Simon's Allotment

Happy Solstice!

2011-12-22T18:37:00.005Z

Nearly Christmas, whoop de do. Plenty to eat from the plot - carrots, kale, leeks, Chinese mustard, scorenza, apples and sprouts too now that they've had some frost on them. What more could I ask for.

Sprouts

2011-12-22T18:35:00.002Z

It's that time of year again:

Scorenza

2011-12-22T17:03:00.004Z

It's the first time I've grown this root - it might not look very appetising but tastes alright actually, and makes a useful addition to the winter crops. The skin is black but the flesh inside is white - you cook it in the skins then peel them off before eating. It's also a perennial so any bits of root I snap off will grow again next year, which is handy. Makes a change from carrots and parsnips too.

The Cabin

2011-12-22T16:48:00.005Z

Not much gardening to do at this time of year so over the past few weeks I've been faffing about building this - in between the showers and frosts. In the best allotment tradition the door and window are recycled; the timber is a mix of recycled and new. I'm calling it the cabin so as not to confuse it with the shed. Just so as you know.

Corner posts in, floor down and making a start on the frame...

...frame finished...

...job done.

November

2011-11-20T12:30:00.004Z

It's been ridiculously mild this month; still no frost. The birds are twittering away happily whilst feasting on my windfalls and there are still bees and butterflies around.

The plot is providing plenty of fresh carrots, leeks, greens and apples and pears.

I've made a start on the digging and extended the plot at the top end by turning over some more of the grass.

No really it's November

2011-11-20T12:28:00.001Z

Tomatoes

2011-11-20T12:27:00.002Z

I'm glad I didn't cut down the tomatoes as the warm weather has meant they've continued to ripen.

Chinese mustard

2011-11-20T12:16:00.005Z

It's the first time I've grown this - the variety is "Green in Snow" - and it's turning out to be a useful green for this time of the year. It can be eaten raw when it has a spicy taste, stir fried or boiled like spinach. Chinese greens need sowing after midsummer or they bolt and go to seed - I sowed these at the beginning of August. It'll be interesting to see if it really is green in the snow.

Chilly

2011-10-08T11:47:00.005+01:00

What a difference a week makes - 28 degrees last weekend, today it's a decidedly chilly 10, and soggy with it. Still plenty to eat from the plot - cabbages, kale, rocket, Chinese mustard, carrots; chillies and the last tomatoes from the greenhouse, spuds and garlic from store, peas from the freezer.

Lots of apples and pears to share too, and luscious blackberries to go with them.

Not exactly gardening weather today so plenty of time to play with photos:

Maincrop spuds

2011-10-08T11:45:00.003+01:00

Dug these up last weekend to store for the winter.

Chillis

2011-10-08T11:44:00.000+01:00

Hot stuff:

Carnations

2011-10-08T11:40:00.002+01:00

Still plenty of colour for picking to brighten up the house:

September light

2011-09-20T19:45:00.005+01:00

Beautiful light out on the plot at this time of year:

Fewer butterflies around like this speckled wood...

...and this red admiral disguised against the soil:

I've no idea what these two are up to:

Still a few bees around:

And a nice gothic looking spider:

Bank holiday weekend

2011-08-29T15:32:00.007+01:00

Say what you like about the banks, at least they give us an extra day off work. Is that right? I'm trying to practice acceptance and forgiveness so my critical faculties may be a bit below par. Whatever, still plenty to eat from the plot - beans, cabbages, carrots, courgettes, spuds, tomatoes and tons of fruit - blackberries, raspberries, apples, plums and grapes now too.

In the flower department the meadow mixes are going over a bit but the sweet peas are still flowering and the dahlias, evening primrose, carnations and verbena bonariensis are coming on strong.

Courgettes

2011-08-29T15:28:00.002+01:00

The dry spell we had until recently means the courgettes are suffering with mildew but they're still cropping nicely:

Grapes

2011-08-29T15:22:00.003+01:00

Late summer flowers

2011-08-29T15:16:00.002+01:00

Dahlias and sweet peas:

Second pickings

2011-08-29T15:10:00.004+01:00

It's always satisfying to get two crops of the same piece of ground. I sowed this row of late summer cabbages where I'd cropped the early peas.

Apples, rosehips and blackberries

2011-08-29T14:56:00.006+01:00

Signs that autumn isn't far away.

Out in the country

2011-08-29T14:34:00.006+01:00

I'm hardly a big fan of intensive arable farming but it at least it makes for some pretty pattens in the landscape at this time of year, especially under a blue sky and little fluffy clouds. The harvest is in and they're busy plowing and harrowing ready for sowing the next crop.

Harvest moon

2011-08-13T19:27:00.003+01:00

Full moon tonight, the harvest moon. Plenty of harvesting going on here - and the only riot is one of colour and produce.

Peas and beans, spuds and carrots, greens, tomatoes and more fruit than you could shake a stick at. And this week the first of the carnations too.

Happy harvesting. Resistance is fertile.

First carnations

2011-08-13T19:24:00.002+01:00

Peas and beans

2011-08-13T19:17:00.002+01:00

More flower power

2011-08-13T19:06:00.007+01:00

Buzzing

2011-08-07T23:27:00.005+01:00

There seems to have been an explosion in the population of hoverflies this week, to add to the bees and butterflies:

Feeling fruity

2011-08-07T23:20:00.000+01:00

Loads of fruit on the plot at the moment - blackberries, raspberries, cherry plums, plums...

