Allotment No 21

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2007-01-02T12:25:00.000Z

31st December - The Last Day

2006-12-31T07:34:00.000Z

As of midnight tonight we will no longer have Allotment 21. Sister has been calling Spouse and I Tom & Barbara (and Mel & Steve Margo and Gerry) all year which is why I will sign off today with a group photo.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thursday 28th December - Proverbs

2006-12-28T10:13:00.000Z

Curiosity Killed the Cat were an 1980's band that had me wearing a silly beret for about a week. Last night it was Tiggy the cat who was determined to muck up my seed planning for next year. I'm going to grow all the veg that survived in 2006 and will also try some;

Asparagus Pea
Rainbow Chard
Ailsa Craig Tomatoes
Feltham First peas
Autumn King Carrots
Blue Lake Beans

I will also plant a big nepeta bush to keep Tiggy out of the way.

Wednesday 27th December - Hurdles

2006-12-27T12:26:00.000Z

If the move goes to plan in January I am planning some raised beds for the veg plot. I'm not keen on sleepers etc which are coated in chemicals and am thinking of constructing some hurdles which will cost virtually nothing and blend in with the cottage garden. I have never seen them used for growing veg - has anyone tried it?

Spouse says if they were any good everyone would use them and that creosote in very old sleepers won't hurt anyone.

Tuesday 26th December - Christmas

2006-12-26T18:41:00.000Z

Our sprout crop didn't quite provide enough for Christmas dinner but M&S did. Sister, champagne glass in hand, managed to out-glamour Nigella Lawson as she microwaved a fabulous meal for twelve.

Merry Christmas!

Saturday 23rd December - Carrots

2006-12-23T17:02:00.000Z

Spouse, pictured here with a rather large hangover from last night, has gleefully pointed out that it is cheaper to buy carrots from the supermarket than to grow them.

How does that Tammy Wynette tune go?

Friday 22nd December - Frost

2006-12-22T17:06:00.000Z

Thank you Gordon M for the fridge tip. I was about to shake the woodlice out of the pots and stick them in when we finally get an overnight frost. No sign of fog in Hereford, just blue skies, sunshine and frost everywhere.

Clare and Sharon at work are trying to persuade me to do a 10k run in July. I am claiming that a sporting injury prevents me.

Saturday 16th December - Christmas Lunch

2006-12-16T17:34:00.000Z

It's going to be Christmas with Sister this year which is a choice between three ready meals. Will it be Sainsbury's Taste the Difference, Tesco's Finest or the M&S most irritating food adverts in the world? The suspense is unbearable.

Friday 15th December - Garlic

2006-12-15T19:26:00.000Z

Hooray! After waiting for weeks, my garlic has started to emerge. I think I will also order some more of the Solent Wight garlic which we planted in late January and which we are still eating now. The house move is scheduled to be approx 3 weeks into the New Year which means I should be able to get an onion bed prepared in time.

Friday 8th December - Sprout Alert

2006-12-08T06:33:00.000Z

No sooner do I tell Mel that I think we have a sprout thief on our site than someone sends me a link to this very odd but strangely satisfying game.

Thursday 7th December - Monty Don

2006-12-07T22:17:00.000Z

For the first time in living memory, Spouse sat through an entire garden related programme without complaint. Why? Because Monty Don is one of the few men on earth with a bigger guitar collection than him.

Monday 4th December - Global Warming in the Garden

2006-12-04T17:45:00.000Z

I've just taken this picture and counted five frogs in our garden pond at 5.30pm in December!

Bird-watching Spouse heard great-tits doing their pre-spring "teacher teacher" call today which he says you normally hear on nice days in late January into February.

At this rate I will soon be plugging in bird-box cam and chitting my potatoes.

Saturday 2nd December

2006-12-02T13:40:00.000Z

This morning we cleared out the contents of the shed and greenhouse and gave lots of stuff to the neighbouring plotholder who has been so helpful over the year.

Note to Self: Remember to dig up some comfrey and strawberries before the hand over.

