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Plot #59

Plot #59 Update, 07.04.20

Today I cycled down to the plot for my hour outside. The sun was shining, the lightest of breezes was blowing, and if circumstances had been different then I would have stayed all day.

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Plot #59

Spuds Out, Leeks In

Honestly, I don’t know what it is about leeks, but I seem to have a mental blank when it comes to remembering to get them in the ground in good time…

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Home Growing Jobs for the Month Plot #59 Plot #79

Allotment Jobs for May 2019

We’ve had a soggy old start to the month, but never mind. The ground could do with a soaking, and there’s drier weather ahead, according to the forecast.

Here’s our general action plan for May, once the weather sorts itself out a bit…

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Plot #59 Plot #79

Is it Spring Yet?

Well, what a couple of months we’ve had. After an incredibly mild January, February and March have pulled a double shift on winter weather duty, chucking pretty much the full repertoire of sleet, snow, hail and frost at us, quite frequently all at once. All of which has meant our January plans haven’t moved on […]

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Plot #59

Now Growing: Yacon, Oca and UIluco

Down on Plot #59, Jo and I are always keen to expand the range of edible crops that we grow, especially anything that stores well and can be used over winter, when there’s usually a lack of fresh stuff to harvest. This year I decided to try three South American tuber crops that I’d heard […]

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Plot #59

Now Planting Out: Sunflowers and Tomatoes

Over a busy Bank Holiday weekend, Jo and I managed to grab a couple of hours to head down to Plot #59 and do a bit of planting out. First in, Jo’s sunflowers: Jo has grown three varieties this year: ‘Giant Single’, ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Ruby Red’. They might not look like much now, but […]

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Plot #59 Trials and Observations

Soilfixer Trial Part III: Setting Up the Trial Beds

Old pallets, as long as they’re in reasonably good nick, are a great boon to the allotmenteer. Especially if you need to knock together a few small raised beds. Such as these four, which I set up yesterday for the trial of four different soil mixes that I’m running this year for the folks at […]

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Plot #59

Now Planting: Peas and Broad Beans

Yesterday Jo and I braved the rather chilly wind that was sweeping across Plot #59 and set about planting the first batch of this year’s peas and broad beans. We started by setting up a pea harp: a bamboo cane A-frame with additional string supports (see last year’s post on the subject for more details, […]

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Plot #59

Planting Horseradish in Open(ish) Ground

I love a bit of horseradish, me. Grated fresh and mixed into mayonnaise it does wonders for grilled mackerel. Or creamed and added to English mustard, it really makes your sausages sing. The thing is though, when you try to buy fresh horseradish, it’s only really available as a whole root about a foot or […]

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Plot #59

Plot #59 Update: November 2016

November was a mixed month, weather-wise. A soggy start gave way to a dry, cold, bright last couple of weeks; perfect for all those cutting back and clearing up jobs that are so necessary at this time of year. Here’s what we’ve been up to: Harvesting We’re well into our late Autumn veg now, with […]