Plantlife

2011-08-07T22:35:00.005+01:00

There don't seem to be many wildlife charities that aren't happy to take the blood money of corporate sponsorship. So it was nice to find that Plantlife seem so far to have refused the greenwasher's shekels.

I thought it would be nice to get involved with their Wildflowers Count survey - they sent me a pack with a handy ID guide and a 1km grid square to survey - and off I went.

Happily for me my square took me back to familiar ground at Markeaton Park. This is where I trained as a gardener many moons ago and, down on the farm, spent many happy years living in my caravan.

Away from the busy parts of the park there are lots of tranquil places where the wildlife is thriving. Starting off in the crem car park looking over the meadows where the cows still graze...

...round the back of the crem the unmanaged fields have plenty of rosebay willowherb...

...onwards up through the woods...

...venerable old trees on Markeaton Hill...

...and further down new woodland...

...a speckled wood butterfly...

...and wildflowers down by the lake...purple loosestrife...

...gypsywort...

...and wild angelica:

Wild in the city

2011-08-03T22:21:00.011+01:00

More wildlife thriving on the margins - a few minute's walk from our city centre is the old Friargate goods yard and warehouse, once a busy trading hub of the Great Western Railway, now a haven for wild plants, birds, insects and feral human beings:

Hemp agrimony brightening up the graffiti

Lots of other wild flowers here too...

...toadflax...

...buddleia...

...golden rod...

...white melilot...

...and tufted vetch amongst many others.

Trees have quickly established like these pioneering birch...

...and sycamores waiting on the platform for a train that is long gone...

...nice ferns...

...a beautiful sunny glade...

...and food for free from apple trees...

The food won't be free for much longer though. The Victorian warehouse which has lain empty for at least twenty years can't be demolished as it's a listed building, but there are plans afoot to turn it into another outpost of Asda - parent company the noxious Walmart. The bricks will remain but the wildlife will be bulldozed - until the next time...

Life on the margins

2011-07-16T22:40:00.002+01:00

Within a couple of miles walk of where I live I reach places where nature is taking back what is rightfully hers. Along the verges of the trunk roads new woodland is well established. Further back there are fields cut off from farms that are reverting back to how nature intended. I don't suppose anyone from officialdom planned it this way. There aren't any signposts or footpaths. Just a haven for wildlife if you take the trouble to look and see. These are amongst my favourite places to go walkabout.

Woodland by the A38

Farm fields reverting to woodland...

...with pioneering ash.

Species-rich unmanaged grassland...

...with lesser stichwort...

...creeping thistle...

...birds-foot trefoil...

...red clover...

...

...bush vetch...

...tufted vetch...

...great burnet...

...ragwort...

...wild carrot...

...beasties enjoying yarrow...

...small skipper on tufted vetch...

...pondlife - swallows and dragonflies here...

...glimpse of a hawk...

...ancestral memories.

Loving it.

Yes I'm still growing veggies

2011-07-16T22:37:00.005+01:00

Cropping now: spuds, cabbages, peas, carrots, salad greens, courgettes, gooseberries, raspberries, cherries...

Brassicas

2011-07-16T22:27:00.004+01:00

For the winter - sprouts and broccoli:

For the autumn - hispi cabbages:

French beans

2011-07-16T22:24:00.003+01:00

Flowering nicely:

Courgettes

2011-07-16T21:56:00.002+01:00

Courgettes undersown with crimson clover:

Planning ahead

2011-07-16T21:52:00.003+01:00

More winter veggies - carrots, leeks and scorenza:

Salad greens

2011-07-16T21:47:00.001+01:00

Wild rocket and mizuna:

Maincrop peas

2011-07-16T21:42:00.001+01:00

Almost ready...

More poppies

2011-07-16T21:34:00.005+01:00

Keeping the bees happy. And me too.

Cornflowers

2011-07-16T21:29:00.001+01:00

Snapdragons

2011-07-16T21:22:00.002+01:00

Self-seeded from when I used to grow them in rows for cut flowers:

Orchard in July

2011-07-16T21:08:00.004+01:00

Speaks for itself really.

Back garden in July

2011-07-16T20:48:00.004+01:00

Scabious

Kniphofia

Clematis and perennial sweet pea

Potentilla

And the rest:

Gardening for wildlife

2011-07-02T19:04:00.017+01:00

I've always gardened with wildlife in mind, and each year try to add something new for the benefit of my fellow creatures.

When I first took over this plot twelve years ago it had been vacant for some years and was fast returning to the how nature intended - brambles and young ash seedlings were making the beginnings of primary temperate rainforest. So I can't take the credit for the hedges around two sides of my boundary which in places are thickets of blackberry and dog roses up to three or four metres deep. Together with the trees - elder, hawthorn, holly, horse chestnut and ash - they make good cover for the birds for nesting and feeding. I see and hear all of the common garden birds as well as the endangered song thrush which nests here up in the tangle of dog roses. I leave any fallen or standing dead wood to decay in it's own sweet time and add piles of logs and brash as homes for hedgehogs and any other creatures which see fit to use them. The foxes lurk about here too; they make a nuisance of themselves scratting about in my crops from time to time but no doubt they were here long before I was. At this time of year much of the whole is smothered by the twining stems of bindweed, whose pure white flowers are enjoyed by night-flying moths. Wildflowers such as rosebay willowherb, thistles and mallow add to the jolly melee. Not forgetting the nettles which are so important for the butterflies and their caterpillars. To all this I've added hawthorn, rowan, amelanchier and cherry plum.