Thursday 30th November - 2007

2006-11-30T17:53:00.000Z

Thanks for all these kind comments! We are handing Allotment 21 over to a new tenant on 1st January 2007 and today he has bought the greenhouse, shed etc. Spouse is thrilled as this gets him off the dismantling hook. Considering the time it took to build the thing I'm not surprised.

Spouse & I should be moving to a cottage in the countryside in January where I am going to start serial killing vegetables once more. This will be the start of a whole new blog...

Tuesday 28th November - For Sale

2006-11-28T10:24:00.000Z

A new bloke is going to take over Allotment 21 from January 1st but he didn't seem keen to have the greenhouse and shed. I don't think Spouse or Steve would be willing to dismantle and move it so I have put up some posters in the hope that another plotholder will. Fingers crossed...

Monday 27th November - Sprouts

2006-11-27T14:25:00.000Z

According to a survey in 2002 Brussels sprouts are Britain's most hated vegetable. Spouse refuses point blank to eat them.

I picked some of our rubine sprouts today and stir-fried them for lunch with bacon, thyme and pine nuts - delicious. I will try them out on Spouse this weekend and hope he doesn't realise what's on his plate until he has eaten them all.

Sunday 26th November - Edinburgh

2006-11-26T22:32:00.000Z

No posts for a few days due to a trip to Edinburgh. Spouse pointed out all the Ian Rankin murder spots while I sampled Highland Park, Bunnahabhain and The Macallan in a noble effort to immerse myself in Scottish culture. The weather was wet, windy and quite sunny so I'm not sure what I'll find on the allotment in the morning.

Sunday 19th November - Masterchef

2006-11-19T21:11:00.000Z

Sister held a 'Venetian themed Murder Mystery evening' last night which involved cooking an Italian meal for eight. Sister doesn't do cooking and was horified to find that our local M&S didn't have eight portions of the same dish. Her solution was to buy three different ones and give her guests the choice. Concerned that she might forget who wanted what when they were delivered from the microwave, Sister gave everyone the outer sleeve as a visual reminder.

And no, I didn't make that up.

Wednesday 15th November Catch 22

2006-11-14T17:55:00.000Z

Blue seeds or not, we are finally getting a decent crop of carrots. The problem is getting to the allotment when it is still daylight. I need the carrots to improve my night vision but I can't see them to pick them... A big torch is going on our weekend shopping list.

Sunday 12th November - Dark Evenings

2006-11-12T16:56:00.000Z

Spouse drove up to the allotment after work on Friday to pick some parsley. It was dark, he didn't take a torch and wasn't sure where the parsley was planted.

Thursday 9th November - Kale Nero di Toscano

2006-11-09T19:44:00.000Z

The Kale Nero di Toscano is growing really well and once all the whitefly are washed off, Spouse cooks it up with garlic.

In parts of north west Germany they have "Grünkohlfahrt" where folk will visit a country inn to consume large quantities of kale, sausage and schnapps. I like the sound of that.

Wednesday 8th November - Catnip

2006-11-08T07:51:00.000Z

While I was splitting and saving plants from the garden, Tiggy got into drugs again. As long as she steers clear of Lily Plants.

Tuesday 7th November - Potted Garlic

2006-11-07T07:30:00.000Z

As Allotment 21 will be no more after December, I have been quite envious of other allotment bloggers planting up their garlic.

Solution = pots.

Here is my June 2007 supply of Purple Wight garlic surrounded by other 'rescued' plants from the garden.

Monday 6th November - Only 8 weeks left

2006-11-06T07:56:00.000Z

Only 8 weeks until the New Year and (I hope), a new cottage in deepest, darkest Herefordshire with a garden large enough to grow veg.

I feel a whole new blog coming on...

Sunday 5th November - Baba ghanoush

2006-11-05T11:36:00.000Z

Baba ghanoush is off the menu after the frosts last week. I hadn't even noticed that the aubergine had fruited until this weekend when the shrivelled foliage revealed this rather sad specimen. Maybe next year...

