Up and Running

Well today has seen me finally complete the tunnel - the doors are on!- . Most of the hard work happened yesterday with the help of Dave, Alice, Pete, Ethne, Mira and David. My morning started early for a saturday as i was up at 7am cutting battons and makng preperations for the day's big event, the skinning. Everything was straightforward, there were no hitches and the whole thing came together within 2 hours.

My heartfelt thanks go out to all those who have helped make this happen, i'll keep you posted on how the season progresses.

D

Noon sun's the art of a saw

Today has been a day of great frustration and learning but i have survived. The plot has continued to take shape and i hope to try and get the plastic onto the frame within the next two weeks.

Most of my frustration today has been at myself for making school boy errors when trying to construct the wooden end frames. The fact that i was never taught how to use a saw or any major power tools at school certainly seems to have been a factor today. Regardless of this i have managed to cut the edges from my salvaged wood and hang the entrance to the tunnel. If i can just get the door built and ready to go i can finally start to dream of high pressure systems - no wind - so i can dig some trenches and get going for the season.

Wish me luck

D

Skip diving - how to be a womble

Last weekend saw the poly tunnel move a step closer to completion. In a womblesque kind of way i acquired some wood (with consent) from a local skip. With some luck and a little help I hope to have the ends on the tunnel this weekend and then assuming that it's a calm day it'll be time for the plastic and the trenches.

Hooray for recycling!

Invasion of the seedlings

With the days getting longer and my patience getting shorter i've started to plant this years harvest, i'm sure i'll continue to fight the urge to plant things all at once but i really need to see something grow.

The following plants are on their way.....

Tomatoes

Roma x2
Ildl x 4
Falcarosso x2
French Black (cherry) x2

Peppers and Chillis

Rubens x6
Hot mix x6
Ramiro x8

Flowers

Dahlias - Bishops children and firworks mix
Rudbeckia - Golden Brown
Gallardia
Passion Flower
Corn Flower

Vegtables

Leeks
Red Onions - Red amposta
Lemon Grass

I just hope i don't run out of window space before the sun comes out, or before the arrival of the march sowings. Fingers crossed.

Out with the old and in with the new

After creating a meticulous plan and digging all the beds until i was sore i was delighted to finally finish.

With my back rested and my mind back on the challenges ahead i started looking for a greenhouse. After many weeks of looking without success, a chance conversation led to a very kind lady donating me wonderful polytunnel frame.

One quick trip to the isle of wight later (and with the invaluable help of my Dad) all the pieces were on site, labelled and ready to build.

I intially had grand ideas of constructing the frame by myself but i soon realised that i didn't have 8 arms and gladly accepted the help of Ian and Sophie (my allotment neighbours). Many hours later and with lots of hilarity, cursing, and life saving tea, the frame was up!

A great thankyou to Ian and Sophie for all the help without them the construction just wouldn't have been possible.

Now the plastic has been ordered i have to get the doors built and settled within the next two weeks. Watch this space.

The plot.....thickens?

The plot......

This is my allotment site as it was in Dec '08. It came complete with a tired compost bin (full of bindweed), established asparagus rows, raspberry cage and of course weeds! With a little hard work it slowly but surely started to transform......

Welcome and Introductions.

Greetings to all

With some luck this blog will track the successes and failures of my 2nd growing season. Having moved from my old garden i will be charting my success from my new allotment. With a planting list which stretches for as long as my arm i hope that I'm in for successful season.

Many thanks for popping by

Alex.

P.S please check out the grapevine over here http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/vegging-out/ . if you have a question just post a thread and I'm sure one of the seasoned growers will share their knowledge. It's great.