Happy New Year!

Well that’s Christmas and New Year done and dusted. This morning it was time to pop down the allotment and get a bit of maintenance done whilst there was a break (however brief) in the weather. I had driven past the other day and noticed that one of our cloches had been lifted up by the wind and when we got down there a second one had joined it.

        The only other damage if damage at all, was that our tool box had been blown over (again) and the lids off of our composters had been whisked away on to our neighbour’s plot; all easily rectified.

        We had received some pennies for Christmas and decided to use some of it to get some new tools. Our last set was from Wilko’s and whilst they got us going (and turned a fair amount of soil in the process) they weren’t exactly top quality. So this time we found some Draper tools online that had been reduced (got to love a bargain). They were all shiny and new and I didn’t want to get them muddy.

        Anyway, Mary and Lyta set to work reseating the cloches and making sure they were well bedded down to protect the broad bean shoots that seem

to be doing quite well so far. Not all of them have come up but then we didn’t expect them too. It will just be a result this year to actually get some to harvest without the blackfly killing them off. Hopefully by having planted them so early they will be ready before the blackfly arrive. We’ve also been advised to pinch the tops out as this seems to deter the little buggers as well.

        Whilst the ladies were busy at one end of the plot I set to work at the other end spreading the manure and straw to fertilise the potato patch. It

may be a dirty, smelly job but there is such a sense of satisfaction once it’s done that I really don’t mind doing it. Plus you have the added bonus of knowing that the soil will be perfect for growing awesome potatoes! This year we will once again be growing some new (new to us) varieties and some tried and tested. We will of course be doing Purple Majesty and hope we get a better crop than last year.

        The final note for the first blog of 2014 is to announce our new arrival! We are proud to say that the Elephant Garlic has finally started shooting! I must admit it was a bit touch and go there for a while and I didn’t think it was going to happen but they have finally peeked above the soil and will now be pampered and spoilt until harvesting time.

Happy New Year