Wednesday 1st November - Chutney

2006-11-01T07:21:00.000Z

glut
noun [C]
a supply of something that is much greater than can be sold or is needed or wanted.

Tuesday 31st October - Halloween

2006-10-31T05:34:00.000Z

Pumpkins are SO 2005.

And the rest is chutney...

Monday 30th October - Rotten Tomatoes

2006-10-30T09:34:00.000Z

My tomatoes are doing really well and should be perfect by the time of Den's next gig.

Sunday 29th October - Seed Plan

2006-10-29T17:55:00.000Z

The planning for next year is underway before this year has really finished. The "what not to grow" list is fairly easy as it is all the veg that we didn't eat. I have been scouring the catalogues and other blogger sites in order to grow more varieties of what I do like.

Spouse still thinks it's cheaper and easier to buy veg from a shop. I despair.

Thursday 26th October - O.K. Corral

2006-10-26T08:10:00.000+01:00

On this day in 1881 the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place. Our allotment site has something very similar at the entrance. It is an untended corner where the 21st century allotment version of Wyatt Earp sits with his men, drinking cider and burning pallets.

These guys are the law. Veg thieves beware!

Wednesday 25th October - Still Aching

2006-10-25T07:32:00.000+01:00

It is Wednesday and I am still feeling like a cripple. The weekend weather forecast had predicted a few dry hours on Sunday morning and I duly arrived at 9am, cleared the bean poles then dug and manured the whole strip before the rain started once more. Brassicas will follow the beans in this strip next year while I will join WiZer in the Osteopath clinic.

Tuesday 24th October - Migrating H F-W

2006-10-24T21:11:00.000+01:00

WARNING

Halloween is approaching and Hugh look-a-likes are massing around the country. To test if your Hugh is real, ask him to eat a deep fried minnow with some fat hen leaves and a mangelwurzel.

Monday 23rd October - Chutney for Life

2006-10-23T07:23:00.000+01:00

Spouse is hoping that Gnome's chutney recipe is going to taste good as he will be consuming nearly 2 1/2 stone of the stuff.

Sunday 22nd October - Help Gnome!

2006-10-22T14:32:00.000+01:00

Gnome, PLEASE post your marrow & ale chutney recipe. I have finally joined a group of individuals that would have horrified me six months ago. And I'm lovin' it!

Spouse was so impressed he brought out the weighing scales. What a lot of chutney he is going to eat.

Tuesday 17th October - End of Season

2006-10-16T14:51:00.000+01:00

By the time I got to Allotment 21 yesterday it was getting dark which meant I couldn't do very much. We really need to put it to bed for the winter and start planning for next year. I now have a long list of vegetables that Spouse won't eat which is a start of sorts.

Saturday 14th October - Mary Gardens

2006-10-14T11:30:00.000+01:00

We went out to dinner last night with some very old friends who had seen and admired Sister's new veg plot. They were not at all surprised when I told them that Sister regularly buys lettuces from Sainsburys to place on the raised beds.

Sister has decided that Nephew should attend a Catholic secondary school because she regularly goes to church (C.of E.) on Christmas Eve after the pub closes. Keen to impress, Sister is now showing a keen interest in all things popeish. I have suggested a Mary Garden.

Thursday 12th October - I blame the Supermarkets

2006-10-12T07:07:00.000+01:00

Having paid the 'premium' prices for 'vine ripened tomatoes' in the supermarket, I am determined to grow one that ripens on the vine.

The 'Please Allow to Ripen' label has worked however the tomatoes are now taking an age to turn red. Am not sure if I should put them in a paper bag to generate some Ethylene Gas.

Monday 9th October - Blighted

2006-10-09T07:59:00.000+01:00

In answer to Gordon M, the Allotment 21 miasma has struck again and my Carlingford potatoes look how I feel - a bit knackered!

Hooray for Monday, back to work and no dead vegetables to contend with.

Sunday 8th October - Whitefly

2006-10-08T17:07:00.000+01:00

According to the RHS, whitefly on my brassicas will cause little damage although HDRA say it could possibly reduce cropping.