The trees and hedgerow merge into the grasses and flowers of the orchard, mimicking the features of a woodland edge (the ecotone, to use the scientific parlance). Since planting out the ox-eye daisies in the orchard I've left most of the grass to grow long with just a couple of paths mown through - many butterfly caterpillars rely on grass species to feed on before emerging as adults in July and August. Some parts of the orchard are shady and others open - one area in particular I had to take out some plum tree suckers which were taking too much light from the growing areas and I now like to think of this area as my sunny glade. Since I've stopped mowing the grasses and wildflowers that were already there have been able to reach their full potential - amongst them self-heal, buttercup and clover - all much appreciated by the bees and butterflies.

In the growing areas the meadow and cornfield mixtures which I sowed last year have spread themselves around a little further and I've added to them here and there. These together with the green manure plants that I've left to flower are buzzing with bees throughout the day, and it's where I always start mine. I'm also slowly adding to my collection of beneficial herbaceous perennials to provide as much pollen and nectar throughout the year.

For as long as anyone can remember this area has also been a magnet for migrating swifts who make their nests under the eaves of the old tape factory just over the road. And there's also the bats fluttering around at dusk - I've no idea where they roost but they must enjoy the profusion of night-flying moths.

All in all it makes life worth living.

And then some.

Better than a poke in the eye

2011-06-18T16:43:00.005+01:00

We had one good day of rain last weekend and although we could do with much more it was better than nothing, which is where we were. A few showers in the week and some heavy ones today; nothing special but better than a poke in the eye.

Cropping strawberries and raspberries, spring cabbage, early carrots, potatoes and peas, broad beans, green garlic, salad leaves and herbs.

Onwards and upwards

2011-06-18T16:34:00.004+01:00

I've been enjoying the Early Onward peas although of course the crop isn't as hefty as usual due to the lack of rain. They've got plenty of compost under them and I've been watering since they started flowering.

The Onward maincrop were sulking until we had last weekend's rain since when they've put on a spurt. I've another row following them on too.

Roots

2011-06-18T16:27:00.006+01:00

The scorenza is nicely established but the carrots and leeks are struggling. Still, they've plenty of time in the ground yet and with a bit of luck we might get a wet summer.

I start my early carrots off in a trough in the greenhouse in March and move them outside as it starts warming up and am cropping the babies now.

Spuds

2011-06-18T16:23:00.004+01:00

These have really suffered the lack of rain. I've tried a few of the earlies for a treat even though they're still immature - it's got to be better than paying for imported new potatoes. Not surprisingly the lack of rain has led to the maincrop flowering early, how much of a crop I'll get is anyone's guess but I'm not holding my breath.

Brassicas

2011-06-18T16:10:00.006+01:00

I gave the ropey looking summer cabbage I was going to pull out a reprieve - just as well as it's managed to shake off the attention of the flea beetles and grow away nicely. The sprouts and broccoli are doing alright too.

I'm still eating spring cabbage, it's nearly over but has kept me in greens for weeks now; I've some kale to fill the gap before the summer ones are ready.

Soft fruit

2011-06-18T16:01:00.005+01:00

My old strawberry and raspberry plants have been the star performers this year - all that early warmth has resulted in the biggest and sweetest fruits I've ever known. The gooseberries are later than usual but worth waiting for.

Food for the soul

2011-06-18T15:58:00.009+01:00

I used to grow flowers for cutting and drying, now I grow them for the bees and butterflies. Phacelia, poppies, campion and more are all flowering now. The bees are loving them and so am I. Some I've sown this year but more than a few are self-sown from last year. And some are happy accidents - like the winter tares I sowed for green manure then left to flower.

It's good to see the RHS doing their bit with its Perfect for Pollinators scheme and that Sarah Raven is catching up with my ideas.

I'm nothing if not modest.

Trentham Gardens

2011-06-04T20:16:00.010+01:00

Now that most of the sowing and planting is done I've time to slope off and visit some gardens. So today I headed off up the A50 to Trentham Gardens near Stoke, which are described by Alan Titchmarsh as one of the UK's must-see gardens. Blimey. They've had some serious money spent on them in recent years so I had high hopes.

The Trentham estate has an interesting history - it was once the country pile of the Duke of Sutherland, who had the house demolished in 1911, one reason being the smell of industrial pollution from the nearby River Trent, which I for one find hilarious. The Gardens were also the site of the infamous Trentham Ballroom (1931-2002) which hosted all the best bands from The Beatles to Pink Floyd. The parkland and lake were laid out by Capability Brown and the original Italianate gardens by Sir Charles Barry in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is now owned by St Modwen Properties PLC and Willi Reitz, the German entrepreneur, and operated as a "leisure destination". I went anyway.

The entrance to the gardens is through the horrendous "shopping village" which doesn't exactly put you in the right frame of mind for what is to come.

The first garden is the Piet Oudolf-designed Rivers of Grass, which is how it sounds. I wasn't impressed at first but when I went back later I started to get my head round it. It probably looks better in autumn. This leads on to the Floral Labyrinth, which apparently looks better in July and August, which might explain why they haven't bothered getting on top of the weeding yet.

