Rain...Rain...Rain! And some EXCITING news!

Have just got back from our annual camping trip - for the second year running we survived without getting wet! I haven't managed to see my plot yet but I will be dragging all the family and dog down there this afternoon - I'm sure I'll have plenty of pickings waiting for us!

Two fantastic bits of news for us....the kids "AlienCrow" has won SECOND prize in the SGAAA competition!

Here he is in all his glory...He's catching the "escaped Potatoe Plods" (dotted around the plot!)

Here he is again, with his human friends and there is Jamie making a friendly Alien Gesture.Second bit of exciting news....

Plot 15 has been placed in the Best Kept Allotment Competition! And I am THRILLED! We have been invited to the Show to see where we have come. I am just so pleased that our hard work has found recognition from our fellow allotmenteers - its a very proud moment.

Anyway...we're donning raincoats, trugs and picking bowls and we are off to see what two weeks of neglect has done to my precious plot.

August...Competition Ready!

After weeks of hard graft...it's
ready for the Clipboard Gang

The potatoes have made way for
the pumpkins.

The "AlienCrow" is in position.

Hmm...there are carrots in here..honest.

June...My Allotment

I wanted to show just how far the plot has come on in the year. It's taken time, and I'm thrilled. It has been cut up into the 4-rotational beds with fruit bushes/canes/plants at the rear.

I have (courtesy of VanHage's Pallets and my wonderful man) two big compost area's, plus a bin for leaf mold. This year I am growing: (fingers X)

Potatoes x 3 types
Onions
Garlic x 2 types
Carrots x 4 types
Sweetcorn
Chard
Chilli Peppers: Yellow & Red
Pea
Runner Beans
French Climbing Beans
Broad Beans
Lettuce
Winter Cabbage
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower

Alongside: raspberry, strawberry, red currant, black currant and several herbs.

Success for the lowly novice!

The SG&AA Chairman, Mr John Thurgood, has agreed that I had a valid point and that I would be judged within the Novice category.

A small but poignant victory..

for none but me I'm sure.

A proud moment...and then

There I were beavering away in the sunshine, kids hunting for big lush ripe strawbs, me trying to succeed against nature at its best...namely bloomin' slugs and pesky pigeons! - my poor pea's are simply no more than skeletal ladders - when our site manager approached and kindly asked if he could enter my plot into the Stevenage Gardens and Allotments Association (hereby SG&AA) Best Kept Allotment Competition.

Pleased but surprised, I was disappointed to learn that he couldn't enter it in for the Novice section (!) Apparently, if I'd got the plot three months later (Oct) it would be ok.

During July, August & September of last year there was nothing that could be sow'd or reaped on Plot 15. Oh, unless you count the towering weeds and eight-foot parsnip foliage. So I do not understand why, when this is my first year i.e. the first year Plot 15 is due to produce edibles that were sow'd/planted by me, nurtured by me and soon to be picked by me!, I will not be classed as a Novice.

I appreciate there have to be guidelines...but honestly, the site agents know when Plot's are taken on, wouldn't it be possible to judge Novice's as within the first Growing/Harvesting Season?

I have pleaded my case by email (inc. photo's!) to the SG&AA Secretary for discussion in the next Committee meeting (which I believe to be tomorrow) so I will just have to keep me fingers crossed and see what transpires.

Just for posterity...

Last year - in a flash of inspiration...and with my aptitude of making use of things that should be thrown away - I invented my idea of Strawberry Falls.

Using some old drain pipe; I was loath to part with ("I'm sure we can use it for something..."), an old compost bag and some polystyrene containers that some plants from the Garden Centre came in. I produced a fantastic idea that:
a: recycled old materials,
b: made good use of un-used space i.e. the north-west'ish facing fence
c: produced fruit available to all ages of the family!

I was even lucky enough to have it published in the October 2006 edition of Gardeners World Magazine.

Since then, my sister has taken the idea up and spread the word! I'm hoping to see my idea in someone else's garden in a few weeks time - during Aston Garden Day.

Some info:

1. The Plants I used were 10 'Maxim' bare rooted strawberry plants, this is their second year and there are loads of berries appearing...just waiting for them to get slighly more sunshine than of late...and we're away!
2. Holes were drilled through plastic liner & guttering to ensure drainage.
3. Polystyrene used as drainage as lightweight.
4. Springtime, take away top compost and replace.
5. Mulch with straw to aid water retention.
6. Water thoroughly from top, drainage holes lets excess water drain through onto the next levels...producing a waterfall effect and maximum usage of water!

Lastly...

I think it's great and I'm sure others will too - but remember who thought it up first!!

GRRRR WHAT IS IT WITH SOME PEOPLE?!?

The kids worked really hard last half term and produced two fabulous Scarecrows - we called them Tiam & Lia!- for the local Allotment & Gardeners Association Competition.

Some kind person/s have stomped over my freshly raked plot and taken them both!?!

WHY? For What purpose?!? Grrrr