Lucky for us that we have only produced one cabbage this year.

Friday 6th October - THINK PINK

2006-10-07T08:30:00.000+01:00

The reason for the lack of blog posts last week is that 6th October was THINK PINK day in Hereford which is when lots of people wear pink or do daft pink things to raise funds/awareness of Breast Cancer Haven where I work. If you want to make a donation please get on my marrow site straight away!

It took so long to scrape the manure off those wellies that I didn't get up to the allotment all week.

Sunday 1st October - Brandywine

2006-10-01T18:55:00.000+01:00

Having nurtured the Brandywine tomatoes from seed, I am determined to eat a ripe one before Mel, woodlice or the resident snail get at it!

If I can build up a big enough stash I am off to the tomato fest in Spain.

Saturday 30th September - Potatoes

2006-09-30T08:47:00.000+01:00

The carlingford potatoes that Mel planted few weeks ago are all growing well. Sister won't have any as according to Plot 5 & 29 they are no good for chips.

Tuesday 26th September - No Marrow

2006-09-26T19:01:00.000+01:00

Spouse begged me not to cook Delia's stuffed marrow recipe for supper last night. Marrow ranks along with sprouts and cauliflower in Spouse's top 10 list of most hated vegetables.

Rather a shame considering the amount of marrows on Allotment 21.

Monday 25th September - Fat Hen

2006-09-25T07:45:00.000+01:00

Hello Chris & all at Wyevale which is where we purchased many metres of black plastic earlier in the year. I spent yesterday laying it over the spent potato beds and hope it will reduce our most successful crop, fat hen next spring.

Having seen the photo of Organic Weed Removers on the HDRA site, I am going to ask Spouse if he will put my garden recliner on castors. I envisage combining lying down, sunbathing with the weeding next summer.

Sunday 24th September - The Guardian

2006-09-24T07:15:00.000+01:00

A big thank you to Minky for pointing out that Allotment 21 was listed in the Guardian Green Pages yesterday. On receiving the email post pub last night, I could have either:
1. Reflected that there are some much better blogs than this (take a look at the links on the right) and there are undoubtedly a lot of much better allotments (again - click on the links).
2. Copied and emailed the article to everyone I know while informing Spouse that he is married to a Green Gardening Guru.

Can I have a badge as well?

Saturday 23rd September - Fennel

2006-09-23T16:51:00.000+01:00

The fennel is really enjoying the warm September on Allotment 21.

Culpepper says that amongst other things,: 'Fennel expels wind, provokes urine, and eases the pains of the stone, and helps to break it. The roots are of most use in physic, drinks and broths, that are taken to cleanse the blood, to open obstructions of the liver, to provoke urine, and amend the ill colour of the face after sickness, and to cause a good habit through the body.'

Lovely!

Wednesday 20th September - 'Celeb' spotting

2006-09-20T07:03:00.000+01:00

There is a great Arts scene in Abergavenny and the food theme this year seemed to be fish. Steve took this photo of the giant plates hanging in the market hall and managed to catch a 'celeb' in the picture. I suspect that Hugh sent her to follow us - the man never gives up!

Tuesday 19th September - Franchi Seeds

2006-09-19T06:45:00.000+01:00

Another popular stand at Abergavenny was Seeds of Italy with a 4 packets of seed for £5 offer. I bought some Borlotto Bean Lamon which they assure me are the finest beans from Venice along with some unusual tomatoes. Mel bought some yellow radish and plenty of salads.

If you want to know the sign language for bean, click here.

Sunday 17th September - Abergavenny Food Festival

2006-09-17T17:54:00.000+01:00

We managed to give Hugh the slip this year and had a really good time sampling the local produce. The Garlic Farm were there again and we bought some Heritage Purple Wight garlic to grow for next year.

Friday 15th September - Pink Fir Apple Potatoes

2006-09-15T08:20:00.000+01:00

They look rather odd and take a lot of scrubbing but they taste delicious cold, mixed with allotment chives and mayo.