The 19th century Italian Gardens were given a complete makeover in 2004 by designer Tom Stuart-Smith "with one of the largest contemporary perennial plantings in Europe". Phew. Some lovely planting combinations I must admit and the area I spent the most time in. What's more I'd timed it right to see the collection of bearded irises.

At the bottom of the gardens by the lake there's a statue of Perseus and Medusa - God knows what that's all about, maybe put there to scare the kiddies, and unmistakably a fine example of the mindset of the 19th century aristocracy.

I suppose the only problem with big public gardens like these is that they don't seem to have any soul. "We've spent all the money on the designers chaps, now here's the maintenance schedule - get on with it." Undoubtedly beautiful in parts, but where's the love? Where's the passion? It's just in the way of things I suppose.

The little show gardens - "for garden inspiration on a domestic scale" - were quite interesting, something for everyone, nice for the kiddies too - just as well after that statue.

I had a wander round the woods and the lake too so I can't say I didn't get my moneys worth.

And the National Trust could learn a thing or two from these corporate boys - tear down those ugly country houses - those symbols of privilege, oppression and exploitation - and spend the money on the gardens. It might upset the American tourists but it would please me no end.

The end is nigh, or not.

2011-05-24T19:37:00.005+01:00

So I planted out the brussels sprouts on Saturday, since when the wind has been doing it's damnedest to rip them out again. We've had a little bit of rain but nowhere near enough to do much good. On the other hand there's plenty of flowers to enjoy and at least the rapture didn't happen yet.

Sprouts

2011-05-24T19:35:00.000+01:00

Planted out:

In my garden

2011-05-24T19:13:00.005+01:00

Cabbaged

2011-05-19T20:20:00.003+01:00

The spring cabbage I sowed last August is doing nicely and providing me with plenty of greens...

...which is just as well because the summer cabbages aren't doing well at all. The dry weather has left them stressed and so vulnerable to pests. This lot are being attacked by flea beetles; they'll never make decent plants and will have to come out.

Peas

2011-05-19T20:19:00.000+01:00

The early peas haven't liked the dry weather much either. They're only about two-thirds as tall as normal and won't get much taller as they've started to flower now.

Garlic

2011-05-19T20:18:00.004+01:00

I planted these last autumn and although I've lost a few to the dreaded white rot on the whole I'm quite pleased with how they're coming along.

Spuds

2011-05-19T20:10:00.002+01:00

First and second earlies and maincrop:

Tomatoes

2011-05-19T20:04:00.004+01:00

I'm treating these a bit differently this year with a bit of DIY ring culture - I've planted them straight into their growbags and surrounded each plant with a 20cm bottomless pot which I'll top up with compost as they grow.

Phacelia and californian poppies

2011-05-19T19:57:00.004+01:00

These have self-seeded from last year and besides looking beautiful the bees are loving them too.

Ox-eye daisies

2011-05-19T19:50:00.005+01:00

I'm well pleased with these. I started them off from seed and planted them out in my orchard last year. Now they're flowering a treat. Hopefully they'll seed themselves around and spread too.

Struggling

2011-05-01T20:20:00.003+01:00

May Day. Up the workers. April in central England turned out to be the hottest and driest since records began 350 years ago, ie it didn't rain. At all. The sun is blazing and just to rub it in there's a stiff easterly wind doing it's damnedest to desiccate everything in it's path. It's blowing just cold enough for me not to notice the UV taking my skin off. Not good growing weather. The perennials and anything planted out last year with their roots well down in the soil - the broccoli, asparagus and spinach - is doing well enough, so I won't starve. Even the autumn-planted spring cabbage is hearting up nicely without any watering. But anything planted out this spring is struggling - the peas look sorrowful and the cabbage positively pathetic.

9-star perennial broccoli undersown with trefoil.

In my garden

2011-05-01T20:10:00.007+01:00

Out in the country

2011-05-01T19:59:00.004+01:00

There's been a police helicopter clattering over our neighbourhood today, disturbing the peace and generally making a nuisance of itself, so I escaped up the fields.

April Is The New June

2011-04-17T22:52:00.003+01:00

I shouldn't have to be seeking out the shade at this time of year but that's how it's been. Much too hot and still no rain - so much for April showers.

The cherry-plum, plum and pear blossom has been and and gone and the cherry and apple is out now - about two weeks early.

Eating fresh asparagus, spinach and purple-sprouting broccoli.

The first row of peas are planted out and there's plenty of seedlings on the go in the greenhouse and coldframes. All we need now is some rain.

Blossom time

2011-04-17T22:49:00.004+01:00

Cherry

Apple

Early peas

2011-04-17T22:47:00.003+01:00

Planted out and growing away:

Broccoli

2011-04-17T22:46:00.002+01:00

Spring

2011-04-03T21:41:00.003+01:00

So, after one of the coldest winters on record it's been the driest March for fifty years, and with temperatures well above average. Very pleasant but also a little ominous.

Out in the countryside the hawthorn is greening up even as the blackthorn is still in blossom.

I've seen red-tailed bumble bees and orange-tipped and peacock butterflies.

And I like the way the elder sneaks into leaf without me noticing (but then I would wouldn't I).

