I’ve been on leave since 2nd April and back to work on Monday. There’s been a bit of studying, currently I’m very engaged with the responsible leadership theory – but that’s for a different discussion board.
Unusally for me, I haven’t spent every day at the plot and still I’m happy with how everything is progressing.
I mentioned the raspberry takeover in my Six on Saturday post, it isn’t just the autumn variety, Summer Cascade is making a takeover bid for the flower bed which was the original raspberry bed, except the canes looked like this two years ago.
I gave the rhubarb and peonies a seaweed liquid feed last week and they have responded with a growth spurt. I’ve taken two pickings from the new rhubarb bed while the original rhubarb bed has settled for the late cropping slot. Works for me.
I reclaimed more bricks from my neighbour to create a very small retaining wall around the strawberry bed to improve water retention. They had a seaweed drench and are now sprouting flowers. I’m going to mulch with strulch in an attempt to get to the fruit before the mollusc army.
This is the first picking year for the asparagus. I’m on my second helping and I’ve perfected hollandaise sauce!
I’ve brought order to the self sown nigella although more thinning out is required! Note the raspberry invaders.
The raised beds at the top of the plot are in a shady spot. I’ve sown a row of spinach to go with the plugs I planted out a few weeks ago. It’s still a thrill to see the seeds pushing through the soil.
You might remember in November I’d reduced the height of the self-sown ash tree on the neighbouring plot. I decided the only way to deal with the large self-sown sycamore was to take on the plot – so I did. Now when I say plot, I’m guessing it’s about 4 rods so combined space is now 11 rods – don’t ask me what that is in new money – ask Google 🙂 I will have my flower field.
My plot neighbour harvests logs to feed his home woodburner and happily offered to take down the tree for the logs. Seemed like an excellent arrangement and I agreed before he changed his mind. That was last Thursday and by Saturday the tree was twigs, which I converted into a dead hedge.
The new plot is mostly grass. My plan is to cut long row beds out of the grass and be ready for flower growing and harvesting next year. I need somewhere to put the plants I’m propaging!
I hope your growing season is going well. Anyone else expanding their plot empire?
Allotment Life 