Am looking forward to the Abergavenny food festival on the weekend - it was at the last one that Mel & I decided to take on an allotment. I hope Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall doesn't keep following us around though, we couldn't escape the man in 2005 - he popped up everywhere!

Monday 11th September - Shed

2006-09-11T07:48:00.000+01:00

It's 9/11 today which is AKA my birthday. Have requested Andalucian shed with olive trees for the allotment. Do not hold out much hope though.

Sunday 10th September - Borlotti Beans

2006-09-10T15:40:00.000+01:00

My favourite food to date from Allotment 21 has to be the borlotti beans cooked in the Jamie Oliver way. Only the very bright pink ones are ripe enough to pick and they really are delicious.

2nd - 9th September - Andalucia

2006-09-10T07:18:00.000+01:00

Just back from a fantastic week in Gaucin testing out Andalucian wine & tapas with Spouse. Spouse is a bit of a 'birder' and here he is watching a flock of bee eaters....

Friday 1 September - Peas

2006-09-01T08:00:00.000+01:00

Mel dug up my unsuccessful pea plants in order to plant a second crop of potatoes. All we managed were three pods which Mel and I ate raw. They were absolutely delicious - next year we will try harder!

Wednesday 30th August - Marrow Size Lies

2006-08-30T07:30:00.000+01:00

Our 'rivals' were at the Barrels Beer Festival on the bank holiday weekend and Tim is pictured here wildly exaggerating the size of their marrow (I hope).

I am now following Gnome's progress with great interest...

Tuesday 29th August - Mother Alert

2006-08-29T06:43:00.000+01:00

Mother, desperate to see Allotment 21, finally arrived to find that the 'vegetable robbers' had got there first. There were no crops for her to plunder. Luckily Buddie, our neighbour was tending his 3 plots and allowed Mother free range to pick his veg.

Mother wants to know why we don't have lush beans, ripe tomatoes, carrots or apples when he does. I blame bad parenting.

Monday 28th August- Hard Graft

2006-08-28T08:04:00.000+01:00

Mel & I spent a few hours on Allotment 21 yesterday and managed to pull up 90% of the weeds to make room for the new ones which will appear by next weekend.

Mel planted 2 rows of Carlingford second cropping potatoes which should be ready for Christmas and I threw lime about on what will be the brassica bed next year.

Sunday 27th August - Broccoli Help

2006-08-27T08:21:00.000+01:00

For all those who hate broccoli, go and buy this book. The author runs Cafe @ All Saints here in Hereford and the book is mostly recipes that are cooked there. I'm not a veggie but this is one of my most used cookery books and he has a simple method for cooking broccoli that will convert the most hardened broccoli loather.

(serves 4 - 6 as an accompaniment)
375g carrots
375g broccoli
50ml olive oil
1/2 bunch of mint leaves, chopped
1/2 bunch parsley leaves (pref flat-leaf), chopped
Salt & freshly ground black pepper

1. Peel the carrots and slice them fairly thickly diagonally.
2. Divide the broccoli into florets. Take the woody bits off the stalks and then slice the stalks finely.
3. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Boil the carrots for 2 mins, add the broccoli & boil for 2 more mins.
4. Drain veg thoroughly then toss in the oil & herbs, season & serve.

If you do buy a copy, make the Lentil, Roast Garlic and Lime Soup which is delicious.

Friday 25th August - Purple Sprouting

2006-08-25T08:07:00.000+01:00

In The Simpsons episode Treehouse of Horror XI, Homer is killed by eating broccoli. When examining the body, Dr. Hibbert said that broccoli was one of the deadliest plants and warned people about its bad taste.

Spouse is a Simpsons fan but luckily, he loves purple sprouting.

Tuesday 22nd August - Green Manure

2006-08-22T06:36:00.000+01:00

I have sown some fodder radish as a green manure on the rotavated soil. This manure is supposed to be good in areas of 'club root' which our neighbours assure us is rampant. Sister thinks they are talking about a disco.

Saturday 19th August - Marrow Trouble

2006-08-19T07:39:00.000+01:00

There is a white powdery substance over 80% of the marrow leaves. It appeared overnight and I suspect it is something bad.