Sowing time

2011-04-03T21:39:00.004+01:00

Sowing lots of seeds this weekend, here's some I did earlier:

Cabbages

Peas

In my garden

2011-04-03T21:35:00.000+01:00

Blooming now - hellebores and pulsatilla -

Making a start

2011-03-13T17:58:00.004Z

Here we go again; my seed potatoes are chitting I've and sown a few seeds. I'm still eating sprouts and carrots from the plot and there's some early spinach. Last years maincrop potatoes that I have in store are starting to sprout and go a bit soft but as yet are still edible. And there's no shortage of young nettles.

I can't say I'm feeling overly enthusiastic - the world seems to be going into meltdown, both literally and metaphorically. At the end of the day all I can do is get on with it and continue doing what I believe is right for me, right for my loved ones and right for the planet.

I can see a point coming in the not too distant future when access to land will be more useful than access to money, so I'm thankful I've got this bit of earth to nourish. It gives back more than I could ever put into it.

And these daffodils that I planted around the fruit trees in my orchard are helping to lift my spirits.

Cultivation

2011-03-13T15:14:00.001Z

I've done all the digging I'm going to do. This last patch is where my potatoes will be going.

Spreading home-made compost:

...and digging it in:

Yes we have no broccoli

2011-03-13T12:46:00.006Z

I always look forward to cropping the purple sprouting at this time of year - it being the first new crop of the season - but this year it ain't gonna happen; the cold winter has put paid to that. Needless to say these plants are now on the compost.

Records 2011

2011-03-13T12:34:00.032Z

Mostly for my benefit, I'll update it as the season goes on.

Antirrhinum (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 2.4, 1/2 seedtray. Pricked out 7.5 to medium modules x12. Potted on to 12cm pots 29.5. Planted out 30cm apart x7 11.6.

Basil (saved seed from Tenerife) - Sown in greenhouse 2.4, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x5 30.4. Planted in trough 29.5.

Bladder Campion (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 9.4, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x8 7.5. Moved to coldframe 14.5. Planted out in orchard 4.6.

Broad bean "Aquadulce Claudia" - Sown 15.10, 1/2 row.

Broccoli "Early Purple Sprouting Red Arrow" - Sown 16.4, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x9 7.5. Moved to coldframe 14.5. Planted out 75cm apart 28.5.

Broccoli (white) "Nine Star Perennial" - Sown in coldframe 14.5, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots 11.6. Planted out ?

Brussels Sprouts "Cascade F1" - Sown in greenhouse 9.4, small modules x20. Potted on to 9cm pots x12 30.4. Moved to coldframe 14.5. Planted out 60cm apart 21.5

Cabbage "January King" - Sown 7.8 in 15cm pot in coldframe. And 1/2 row 12.8.

Cabbage "Hispi F1" - Sown in 15cm pot in coldframe 8.5. Planted out 11.6 30cm apart. And another 15cm pot sown same day. Planted out ?

Cabbage "Greyhound" - Sown in greenhouse 12.3, 1/2 seedtray. Discarded in favour of Spitfire.

Cabbage "Spitfire F1" - Sown in greenhouse 12.3, 1/2 seedtray. Planted out 23.4 x20, 30cm apart.

Carnation "Giant Chabaud Mixed" - Sown in greenhouse 2.4, small modules x20. Potted on to 9cm pots x19 6.5. Moved to coldframe 14.5. Planted out 10.6 x19 30cm apart, 1 row.

Carrot "Early Nantes" - Sown 2.4 in trough in greenhouse. Moved to coldframe 20.4.

Carrot "Amsterdam Forcing" - Sown direct 19.5, 1 row.

Carrot "Autumn King 2" - Sown direct 19.5, 1 row.

Chineese Mustard "Green in Snow" - Sown 7.8, short row.

Climbing French bean - Sown in greenhouse 7.5, medium modules x24. Planted out 4.6.

Clover (white) - Sown 31.3 for paths.

Clover (crimson) - Sown 8.5 for green manure around courgettes.

Cosmos "Candy Stripe" - Sown in greenhouse 2.4, small modules x20. Potted on to 9cm pots 23.4. Moved to coldframe 6.5. Planted out 14.5.

Courgette "Black Beauty" - Sown 16.4, 9cm pots x6. Moved to coldframe 30.4. Planted out 8.5.

Flax (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 2.4, small modules x20. Potted on to 9cm pots 23.4. Moved to coldframe 6.5. Planted out 14.5.

French bean "Purple Queen" - Sown in greenhouse 8.5, medium modules x24. Moved to coldframe 14.5. Planted out 4.6 20cm apart and 1/2 row sown direct.

Garlic "Vallelao" (from saved cloves) - Planted out 19.11, 20cm apart, 2 short rows 30cm apart.

Kale (Cavolo) "Palmizio Senza Testa" - Sown direct 16.5, 1/2 row. Eaten by flea beetles.

Leek "Musselburgh" - Sown in 15cm pot in greenhouse 23.4. Moved to coldframe 14.5. Planted out 11.6, 20cm apart, 1 row.

Marigolds (saved seed from Tenerife) - Sown direct 14.5, short row.

Mizuna - Sown direct 8.5, short row. eaten by flea beetles. Another short row sown 11.6 plus x12 medium modules in coldframe. Potted on to 9cm pots 3.7. Planted out ?

