Saturday 13 April 2019

12th season on the plot!

It's a Saturday afternoon and here i find myself all alone. Andrew is off in the Mournes hiking and Toby has found a little rectangle of sun through the patio doors to lie in. I sit here with my thoughts which is OK because I haven't felt well enough to write in ages and now I can.

12th year on the plot - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019
It's our 12th year on the plots! That's pretty amazing, right? One down side is that we need to replace all the fencing and all the timbers for the raised bed edging but on the good side, we don't mind the hard graft and are excited to see it all look new and with improvements. (Frown turned upside down).

potatoes - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019
The potatoes were finally planted last weekend into the 4 or 5 big pots we have for them. We're only doing Pentland Javelin this year because we like them and because we can never eat all we grow. (We didn't plant all of the above by the way). Sadly there isn't a place here where you can get unusual varieties or choose a few different loose ones and try experiments.

blueberry bed - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019
I spent a long time clearing the very neglected blueberry bed of grasses, thistles and dandelions. We have dug up the old bushes and are getting new ones to replace them as after 12 years they're a bit tired. We also really wanted to put a path down the side of the bed to help with harvesting; sadly the plants were where we wanted that path.

But, look..I found this little self seeded strawberry plant in there. I have it here at home now in a little pot out in the back garden :)
cheeky strawberry plant - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019

There are beautiful blossoms on the apples and plum trees, I love me a pretty blossom. In the same bed, the new rhubarb crowns are settling in nicely and maybe next year we can harvest a couple of stalks.
lovely blossoms - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019
rhubarb stems - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019

Elsewhere on the plot, the beetroot has started to bolt magnificently so I lifted a good few for consumption and the leeks continue to get fatter and stronger (we lifted a few of those too - yummy).
lifting a few leeks - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019

Apart from that we have broad beans and garlic here at the house looking good in their seed trays and hopefully soon to be planted. Plus new baby leeks, kale, peas and spring onions are hopefully germinating and will soon poke their leaves through.

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I have a feeling we are going to have a good season at the plot and the allotments in general have a happier air about them with abandoned plots being taken over by new excited people and more evidence of everyone getting suck in :)

Toby - a stubborn optimist blog - C. Gault 2019
Hugs and love
Carrie x

4 comments:

  1. Congratulations sweetie ! .. your plot is one very well cared for spot on earth and I think it appreciates it very much : ) .. weather is looking up where you are and we have a bit of sun as well, so things are moving along. I am stuck in the house because of the eye surgery .. but once I get the all clear I have loads to do and can't wait .. hopefully the weather will co-operate then as well.
    Hope all is well and you are managing ;-) .. nice to have enthusiastic neighbors at the allotments !

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  2. Nice post and pictures. Well done on doing lots of plotting. The rhubarb looks fine, and I'd be tempted to pick just a few stems.
    A good season sounds just what we all will hopefully get this year. Take care, and hugs. xx

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  3. New excited people will make your allotment a happier place to be.
    Love the idea of Toby dozing in his patch of sun!

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  4. Our remaining leeks started to bolt and had hard centres so have been composted. A nearby garden centre has one weekend when it sells individual seed potatoes so we usually buy few new varieties to try.

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