Category Archives: Allotment

sunday best

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Ruth Paris

The allotment judges will be doing their rounds soon so I assuaged my post-referendum bleakness with a weekend of tidying. It’s not so much a desire to ‘win’ – more a sense of wanting my beloved huerto to be looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Allotment, peas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

early summer promise

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Ruth Paris

This gallery contains 12 photos.

If you click on an image you can see the detail better. Particularly pleased with the gooseberries this year. And the red sweetcorn is starting to grow…

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

pigeons, peas and red sweetcorn

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Ruth Paris

After such a good start and me feeling all pleased with the peas and pretty birch structures, Nature has struck back in the form of pigeons who have pretty well demolished all the healthy young plants. Windmills are clearly not … Continue reading →

Posted in Allotment, peas, pigeons | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

progress

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Ruth Paris

With a bit of warmth things are progressing well, and some nice leeks and psb for supper. More seeds planted today: beetroot Chioggia / Cheltenham Green Top and yellow cylindrical as well as a white variety; two Turkish chillis Urfa … Continue reading →

Posted in Allotment | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

seagrass shed

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment, beans, no dig method, painted shed, Shed | 2 Comments

a constructive weekend

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment | 3 Comments

easter posy

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Ruth Paris
Posted in Allotment | 1 Comment

more mud

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment | Comments Off on more mud

mud

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment | 2 Comments

a mouse in the compost

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a mouse in the compost

quince and tomatoes

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment, allotment recipes | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

mowing challenge, cucumbers & fruitfulness

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

in the pink

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Ruth Paris

  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.

Posted in Allotment | Comments Off on in the pink

sweet pea arch – take 2

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment, slugs, sweet peas | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

sweet pea arch

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment, huerto | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

jewelled moments

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Ruth Paris
Posted in Allotment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

flurry

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment | Comments Off on flurry

can you have too many sweet peas?

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Ruth Paris
Posted in Allotment | Tagged | 1 Comment

purple basilico et al

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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.

Posted in Allotment | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

black hawk down

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Ruth Paris

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 →

Posted in Allotment | Tagged | Comments Off on black hawk down