Nicotiana Sylvestris "White Trumpets" - Sown 2.4 in greenhouse, 1/2 seedtray. Pricked out to medium modules x12 30.4. Potted on to 12cm pots x12 14.5. Planted out 60cm apart 28.5.

Pea "Early Onward" - Sown in greenhouse 12.3, 9cm pots x32, 3 seeds per pot. Moved to coldframe 28.3. Planted out 9.4, 1/2 row.

Pea "Onward" - Sown direct 8.5, 1 row. And another 28.5.

Pea bean (saved seed) - Sown in greenhouse 7.5, medium modules x12. Moved to coldframe 21.5. Planted out 28.5.

Phacelia (green manure) - Sown broadcast 13.4. And 11.6 where garlic was.

Potato "Desiree" - 1kg bought in for chitting 12.3. Planted out 22.4, 1 row,15cm deep, 40cm apart.

Potato "International Kidney" - 2kg bought in for chitting 12.3. Planted out 31.3, 1 row, 15cm deep, 30cm apart. Earthed up 27.4.

Potato "Wilja" - 1kg bought in for chitting 12.3. Planted out 31.3, 1 row, 15cm deep, 30cm apart. Earthed up 27.4.

Runner bean "Enorma" - Sown 8.5 in greenhouse, large modules x36. Moved to coldframe 21.5. Planted out 28.5.

Salad leaves - Sown 2.4 in 15cm pot in greenhouse. Moved to coldframe 30.4. And another sown 23.4. Moved to coldframe and another sown 14.5.

Scorzonera "Long Black Maxima" - Sown direct 23.4, 1 row.

Spinach "Mikado F1" - Sown 1/2 row 12.8.

Sweet Pea "Royal Mixed" - Sown in coldframe 12.3, 9cm pots x8, 1 seed per pot. Pinched and planted out x3 22.4.

Tomato "Gardeners Delight" - Sown in propagator 9.4, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x4 30.4. Planted in growbags 14.5.

Trefoil (green manure) - Sown broadcast 13.4.

Wild Rocket - Sown in greenhouse 9.4, small modules x10. Potted on to 9cm pots x7 7.5. Moved to coldframe 14.5. Planted out 4.6 30cm apart.

WILD FLOWERS/MIXES -

Field Poppy - Sown broadcast 13.4.

Pictorial Meadows Classic Mix - Sown broadcast with sand 15.4.

Pictorial Meadows Contrasting Mix - Sown broadcast with sand 13.4.

Leaving Tenerife

2011-02-27T12:44:00.010Z

Back home now and feeling lucky to have been able to spend much of the winter in the warmth and sunshine. Already I'm missing the fresh greens, tomatoes, avocados, bananas and much more.

I love the scenery of south west Tenerife and was able to spend time walking in the mountains where spring is much in evidence, the almond blossom on the trees around the towns and villages is especially beautiful at this time of year:

Every part of what many people would call scrub land is to my eyes as beautiful as any garden.

The hour before sunset infuses everything with a golden glow:

Not so long ago the island would have had a sustainable economy based on farming and fishing but has now mostly gone over to tourism. The terraces where lentils and chickpeas once grew lie abandoned. But up in the mountains I sometimes came across people still living the old ways with a few goats and a patch of vegetables. Just as it should be:

The last of my photos from Tenerife are here.

Back in the sunshine

2011-01-26T22:45:00.013Z

I can't say I'm a big fan of the no dig/no weed/foraging approach to growing but that's how I've been spending my time, back working on the permaculture finca in sunny Tenerife.

Here's a taste of how some of it works: we've been weeding the paths around the beds on a couple of the terraces but not the beds themselves, only really large woody weeds are removed:

Along the irrigation lines, next to each dripper, pumpkin plants are put in:

There are no slugs or snails here, the only pests are rabbits - who can't spot the plants in amongst the weeds. During the summer when there's no rain the weeds die off - only the pumpkin plants survive as they are being irrigated.

I've also been sowing sweetcorn using the same approach. So does it work? The remains of last years corn plants were still there so I guess it must - though what the yields were like I don't know. Good volcanic soil, a great climate and irrigation obviously also helps.

In amongst the weeds there are also self-sown crops like rocket, Canarian spinach, mallow and tomatoes like this one:

Another of our jobs has been mulching around the many avocado trees which are part of the developing forest gardens:

Another important crop is bananas; these are grown commercially on a large scale on the island, often in large plastic greenhouses (actually very fine netting) but not being indigenous they need a lot of water, again via irrigation. Here on the finca they are of course grown organically and as the top layer in some of the forest gardens:

I've been enjoying my time here, made new friends, and the methods being used are certainly thought-provoking. The owner's vision is that eventually the whole system will become self-sustaining; how long that will take only time will tell.

And the scenery isn't bad either:

My latest photos from Tenerife are here, here, here and here.

Advertisement promotion

2010-12-28T20:26:00.006Z

A Beginners Guide to Shopping in Derby.

Shopping in Derby is not conducted in the street but in special houses called shops. Some of these shops are very big, bigger even than the Mayor of Derby's house.

You can get a pie and chips in Derby for around two and sixpence but the nutritional quality may be questionable. Mushy peas are not as popular as urban legend would have you believe.

Derby people call each other "duck" or "ducky". Don't try this in Shepton Mallet as you will not be understood.

