tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44100560586802928482024-03-05T10:26:32.704+00:00Lettuce & Love Is...My Allotment DiaryTashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-91828984262862542702011-01-30T21:52:00.000+00:002011-01-30T21:52:37.402+00:00Introducing my new boy!Little One Number 2
Hello my blogger friends! He doesn't yet have his own wellies but he'll grow up on the plot like Little One number 1. He was born in October - actually a little early and since then we've been on wonderful babymoon!! Well, I hadn't been to the plot for absolutely ages. It was being rampaged by weeds when I saw it in Sept/Oct. I was a little daunted to go a visiting, Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-51752679143364940062010-08-01T20:26:00.002+01:002010-08-01T22:02:22.005+01:00I've returned !It's not only the blog which has been neglected, the poor lottie has been rather left too. I have been totally lifted out of my life for a whole month for work and now dropped back in. I'm playing catch up with life. My son. My man. My home. My garden...and my plot.Although the plot has had occasional waterings it has had to survive without me. If I'm honest I was totally devastated when I Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-80075383126876084562010-06-13T00:08:00.003+01:002010-06-13T00:47:38.355+01:00Allotment LayoutThe first home grown strawberry of the year!Click on image to enlargeThe yellow line marks the boundary of my plot. There are also borlotti beans along side the runner beans and peppers and chillies in the tomato bed. I have a little space in the herb beds and room next to the tayberries (where I was hoping to plant a blackberry bush, finances permitting!). I have bunged the squashes in the Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-83838187426761081662010-06-06T21:39:00.008+01:002010-06-07T10:22:32.996+01:00The many jobs of June!So many things to do.... so little time to blog.At home I've been rescuing tomato plants which cooked whilst I was in Morocco and temperatures soared here. I've potted on about eight plants at home, with basil and marigolds and the rest are destined for the allotment. I lost my cucumber but sowed another. At the allotment it would be easy to be overcome by the weeds and the all the other of jobs Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-3020139809376566072010-05-31T21:20:00.005+01:002010-05-31T21:52:35.194+01:00A Glimpse of a Moroccan PotagerOrangesCabbagesTomatoesLettucesCourgettes and SquashesI was very lucky to spend a week in Morocco. The beautiful hotel we stayed in in Marrakech had a great potager. Just so productive. They grew all the things you would think - tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, aubergines, onions and garlic, all the herbs, fantastic fruit - figs, oranges and pomegranates. I was surprised they had huge cabbages butTashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-57591734763300009972010-04-26T21:46:00.007+01:002010-04-26T23:03:03.476+01:00Allotment in April (and an announcement!)from the top: Broccoli Raab, 2x rows Beetroot and the Broad BeansRejoice! as we've had some sunshine and warmth. The barbeque has been wheeled out at home and the evenings are lovely and light. I'm also pleased to say that I have finally passed through a big patch of nausea and ridiculous tiredness caused by my new pregnancy - yes! - you read it here 1st!! So now I can start to enjoy this year Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-33566670457296334002010-03-25T20:28:00.007+00:002010-03-25T21:36:02.721+00:00“Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed. Robert H. SchullerThis is a bit of a religious quote for me but it grasps the potential of seeds. From one the possibility for life is endless. Springtime is seed time.So what did I sow?In the propagator:-Tomatoes: Marmande, Cuor di Bue, Datterini.Basil: Lettuce leaved and BushMarjoram, Dill, ParsleyCayenne Chilli PepperCourgette: Alberello di SarzanaCucumber: PicolinoLeek: PandoraAt the allotment:-Onions: Red Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-36460367296758567812010-03-03T22:00:00.002+00:002010-03-04T20:53:16.715+00:00I have been very kindly presented with this Award from Jo at The Good Life - I feel very privileged to receive it and has left me feeling proud and appreciated. Thanks again Jo.Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-45947881313007169022010-03-01T20:16:00.005+00:002010-03-07T10:35:46.660+00:00Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love YouI love this quote, it's so perfect. It's been a long weekend with my 3 year old burning a fever and the constant driving rain keeping us indoors for the most of it. Cabin fever. I was delighted to wake up to sunshine this morning which meant one thing to me - Allotment!With the help of my young under-gardener, I dug over last year's garlic and onion bed. I had tried to grow sweetcorn after the Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-5187168644152237462010-02-19T21:01:00.006+00:002010-02-19T22:29:17.944+00:00The beginning of the season...Super Aguadolce broad beans, first planting under cover.Pomodori Italiano!A few days ago I started to get a little buzzy feeling about this year's growing season. Opening my seed box and seeing all the potential is such a thrill. I think I learnt a lot last year, my first true season. For a start, I sowed far too many tomato seeds and each sprout I potted on, and on, and I found it impossible to Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-78591526737133210222009-12-08T16:56:00.004+00:002009-12-08T17:42:18.823+00:00Onions and GarlicIt's hard to believe I've not written much on my blog the latter part of this year. Well, it is a diary and I have not been doing much at the allotment. Life has been keeping me busy but I did plant some japanese onions and some thermidrome garlic a few weeks. (-maybe a couple of months ago!?!) Today we went to the allotment to pull carrots and look at the overgrown cauliflower. It is past its Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-689231697066609762009-10-10T16:32:00.006+01:002009-10-14T20:03:31.782+01:00Strawberry fields forever...In The Grand Plan, I was following my hero Geoff Hamilton's advice and had my bed all ready to plant strawberries in August. Although I was stumped when I went online in July to order some plants and all the big sellers quoted delivery dates in October!?! Last weekend I was at Wisley, my favourite garden centre and I bought six Pegasus strawberry plants and six Cambridge Favourite plants. I Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-22762181923720293632009-09-20T19:47:00.002+01:002009-09-20T20:22:33.716+01:00Bye Bye SummerI've been neglecting my blog for ages now, I am sorry.The allotment has been ticking over well. We've harvested untold beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes. The sweetcorn was okay but not fab the cobs were not very uniformed and I wondering if I should have watered them more when it was dry and the cukes for that matter. The carrots have never stopped coming, I should have sown some more. Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-32711939027422698442009-08-05T08:54:00.008+01:002009-08-05T20:22:13.024+01:00The B wordIt's like mentioning that Scottish play backstage. The 'B' word on the allotments brings fear into the hearts of all. "BLIGHT!!Two days ago I received an email from the Allotments Association warning of blight on the allotments. Recommending Spraying with Bordeaux mixture. Warning not to compost any of the plants but destroy them. So let me tell you briefly about blight. It is caused by the Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-85944186366905719322009-07-26T22:21:00.005+01:002009-07-27T00:03:44.002+01:00Allotment First Aid and a little love...I scratched myself with the tip of my secateurs whist trimming leaves on my bushy tomatoes. A scratch it was not, in fact it was a small laceration on the top of the big knuckle on my thumb. I'll spare you the details but it was serious enough. I immediately went to my shed and pulled out a little first aid kit I had in there. I wiped the cut with an antiseptic wipe and applied some pressure to Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-23285890239074084292009-07-23T22:39:00.003+01:002009-07-23T22:45:13.930+01:00What to do with all those courgettes: #3 Hugh's GlutneyHugh says: This is a ‘multiple choice’ recipe for chutney, designed to help you use whatever seasonal fruit and vegetables are in full glut at the time. For me, the courgettes/overgrown marrows are pretty much a staple in August and September, and they may give way to pumpkins and squashes in October and November. Tomatoes and plums are around at roughly the same time, though the tomatoes will Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-34605821440502046942009-07-23T22:33:00.005+01:002009-07-26T22:21:22.211+01:00What to do with all those courgettes: #2. Pasta with Zuccini sauceNeil Perry is one of my favourite Aussie chefs, this recipe is really easily and tasty! Don't be put off by the anchovies they dissolve in the oil and just add 'taste'... trust me on that xIngredients200g/7oz pasta (any orechiette, fusilli whatever)3 large zucchinisextra virgin olive oil, for cooking6 whole anchovies3 cloves garlicsea salt and freshly ground black pepperdash fried chilli Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-1383299747471774992009-07-23T22:29:00.003+01:002009-07-23T22:46:47.795+01:00What to do with all those courgettes: #1. Dolce Zucchini CakeTo ensure that this courgette and pine nut cake has a sweet taste, it is best made only in early summer, when the courgettes are still very small.Ingredients150g Unsalted butter, softened175g Caster sugar3 Eggs225g Plain flour1 tsp Baking powder225g Sultanas or dried vine fruits300g Small courgettes, grated70g Pine nuts1 Lemon, finely grated zest and juiceMethodPreheat the oven to 180˚C/gas 4. Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-48581267465944807672009-07-13T22:11:00.002+01:002009-07-13T22:14:38.729+01:00Lovin' in a MistPerfection in white, need I say more.Click on for detail.Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-84252907618269361932009-07-13T22:01:00.003+01:002009-07-13T22:09:36.713+01:00Carrot Lovin'"Birds do it, bees do it, Even educated carrots do it Let's do it, let's fall in love!!"Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-34131379203013479192009-07-09T22:49:00.004+01:002009-07-09T23:12:46.211+01:00Rosemary BeetleI found that my sage had been munched away but this armour-plated bug. Do click on the middle picture to see it's hammered metal casing. A fine specimen. It's so cool, I found it hard to decide if I liked it more than my sage! I think by it's name it's probably safe to assume it's keen on rosemary too.It has been raining now in my corner of Surrey and the vegetables and I have been rejoicing. Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-22062797848351094852009-07-03T14:36:00.003+01:002009-07-03T14:51:38.137+01:00GorgeousnessA pretty site at our lovely allotments Diane is unable to work on her plot whilst she is unwell but she has so many beautiful flowers it's a gorgeous site to behold. Get well soon Diane.Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-70214326860890071302009-06-30T20:12:00.009+01:002009-06-30T21:37:24.957+01:00High Maintenance Brassicas.After pulling up my cabbages because they had some speckly yellowing of the leaves - suspected mildewy sickness? I was thinking, as I always have, why bother with brassicas? They are fussy; needing rich, limey soil, they are greedy for food and water and space, they are eaten by everything - birds, slugs, aphids, cabbage whites, root flys, flea beetles, moths - oh but not eaten by teenagers and Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-52979937263903297632009-06-28T22:27:00.008+01:002009-06-28T23:35:56.007+01:00"Rain, Rain come back, Go Away another day!"Italian Parsley and Roma Tomatoesmy flower bedThe ground is shockingly dry. I've been really, or at least I thought I had, drenching the plants with endless cans of water, but the soil has been baked deep down. Normally the Wimbledon Tennis starting and Glastonbury festival normally ensures a decent spell of rain, but no not this year, I'm thinking we're in for another '76!! Not so long ago I wasTashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410056058680292848.post-44898828085485734452009-06-25T23:40:00.009+01:002009-06-28T22:22:52.318+01:00Results of the Garlic testPurple Peruvian Garlic - only formed two cloves! Purple Peruvian on left and Thermidrome on rightQ: Can you grow garlic from the supermarket?A: No, unless perhaps you are lucky enough to get a variety that is right for our climate etc.I harvested my first batch garlic today after planting it almost eight months ago. The Thermidrome variety which I got from the organic catalogue all seem to have Tashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339714972935664053noreply@blogger.com1