Weather Post

Just can't figure out the weather this year at all. I don't completely subscribe to the whole carbon emissions problem (although there is no argument against reducing pollution) but I do know that the weather is at the very least unpredictable this year.

A month ago I was sweating buckets whilst working on the allotment, whilst at the same time last year I was freezing. This month it's been famine or feast as far as both sun and rain go.

Only the berry bushes and the peas seem oblivious, whilst everything else keeps peeking its head up, taking a look around and then deciding to leave it for a bit. Myself included.

And to add to this my seed tattie supplier has been painfully slow in fulfilling my order, so the 'earlies' will be no such thing. however, at least I am gonna get my hands on some Golden Wonders eventually.

Maybe June and the solstice will bring some order to proceedings (pro-seedings) and to my orders as well...

And sew it begins

Finally got round to digging over the allotment after winter abruptly ended in Edinburgh.
The land has been tilled and the first lot of seeds sown. The weeds have been consigned to the compost bin and already the berry bushes are beginning to show signs of blossom.
All is right with the world.

Still trying to get my hands on some Golden Wonder seed tatties, which I'm really looking forward to eating in a non-crisp packet format. But apart from that the usual suspects are in the ground. Onions (red and white), leeks, carrots, spinach and peas. With much more to come when the ground gets up to a decent temperature in the next couple of weeks.

Growing time is here and lots of lovely summer salads will follow. Simple pleasures.

Eeee! It's Parky!

Been trying to steel myself for the upcoming dig-over. But everytime the weekend comes it just seems to be too darned cold.

I know it needs to be done but each time I get the chance I think to myself, 'Well, does it really need to be done now', I mean there are a few weeks left before anything will require planting.

But I have been reminded that it is sometimes best to give the allotment a good digging before the decent weather arrives. Apparently any ensuing frost helps to break the soil up even more, and I'm told that garlic quite likes a dose of cold before springing to life.

Darnit, pesky knowledge.

So I guess it's time to just brave the winter, or is it still late autumn, hard to tell. Which just gives me even more license to procrastinate.

Amateur!!

Winter Wind-down

As the last vestiges of our Indian summer slowly cools down under the influence of the North Sea winds, everything in the allotment is grinding to a halt.

The last of the late tatties is out, all 25lbs of them. And the squashes have finally decided to stop their epic land grab, and give themselves over to heartening winter soups.

It's been a good year, considering it was the first. And my constant amazement at the ability of great veg to grow almost unaided has been consistently upgraded. Now it's time to take stock (and eat it) and decide what should go in next year.

There is of course the odd plant which likes a dose of frost, and I'll have to dig out the last vestiges of weeds and turn the soil over once more before hibernation begins.

Fewer squashes will definitely go in next year. The potatoes and berries will remain. And now that I think about it, probably everything else except the corn plants. But I've got a good few months to decide when and where it'll all go.

So even if it is cold, and the sun sets at 5.00pm. I'll still be thinking about Spring.

Hoe Sweet Hoe

Yup, finally did it.

Sometimes fate just throws opportunities in your lap that you just can't ignore.

So there I am in the 'Waterline' with Tracy, Woody and Ian on a cold April evening discussing a desire to do something more 'earthy'. Something which avoids the use of anything electronic whatsoever.

I need a garden!

My window box and any horizontal surface is brimming over with greenery. And I just can't envisage growing tatties in my airing cupboard. But then again, I live in Edinburgh and my earnings are modest. So buying a house with a garden is way out of the question. So Tracy suggests and allotment and I say 'great idea, let's put our names down on a waiting list. And maybe in ten years time we'll get our own veg patch.

But it seems the fates were listening and were in favourable mood. In walks one of Tracy's fellow Dundee United penitents and opens the conversation with the words "Do you know anybody that might want an allotment?". And the crowd gasps in amazement.

And now its July, and 4 different variety of tatties are heaving themselves out of the ground. Beetroot is bulging. Spring onions, red onions and white onions are sprouting like crazy. The lettuce has already been consumed. Corn, courgettes and a miscellany of squashes are well on their way. Rhubarb has been melted down into pie form on several occassions. And an embarassment of berries is threatening to burst.

The first year of the allotment is in full throw.