The Westfield Centre is full of well-dressed people buying new clothes. They are obviously all certifiable but as yet the authorities don't appear to be doing anything about it.

People who can't afford to shop in The Westfield Centre are known as "The Others". If you are very poor you can still be part of "The Others" but have to go to the car boot sale at the cattle market on Sunday mornings. The cattle market is located outside the inner ring road.

The inner ring road was completed in November 2009.

To be allowed in The Westfield Centre you need to have more money than sense/be shoplifting/be taking a short cut to the cattle market.

Traffic wardens in Derby are easy to spot as they are dressed the same and walk around in pairs. The same goes for security men. This doesn't mean they are twins; I know because I've asked.

Derby city centre has many CCTV cameras and security men. This makes shoplifting a challenge but don't let that put you off.

Derby is a multi-cultural sort of place so it helps if you can speak in tongues and wave your arms around a bit. This may also help when you are caught shoplifting.

Derby is very safe and does not have a police force.

There is a shop in Derby called The Merry Cobbler. This used to make me laugh but not any more. Cobbling is a serious business.

Don't try shopping in Derby on a Wednesday afternoon as most of it will be closed. On other days of the week Derby may appear to be closed but this is not the case. You just aren't looking hard enough.

On the other hand a lot of shops in Derby are empty. If you walk into a plate glass window in Derby it's probably because the council has cunningly disguised it as a real shop. You could try suing but I don't fancy your chances.

The main industries in Derby are shops, cobbling and nuclear weapons.

Hola

2010-12-23T14:46:00.006Z

A belated happy solstice to you all. Did anyone see the lunar eclipse? I missed it on account of it being too cloudy here in Derby. And too cold to get out of bed anyway.

I'm feeling the cold having just spent three weeks in sunny Tenerife, working (through HelpX) on a finca up in the hills above Puerto Santiago, a small permaculture holding with bananas, advocado and mango trees interplanted with cardoons, sweet potatoes and stuff. And vegetable crops like pumpkins and tomatoes. Mosly clearing areas for planting, pruning and mulching around the trees. Good time had by all and hopefully somewhere I'll get back to soon.

There's more photos of my trip here, here and here.

New World Disorder

2010-11-28T16:19:00.008Z

November is the new January. Siberian winds, snow and penetrating frost; we've just had the coldest November night since records began. -8 here this morning. And apparently it's going to get worse.

The Jet stream appears to have stopped or broken down over Europe:

You see the UK and Ireland, Northern France, Germany etc. and Scandinavia in the bottom centre? Usually the Jet stream goes straight across Northern Europe acting as a buffer against the freezing Arctic weather. But now it has looped down over Spain with another arm over North Africa. Apparently that has never happened before. (source: Sott.net)

If I were a conspiracy theorist I might say that this is a result of our government's clumsy secret attempts at geo-engineering via chemtrails. But surely they wouldn't be going that far! Would they?

Peaceful autumn colours

2010-11-03T22:08:00.003Z

I find September a bit depressing, end of summer and all that. But once I get my head round it and the leaves start changing colour, autumn isn't all that bad. Especially when the sun comes out.

Still plenty to eat too: carrots and leeks; apples and the last raspberries; spuds, onions and dried beans in store. In fact I seem to have enough spuds to feed an army, which would be handy if I decide to declare war on my neighbours. Perish the thought.

Thoughts on digging

2010-11-03T20:36:00.005Z

I'm taking a different approach to digging this year. I'm not yet convinced enough to go for a complete no-dig system but I did notice where my maincrop potatoes did so very well this year was where the ground hadn't been dug for several years (prior to that it had been growing strawberries). And farmers always used to leave part of their land fallow each year - I think putting my meadow mixes into the rotation and leaving them for two or three years should achieve something similar. So anyway this autumn I've only dug compost into this patch where the ground is heavy and cloddy, so that the frosts can break it up over winter. Everywhere else it's already nice and fertile - and has mostly been mulched with compost over the spring and summer - so I reckon I'll cover bare ground with leaves to stop nutrients being washed out by the winter rains, then just fluff it up a bit in spring prior to sowing.

More autumn colour

2010-11-03T20:30:00.005Z

Besides the changing leaf colours there's also still a few flowers to enjoy in the garden and on the plot:

Monkshood

Evening primrose

Californian poppies

Chillis

2010-11-03T20:27:00.002Z

I'm having a go at drying the last of these. Should make useful ammunition for the winter.

How it is

2010-10-03T13:13:00.007+01:00

It's shaping up to be a wet autumn so I'm glad I got the maincrop spuds safely gathered in last weekend. Out on the plot there's carrots, leeks and sprouts for the winter and purple sprouting broccoli for the early spring. The spring cabbage is starting to grow away and I've sown some broad beans for then too. The runner beans are over but I've got peas in the freezer. In the greenhouse the tomatoes are about over but the dastardly peppers are still cropping nicely. In the fruit department I've still plenty of apples, pears and the last of the blackberries and autumn raspberries. I'm also sprinkling a few home grown flax seeds on my muesli of a morning - I haven't developed x-ray vision yet but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

A belated happy autumn equinox to us all!

Saving seed

2010-10-03T13:08:00.003+01:00

Pea beans and french beans - I'll let these dry out for a few days before shelling them.

Funky pea beans:

Sprouts

2010-10-03T13:07:00.001+01:00

Bottom leaves need removing when I get round to it.