Friday 18th August - Famous Herbalist

2006-08-18T07:49:00.000+01:00

Christine Steward is our new Medical Herbalist at work (Rowan is taking a year off to build a house). It turns out that Christine was the "old book" that gave Sarah Raven the recipe for Calendula Cream which was demonstrated on tv this week. Gardner's World had filmed Christine making it at home along with a few other creams, then decided to use Sarah Raven on the actual programme.

Christine advises that you in fact heat the cream for 3 hours rather than 1 and don't use a funnel when straining.

Thursday 17th August - Caught in the Act

2006-08-17T07:00:00.000+01:00

The greenhouse tomato muncher has been caught in the act during a routine watering patrol.

Beer traps have been strategically placed and the SAS are on red alert.

Wednesday 16th August - Longest Bean

2006-08-16T07:30:00.000+01:00

Mel has identified the longest bean on our allotment and is nurturing it for our competition. Steve has suggested weighting it in order to stretch it further.

We have until the bank holiday to make it the longest bean in Hereford.

Tuesday 15th August - Couch Potatoes

2006-08-15T07:40:00.000+01:00

Nephew helped us plant potatoes back in April and four months later he was back helping us to dig up a few. He really enjoyed himself and couldn't wait to show Sister his harvest.

Sister couldn't wait to turn the deep fat fryer on and turn them into chips.

Monday 14th August - Calendula Cream

2006-08-14T07:05:00.000+01:00

Having seen Calendula Cream being made on Gardener's World, I am determined to have a go. I suspect chemists up and down the country are running out of glycerine and emulsifying ointment as it looked really simple to make. The recipe is:

100g (70 flowerheads) of Calendula, chopped
150g Emulsifying Ointment
70ml Glycerine
80ml Water

mix all ingredients in a bowl and gently heat in a bain-marie for an hour. Remove from heat and add a few drops of lavender oil. Filter through fine muslin into sterilised jar.

According to Sarah Raven it is good for small cuts and abrasions.

Sunday 13th August - Marrow the Movie

2006-08-13T14:29:00.000+01:00

Nephew stayed over last night (Pizza Express followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). He came up to the allotment and upon hearing that my camera did movies, recorded the marrow measurements.

Friday 11th August - Baby Snatcher

2006-08-10T19:20:00.000+01:00

The Three Choirs Festival is taking place in Hereford this year which means the city is full of saga louts. Meanwhile I am feeling a strange affinity to baby snatchers. I am very close to becoming a vegetable snatcher.

Spouse would never know...

Thursday 10th August - Anorexic Crops

2006-08-09T20:38:00.000+01:00

A bad week.

Spouse refuses to morph into Mr Darcy, I was outbid on the rotavator and the allotment is not producing enough food to starve an anorexic.

Tuesday 8th August - No Rotavator

2006-08-08T07:16:00.000+01:00

With 12 hours to go, the bidding on ebay is heading towards the £100 mark which means no rotavator for allotment 21. I have tried the 'early birthday/ Christmas pressie' approach on Spouse to no avail. Grrrrr!

Monday 7th August - Mr Collins Apron

2006-08-07T07:37:00.000+01:00

Spouse refuses to grow Mr Darcy sideburns. I have now found a Mr Collins apron for sale and am sure Spouse will look very fetching in it.

'What excellent potatoes. It's many years since I've had such an exemplary vegetable".

Sunday 6th August - Mr Darcy

2006-08-06T11:33:00.000+01:00

Mel prefers the other Mr Darcy.

Saturday 5th August - Growing Things

2006-08-05T15:32:00.000+01:00

Nothing is growing on the allotment in this dry weather so I am trying to persuade Spouse to grow some sideburns. I am hoping that they will turn Spouse into Mr Darcy.

Spouse is resisting.

Friday 4th August - Bidding War

2006-08-04T07:03:00.000+01:00

Four days and 12 hours left and I am now bidding up to £72. Have sinking feeling that Dig for Victory is right and the rotavator on ebay might fetch £100.

