All Blog Posts (1,294)

This week on the allotment has been all about trying to 'beat the heat'.  I have been getting down there early and doing as much as possible before it gets too hot.  The good news is I have a lovely tan.  The bad news is that plot 2 still needs alot of work: area in middle still needs digging over, stuff to plant out still and the pressure is on because as of the 1st of June the allotment 'judges' could come round at any time between then and 31 July and decide whether you are worthy.…

http://greenvege-osaka.blogspot.jp/2012/05/growth-report.html

http://greenvege-osaka.blogspot.jp/2012/05/planting-sweet-potato-sprouts.html

Hiya folks!

Phew, it's SCORCHIO today! Mustn't grumble though, only last week I was whinging that it was too cold and wet to plant out, and now I still can't plant out as it is too hot during the day. Have to wait until evening me thinks. I have done a wee bit here and there though. A couple of days ago I planted out a few bits in a tub, Spinach, Chard and Calendula in this one:…

Dodgy looking slow worm action on the plot!

After a week of hot sunny weather and plenty to do in the garden I've finally found time for a blog update. Because the first few weeks of May were so dismal I had a stack of stuff in the greenhouse ready for planting out and more hardening off on top of the coal bunker.…

It's one of my favourite times of year at the allotment. It's time to throw my nets over the gooseberries bushes and cheer them on to harverst.  The risk of frost is finally over, the bushes seem in wonderful health and underneath their branches I can see their delicious mouth twisting fruit dangling like green tear drops.

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Just looked tonight at my lillies growing in a pot by my shed and saw 3 lilly beetles on it.

Havent seen them before.

Very bright.

Did the sun bring them out?

Has a good swear and disposed of them.

I can't do it - work outdoors when it's hot I mean - I retreat indoors and wait for it to cool off.  So instead I get up early  - this morning I dug over the pumpkin patch in readiness for the plants to go in this evening, and planted french beans and another row of peas.  I waited till it cooled off this evening and did the rounds, watering all my new plantings.  I emptied a whole dustbin of saved water - in some places the ground was cracking like a desert.  Talk about one extreme to the…

Yes I planted early and as some will know this is my first attempt so no surprises what happened.

http://ourtinygarden.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/charlottes-are-a-fail/

If anyone can offer advise for future reference I would appreciate it.

I have a day off work today and was a beauty it is. I sat in the garden and updated my site with some new pics and as usual some nooby questions as there are a few things I'm unsure of.

http://ourtinygarden.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/i-am-ironman/

So how is everyone else enjoying this gorgeous weather?

Back to work tomorrow - boooooooo!

I took the picture below this morning at the plot. Last year when out plot was inspected by Hillingdon Borough for their allotment competition we lost points for not labelling our plants. 

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Hi I was wondering if anyone had any ideas what is going on with my broccoli. I planted it into the ground as directed on the packet and there was no problems with germination. It then looked like there was some little broccoli florets forming at the top and now it is starting to flower. I don't understand what's going wrong. They've only been in the ground since mid March. Can anyone shed any light on what's going on? 

A long time ago - way back in the 70's - I used to sit in a stuffy old office shuffling paper about daydreaming that one day I would be able to be outside in the fresh air all day tending my garden and growing my own food.  Not being reliant on the supermarket to provide everything for my survival.  Then when I moved here and the opportunity came to buy a piece of land I jumped at it and started living the dream.  I may not have wealth and riches in the normal sense of the word, but I do…

Hi Elaine, my you are busy. i admire you. Gardening seems to take a lot of my time up. 

I do love it though!

Hurray, my strawberry seeds have taken!. i carefully potted them up today , even though they were tiny.

I counted 19 plus one or 2 too small to pot up yet.

My salad potatoes are showing through after only planting 1 week ago.

Wish my onions would hurry up.

Most things have taken. The sun really has helped in the last 2 days.

Have enjoyed myself and selfishly let the housework slip!!

I must say, Carrots were one of the first vegetables I began growing myself. Why? Well mainly due to the fact that I use a lot of carrots in my cooking. It seemed like a sensible choice and in fact, was a sensible choice.

That’s one thing you have to learn about when growing your own, ensuring you grow ingredients that you are actually going to use. It’s wonderful growing quirky interesting vegetables, but are you really going to use your supply of Romenesco Broccoli or…

After a slow start the sun eventually came out - it was great to put in a few hours hard graft at the allotment with the sun on my back.  The cauliflowers I planted yesterday have been nibbled already so i netted them and put the mesh cloches back over them.  Erected the bean poles and got the ground ready for the outdoor tomatoes.  I then filled a dustbin with nettles ready to make some nettle 'tea' and generally had a good weed around.  After being cooped up for so long with the cold and…

The allotments spring open day was on sunday and as i'd seen a poster advertising Bob flowerdew would be there doing a Q&A i thought i would take a look.

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I would not class myself as a fully fledged tree-hugger. I will use chemicals in the garden but usually only as a last resort.

So I am always intrigued to hear about old wives tales that relate to the garden. Some of them work, some of them don’t but you shouldn’t knock them before you’ve tried them.

Here are some I read about this week.

Aphid garlic spray

Add three chopped garlic cloves to two cups of water. Add a few drops of washing up liquid, shake and allow to stand…