Category Archives: Allotment

seagrass shed

A dry May Day allowed me to paint the shed; much needed new livery to match its recently waterproofed roof. I’m not sure that the colour is as bonny as the previous blue, but it’s certainly better than the rather … Continue reading

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a constructive weekend

Twisting twiggy birch brooms (sound like the start of an old fashioned tongue twister) turns out to be not only immensely absorbing but also rather therapeutic. Hours passed unnoticed as I transformed piles of branches into woven supports for the … Continue reading

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easter posy

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more mud

It’s frustrating still not being able to do much, even when the sun shines. The conditions remain such that even walking on the paths leaves my wellies weighed down by clods of clay mud… I did however clear the brassica … Continue reading

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mud

Inspired by Charles Dowding’s no-dig philosophy, and in defiance of my somewhat calvinist nature, I am going to try this method on some of the beds this year. To add to the likelihood of success, I placed an order for … Continue reading

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a mouse in the compost

Turning the compost, forking it from one side over the compartment wall to the other is Hard Work, ideal for a chilly day. It was gratifying how many red worms there were, and how effective the results of their activity. … Continue reading

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quince and tomatoes

Rich autumnal harvest now. Mostly tomatoes (variety Crimson Blush which is indeed – praise be! – blight resistant) and kilos and kilos of quince. Last year the little tree produced just a few treasured fruit; this year, its fourth since … Continue reading

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mowing challenge, cucumbers & fruitfulness

The heavy old mower my friend Rob kindly gave to me is becoming temperamental. Today, after 3 wet weeks, the abundant grass paths nearly finished us both off. But the cucumbers have enjoyed the weather and I even managed to … Continue reading

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in the pink

  The pink theme prevails despite torrential rain – in the shape of Rose de Roscoff (aka Keravel) onions brought inside just in time and the indomitable James Galway roses putting up a brave show.

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sweet pea arch – take 2

By popular demand (well, two kind souls asked) here’s a picture of the whole arch; if I’d been a bit more assiduous in training them, I probably could have got the sweet peas joined over the top instead of growing … Continue reading

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sweet pea arch

The sweet pea arch has now grown to such a height that I can barely reach the newest flowers. It’s hard to believe the fuss I had to get them going, just a few weeks ago. I think it was … Continue reading

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jewelled moments

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flurry

The Farnham Allotment Show is always a happy affair; beautifully organised and populated by a wonderfully diverse cross section of local people, united by devotion to their allotments. I find it so sweet as we all arrive, carefully bearing our … Continue reading

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can you have too many sweet peas?

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purple basilico et al

This lot was just a quick pick of young veg to add to a picnic salad – still tender enough to eat raw, chopped small and mixed with wild rice and a light dressing.

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black hawk down

It was probably the finest plant I’ve grown this year. Funny how you can plant seeds from the same packet in exactly the same way, yet one develops into a much more vigorous and healthy specimen… This was a courgette … Continue reading

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yippeeee

What a busy day; and how very satisfying to see things coming at last to fruition. Aren’t they gorgeous?! Only a short time before they are the first delectable courgette harvest.  And what about the peas, only recently so threatened … Continue reading

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asparagus trials

Trials and tribulations actually. I’ve been nurturing my asparagus bed now for 5 years and have yet to harvest any. I had done the deep trench thing, added drainage and delicately straddled the octopussy roots over a carefully constructed ridge … Continue reading

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spring cleaning the shed

Tardis-like, my modest shed had somehow accommodated a massive jumble of ‘stuff’, much of it dirty from muddy winter days when tidy cleaning up was secondary to getting home to the Aga. But yesterday, the time had come! Here it … Continue reading

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vintage terracotta pots

I was so happy to find these treasures at the Saturday market at Farnham Maltings this weekend, provenance an old manor house sale. The teeny ones are over 100 years old; auricula pots. They had all been stored safely in … Continue reading

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