Soilman's Allotment Blog

Roots in the gloom

Carrots are still coming thick and fast. I've left the Enviromesh on, squashing the ferns inside to provide a bit of frost protection. We had minus 4C the other night, but it didn't do any damage.

It's the darkest time of the year now. It's dark when I go to work and come home. I've not seen my house in daylight for weeks. I only remember what my legs look like because I have to turn on the light to visit the khazi at night.

If God had intended us to live like bloody moles, He'd have given us paddled feet and made us small and furry.

How vile it is to live at 52 deg North in December.

Ready for spring spears

I managed to get out on the plot today, thanks to a bit of decent weather. Didn't get much done, but there's plenty of time before the spring. Unfortunately.

Cutting back the asparagus bed for winter http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1321305943http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1213897953

Christmas rose?

Now that we've had a couple of sharp frosts, my confidence in climate 'normality' has returned. Things are not good overall, obviously. But at least winter still has a bite – albeit a small one.

What's blowing my mind now is the hardiness of this rose. It's been frosted – hard – twice. But here it is, gamely flowering in front of my house. It's a hybrid tea called 'Nostalgia'.

As befits its name, it seems to enjoy a taste of old-fashioned winter weather.

Back from the turd world

No, I've not gone clucking mad. Not obviously, anyway. Went to my mother's farm for the weekend. These are her pretty bantams, a variety called Silver Sebright.

They produce excellent eggs; they have a rich, orange yolk unlike anything you find in eggs bought from shops.

Most relevant, from my point of view, are the ready sources of shit for my allotment: my mother's chicken house and her Beltex sheep.

Some people look at sheep and see charming creatures that go 'baa'. Some see a steaming roast. I'm afraid I just see a woolly manure factory.

Last ravings of the season

Went walkabout at the allotments yesterday and found this peculiar plot. Looks like a snap-shot in time, circa late August. The gardener was abducted by aliens, or something, as (s)he was harvesting the pumpkins. Nothing's been touched since.

I found myself wondering how long it would take the bindweed and marestail to cover my corpse if I dropped dead at the plot. Only days, I concluded.

And this led me to reconsider the dead-in-apartment-with-pet-Alsatian conundrum. How long before the hungry hound accepts you're definitely never going walkies again... and eats you?

Cheerful places, allotments.

Hot plot

Told you it would flower again. Either this dahlia is a mutant, or August came late this year.

I'm still mowing the lawn – weekly. Weeds are still growing. Roses are still blooming. And there's still only the merest smattering of leaves on the grass outside.

The temperature today is 18C (64F). I went digging at the plot and wished I'd worn a T-shirt. And sun cream.

This is getting freakish...

Did August come late this year, or what?! http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1274025949http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1213897953