Am thinking evil thoughts about rival bidders involving shrivelled vegetables.

Thursday 3rd August - Ebay

2006-08-03T07:13:00.000+01:00

Spouse discovered this rotavator for sale on ebay and it's in Hereford. Still aching from the weekend diggathon I put in a £20 bid.

Fingers crossed!

Wednesday 2nd August - Blossom End Rot

2006-08-02T18:58:00.000+01:00

I think that grow bags were on special offer and that must be why 6 tomatoes were planted into bags rather than straight into the soil. Mel inserted some plastic bottles to improve watering however in this hot weather it isn't enough and Blossom End Rot has appeared.

The greenhouse tomatoes are slowly ripening however one of the giant harbinger tomatoes has vanished! We must have a tomato predator in there.

Tuesday 1st August - Fatter than Scarlet O'Hara

2006-08-01T07:01:00.000+01:00

I notice that Dig for Victory is using standard bloke measuring methods for his veg. I do not want to confess to having sausage fingers and chipped nail varnish so prefer to use a tape measure. Simon the Marrow now officially has a bigger waistline than Scarlet O'Hara. Unfortunately he is still a lot slimmer than me... but there's still time... and comfrey feed.

Looking at a giant marrow web page Simon will need to double in size to be a true champion. It is a strange world, that of the giant marrow.

Monday 31st July - I Want One of These!

2006-07-31T07:41:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was hard, hard work. The remaining garlic, onions and shallots all needed digging up and drying. I cleaned them up and laid them out in the greenhouse to air.

That left the bed to be dug over, not so easy when the soil is as hard as concrete. After three solid hours of backbreaking forking I had converted two thirds of the concrete into small, hard boulders.

Our neighbouring plotholder chose this moment to explain that I was doing it all wrong. He produced a spade and proceeded to demonstrate the correct method of digging soil. After one shovel-full, he pronounced that the ground was as hard as rock and that I would break my back trying to dig it like that. Considering I could hardly stand and my legs had turned to jelly, this wasn't much of a surprise.

Neighbour then produced a miracle tool from his shed and won my everlasting devotion.

Sunday 30th July - Marigold Seeds

2006-07-29T19:05:00.000+01:00

I really loved the pot marigolds that we grew this year, they were much nicer than the short, bright orange things that I've seen around other plots. Some of them have formed seedheads which I brought home to dry ready for next year.

This photo looks shockingly autumnal.

Saturday 29th July - Dried Cabbage

2006-07-29T18:54:00.000+01:00

As Hereford seems to have been bypassed by all these thunderstorms, I was once more watering the plot this morning. As is often the way, I got chatting to one of the OAPs while we were filling up our watering cans at the trough. He said, "It comes to something when you are watering your cabbages at this time of year." I nodded sagely as only one of our cabbages germinated this year and we haven't been watering it. I have now added the lone cabbage to the 'things that need watering' list.

Friday 28th July - Blauhilde Beans

2006-07-26T17:59:00.000+01:00

Note to self:

Grow a lot of Blauhilde Beans next year
1) They are delicious.
2) They don't seem to attract veg eating bugs.
3) We haven't managed to kill any.

Wednesday 26th July - Garlic

2006-07-26T00:00:00.000+01:00

Mel's Mum said that we would not be able to keep any of our garlic due to the rust. I'm not so sure and inspired by My Tiny Plot, who seems to know her rusty onions, I have dried a bag full in the garden. They look and taste delicious.

Thank you My Tiny Plot!

Tuesday 25th July - Stoned Cat

2006-07-25T18:28:00.000+01:00

Tiggy the cat at 18 years of age should know better than to roll around in the nepeta.

Tuesday 25th July -The Enemy

2006-07-24T22:03:00.000+01:00

Is there no end to the small wee beasties that eat more veg than Spouse?

