New Cold Frame

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Steve

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Only a quick update today. Last weekend me and my dad spent Saturday and Sunday down the allotment building a new cold frame. It took a day and a bit to put together and the best bit, all the materials were recycled. So without further ado, I present to you the new cold frame.

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The autumn clear up begins

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Steve

Autumn is here and this can only mean one thing; time to tidy and clear up the plot. On Saturday morning, I went down the allotment to see how bad it was as I hadn’t been down for a couple of weeks. It wasn’t too bad but parts of it was in desperate need of a weed, mainly the blackcurrant bed and the old strawberry bed. But before cracking on, I had one job to do.

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How to grow Garlic

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Steve

Garlic is a must have vegetable and is simple to grow. There are two types of garlic; hardneck and softneck. Hardneck varieties produce a flower spike which can be eaten, while softneck varieties don’t and tend to store longer. Bulbs that are planted in the autumn have time to develop than spring planted bulbs and this allows them to produce an extensive root system and you are more likely to get a better harvest. Continue reading →

Vegetables to grow in the winter

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Steve

The growing season is coming to an end but you’ve still got time to sow or plant out some vegetables to grow overwinter. You can sow in modules in a cold frame or in a greenhouse and plant out in a couple of weeks. If you don’t have access to a cold frame or greenhouse, you can use a fleece to help protect the young seedlings. Continue reading →

Let the back breaking work commence

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Steve

On Sunday morning I went down the allotment with one aim and that was to start digging over the new plot. I’m still not 100% sure on how I’ll use the new plot, but it’s covered in weeds and grass and really needs clearing before winter sets in. Continue reading →

Warming the soil in the winter months

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Steve

With the winter months approaching, it is time to start thinking about next spring and possibly getting a head start on the growing season. One way to do this is by creating a hotbed. In its simplest form, a hotbed is a trench or raised bed filled with organic matter with soil on top. Not only does this keep the soil warm, but they are also great for improving the soil structure. To build a hotbed:

Dig a trench roughly 6-10 inches deep and roughly a metre wide (for ease of access).
Add a layer of woody material (bark chippings, twigs) roughly 6 inches deep.
Add another layer of general garden waste such as grass clippings. You want this layer to be roughly 6-8 inches deep.
Next add a layer of farmyard manure roughly 6 inches deep.
Finally add a mixture of top soil and garden compost on top of the bed. This will be used to sow or plant your vegetables in.
Your hotbed is ready to use. If you’ve used a raised bed, you can cover it with an old window to help keep the heat in.

Video: Allotment Update October 2013

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Steve

This is my allotment video update for October 2013. Things are starting to come to an end now, the square foot bed is almost empty, the only thing that remains are a few carrots. My over wintering onions have also gone in, and my leeks that I planted in summer are starting to bulk up.

How to Grow Plums

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Steve

Plums are one of the great unexplored parts of the fruit world. In the past there were many different varieties, all with different flavours and textures, but now all knowledge of such fruit seems to have been lost. At most, one or two varieties surface occasionally in shops, but few people seem to know of the treasury of delights that could be available. Fortunately, many of the old varieties are available from specialist nurseries, and anyone who takes the trouble to search them out is really in for a treat.

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Green Manure

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Steve

Green manures are often used on bare soil to help smother weeds and help lock in the nutrients. They are then dug into the ground in spring releasing the nutrients back into the soil and also help improve the soil structure.

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Something new

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Steve

I’ve managed to get another plot! It’s on the same site has my existing one and better still, it’s the plot next door. My plans for the new plot is to make it into a work area with a couple of beds. The problem I have got with my existing plot is that I’ve got nowhere to work (sowing and planting up seedlings etc), so this new plot with help tremendously. Continue reading →

The Vegetable Plot

An attempt to live a little more self-sufficient

Author Archives: Steve

New Cold Frame

The autumn clear up begins

How to grow Garlic

Vegetables to grow in the winter

Let the back breaking work commence

Warming the soil in the winter months

Video: Allotment Update October 2013

How to Grow Plums

Green Manure

Something new