Carrots

2010-10-03T13:04:00.002+01:00

A nice row of Autumn King, if I do say so myself.

Right then

2010-09-20T23:34:00.003+01:00

Right then, back to gardening. Time to savor the last of summer.

Apples

2010-09-20T23:29:00.005+01:00

Am I eating apples? Yes I am.

Chillies

2010-09-20T23:25:00.003+01:00

Tried a couple of slices of the first red ones yesterday and they nearly blew my head off. Should make useful gifts.

Disappointing sweetcorn

2010-09-20T23:12:00.005+01:00

These made great looking plants but the cobs are disappointing. They were supposedly meant to be "mini-corn" (Minipop F1 from Mr Fothergills) but are much the same size as normal corn and you can judge the quality for yourselves:

Having checked the seed packet again it says to harvest them before the kernels form at approx 10cm long. But surely they wouldn't be ripe then? And the picture on the packet shows cobs with ripe kernels. I may have to investigate further.

Green manure

2010-09-20T23:03:00.003+01:00

The winter tares are growing away nicely and I'll dig them in in the spring:

The trefoil I've dug in now and I'll be planting garlic here in November:

Meadow mix

2010-09-20T22:45:00.004+01:00

Still looking lovely.

Back garden

2010-09-20T22:27:00.000+01:00

Fuchsia

Sedum

Rose campion

Geranium

Remembering Sid Rawle

2010-09-06T20:37:00.006+01:00

I first went to Stonehenge free festival in 1981. I didn't know any Sid Rawle but I did get to score some dodgy acid and see Hawkwind.

Time passes, I settle down then un-settle down and the first I get to hear about Rainbow Circle camps is in 1990 at Sunseed in Spain from Tara and Steve who are running the place at the time. I thought "that sounds interesting" and so it was that I landed up with my kids in a field at the healing camp at Upper Hill. The first I see of Sid he's bawling at Ra who's up in a tree house. (Sid was always bawling and shouting back then until he found out he was diabetic - once that was sorted he was a lot more mellow and likable).

The camp was all a bit much for a council gardener from Derby - hundreds of people, a bit chaotic, women screaming - "sorting out their stuff" I would learn. Personally I spent a lot of my time wandering the woods and fields, dipping back into it now and then. But anyway I go to a few more camps and slowly it starts making sense and over the years I get myself a proper education in everything from transactional analysis to how to fly a spaceship and all points in between.

I started to understand where Sid was coming from at a workshop he was running in the big lodge. I can't remember what the theme was but he was throwing stuff in the fire and doing incantations - ever the showman/shaman, then up in the woods, something about the glass always being half full, half empty. I can't remember much more, I was smoking a lot of dope at the time and was staring into the sun, trying to get information. Probably should have paid more attention but learning is a curve yeah?.

Anyway with help from some wonderful people I eventually get to sort out a bit of my own stuff. Make many friends and a few lovers; probably got a few peoples backs up from time to time but that's life (deal with it). Then the split...yadda yadda...Sid and Bernie set up Rainbow 2000, time to make a contribution and I end up crewing. Led the occasional meditation to Dusty Springfield or maybe it was Abba.

One day I'm mooching round the site near Jules's dome and in the hedge bottom I find an old Forest Fayre t-shirt. "You can have that" says Jules, "we've got a bag full of 'em somewhere". Of course it didn't fit, it was too big - it was Sid's.

Sid wouldn't drive, he preferred to be chauffeured around. One time I was driving him all round the west country, trying to drum up support for the camps which were losing money at the time. We were in Jules's old rover and the engine was screaming. "It has got a fifth gear y'know" says Sid. After that it was plain sailing. I learnt a lot of little things like that from Sid. Not rocket science, just cruise control and stuff.

The land behind the bungalow at Blackthorn Farm was just a hayfield back then. Sid had planted some fruit trees which he wanted me to prune but I couldn't be arsed. He didn't seem to mind, he probably couldn't be arsed either.

Groups of people eventually start behaving like families. Someone has to be mum and dad and Sid and Jules fitted that role - Sid with his natural air of authority and Jules with her infinite patience. Which was just as well with all us children acting out and forever demanding their time and attention. Never judgmental, never trying to tell us what to do, letting us learn from our mistakes. But a time comes when you have to leave mummy and daddy and get on with your life. I've only made flying visits to the camps in recent years but have always been welcomed back with open arms.

So now Sid's gone back to the light and all that. No-one will ever be big enough to fill his boots, or his smelly t-shirt. The Rainbow family carries on.

There's some "proper" obituaries to Sid here and here.

Rain rain rain

2010-08-29T22:01:00.004+01:00

All the rain we should have had in the spring seems to have fallen in the last fortnight. Still, life goes on, which is just as well really. More than enough to eat, still sweet peas and carnations for fragrance, and I'm in danger from falling fruit with all the plums. Thinking ahead I've been sowing chicory, spring cabbage and kale. And this afternoon it even stopped raining.

Carnations

2010-08-29T21:01:00.002+01:00

Summer cabbages

2010-08-29T20:59:00.001+01:00

Eryngium

2010-08-29T20:57:00.003+01:00

I've got one of these on the plot. So blue. Can't eat it but that hardly matters.

Tomatoes

2010-08-29T20:55:00.001+01:00

Still going strong. Tomato sauce on everything at the moment.