry fields forever....

 Bit of a tumultuous weekend so was good to get back to the allotment.
Mrs H is missing Mr H lots. I can't answer her questions as my own grief is still too raw.
Spent today pulling up strawberry plants so as to uncover the fruit bushes. Discovered that red currant is actually white currant and tastes fabulous.
There would appear to be a whole slug city underneath the strawbs but hopefully the crow sitting on the roof of the house will sort those out.
And so to bed in a mo. 
Every day is a new experience on the allotment. Time disappears.

Al dismantling a strange thing.

Remember to be kind and love everyone. You never know when they may not be around. Appreciate what you have.

;-) 

Slugs

The bane of a gardeners life. I've heard and read of so many different ways to prevent slug carnage that I really don't know what to do. We're trying to be as green and organic as possible but after planting the asparagus I was so worried I did sprinkle a few pellets around the bases. Am I glad I did! Going back today I found half a dozen dead slugs. I feel terrible but I think I would have felt worse to have seen my tenderly raised plants decimated.
If anyone has any good solutions I would love to hear them!
Greenhouse 2 is slowly filling up with seed trays full of winter veg, tomatoes are ripening and the avocados that Mr H planted are looking good and healthy.
Saw Mrs H briefly as she was off out and bless her heart she still brought me a cup of tea.
So here's a few pics from today.

Pepper plant still not quite in flower but looking healthy.

Winter broccoli coming along nicely.

Some of the seeds. Note the use of loo roll inners. Trying to recycle!

Herb hanging basket to overwinter in the greenhouse.

And finally some of the pears and apples I brought home.

I can really feel it coming together slowly. Just need a bit more confidence!

We'll not be able to go over now till Sunday as that thing called "work" gets in the way now and again, but there will be some heavy digging to do then!

Have a good few days!

Wild flower patch at home.

Just a photo taken in our garden at home. 

London

It's good to be home!
Four hour round trip to London done. We achieved a lot though. Hairdressers, shopping, prescription and a quick cup of tea. Mother is very unsteady on her feet, so only goes out when we take her. 
From being a highly independent, argumentative woman she has become very fragile very quickly. She has had a lot to contend with. Dad passed away four years ago and then her son, my brother passed away last year after developing an evil disease called Motor Neurone Disease. I must confess that it was during my brothers illness that I really became hooked on gardening. When I came home after being with and helping look after him, the garden became a place to immerse myself and get lost in my thoughts. I remember that his diagnosis came through on Christmas Eve 2011. I stayed up all night, digging up Jerusalem Artichokes at 4am ready for Christmas dinner.
Mother has been diagnosed with early onset Dementia but I have to say she is doing a bloody good job fighting it. Trips to her in London will hopefully be a thing of the past very soon as she is moving to our village. Just waiting on a date.
And yes, I shall be taking her to the allotment to meet Mrs H and help (if she wants to) out. Even if she just sits and has a cup of tea and a natter it's better than being on her own.
Oh happy day!
Sorry, that sounded a bit maudlin, but it's just a bit of background as to why we are where we are today. I'm excited for the week I don't have to do the round trip and I have Mother just down the road. I can involve her in so much more and all I want is for her to have a happy life now.
Let's hope I'm not digging up artichokes this Christmas Day. X

By your beds

Just a quick update as need my bed!
Spent most of the day sorting out the asparagus bed, in between the downpours.
Decided on the area between greenhouse 3 and the shed. It will be quite sheltered but still have a fair amount of sun. First job was to dig over and remove strawberry plants and weeds.

This was half way through.

The soil was good. First time I've had a proper dig, so I was interested to see how it would feel. The strawberries lifted quite easily. Looks like they may have been down for some time. I was surprised at how few weeds there were as well.

Mrs H was on hand with cups of tea and time just flew by.

The various stages

I finally managed to plant the asparagus after a particularly heavy downpour, which was perfect.

So that's the asparagus bed ready for the next twenty years! We grew these from seed so next year will be the first time we'll be able to harvest from them and even then we will have to be very restrained in the amount we take. This is obviously assuming that the slugs do not munch them!

All the seedlings are looking good in the greenhouse and I'm hoping to be able to report flowers on the pepper plants when I go back on Wednesday.

Managed to find time to show Mrs H how to deadhead her geraniums and I suspect that on Wednesday I'll also have a few more jobs to help her with. 

Sunday will be crucial as we are going to start on the main allotment area, marking out the beds and pathways.

So, I feel like we are starting to make a tiny mark on the allotment. Sooooo much more to do.

Off to sunny London town tomorrow to take Mother shopping. I know where I would rather be!!!

Ma in law

Picked up Ma in law from the coach station last night so just a quick pop over to the allotment today.
All the seedlings are doing great and took over more toms.
Been reading loads and have some great ideas but we just need to put them into practise.
This will be a major learning curve and we will definitely make a vast amount of mistakes. However, it will be worth it.
So, chilled out night. Fish and chips from the van, glass of vino and bed. 
Sweet dreams all.