Cabbage white butterflies lay their eggs on plants of the mustard family (crucifers). Eggs are usually laid on the underside of the leaf, where the caterpillars also hang out. Caterpillars are a velvety green with faint white lines along the sides. They chew big holes in the leaves. If you see this kind of damage, turn the leaf over and look carefully: you can probably apprehend the culprit and kill it!

Monday 24th July - French Onion Seller

2006-07-23T23:46:00.000+01:00

I cycled up to the plot where Steve & Mel were filling up their car boot with produce. Steve suggested I take some garlic & shallots as he & Mel had been taking lots of them to eat fresh. I did so, rather wishing I had donned a stripy t-shirt & beret for the trip back.

Take a look at this lovely archive film of Newcastle in the 1960s: We Know Our Onions - French Onion Sellers in Tyneside ©NRFTA) and listen to the Geordie influenced French accents.

Sunday 23rd July - Brief Rain Shower

2006-07-23T08:56:00.000+01:00

I arrived at the plot just as the rain started and sat in the greenhouse to watch. Some of the cherry tomatoes are starting to ripen and I couldn't resist gorging on a few.

Did you know that The largest tomato plant grown, was of the cultivar Sungold and reached 19.8 m (65 ft) length, grown by Nutriculture Ltd (UK) of Mawdesley, Lancashire, UK, in 2000?

Saturday 22nd July - Sweetcorn

2006-07-22T17:36:00.000+01:00

I am double smug today; firstly my lunch is pictured here on the barbecue which was accompanied by an ice cold beer. Secondly, there were a few spaces on the ear and according to Native American folklore,

When an ear of corn bears a few scattering kernels with spaces producing no corn, it is said that is a good sign that the planter will live to a ripe old age. So old will they be that like the corn, their teeth will be few and far between.

This means that my teeth will match my hairdo.

Friday 21st July - Grave News from Subplot

2006-07-21T07:57:00.000+01:00

Sister's veg plot was not completed in time for the family bash on the weekend.

Older relatives were concerned by the resemblance to an altogether different type of plot...

Monday 17th July - Name that Bean

2006-07-17T18:37:00.000+01:00

Mel definitely planted some borlotti beans somewhere on the plot but I reckon that the long purple beans are in fact Blauhilde which featured in our plan back in February. Does Dig For Victory grow these???

Note to Mel: Can you remember where you planted the borlotti beans?

Sunday 16th July - Marrowthon

2006-07-16T17:27:00.000+01:00

Just look at the size of our giant marrow - even Spouse is impressed. Not sure what to do with the purple borlotti (we think) beans in the background - does anyone have any tips? When do we harvest / cook etc etc!

Thursday 13th July - Spouse's Birthday

2006-07-13T07:37:00.000+01:00

And Steve & Mel gave him this rather fab card from Violent Veg! Steve & Spouse are both Cancerians and according to the astrologers should be good at gardening. Proof if ever it was needed that astrology is bo****ks.

Talking of leeks, ours are now pencil size and planted.

Tuesday 11th July - Mower

2006-07-11T22:20:00.000+01:00

At only £29.99 from Argos, this push/pull lawnmower should be perfect for our very small grass strip. The original patent dated 1830 stated,

"country gentlemen may find in using my machine themselves an amusing, useful and healthy exercise."

Spouse, pictured here putting the mower together, is not convinced.

Monday 10th July - Chilli

2006-07-10T19:11:00.000+01:00

"What's that green thing?" asked Spouse while I was downloading my allotment pictures. It is our first Hungarian Wax pepper grown from seed in the greenhouse. We have 3 big plants doing well in a growbag and 2 smaller ones in pots. Apparently, they are very good pickled. Wish I could say the same about Spouse.

Sunday 9th July - Happy 50th

2006-07-09T12:14:00.000+01:00

Friday 6th July - Potatoes

2006-07-07T08:16:00.000+01:00

Spouse was silenced last night when I returned with this lot from the allotment. He cooked it all up with lamb chops and fresh mint sauce from the garden.

Thursday 6th July - RAIN

2006-07-06T06:59:00.000+01:00

I awoke to dark skies and persistent rain which is fantastic because tonight is my turn to do the watering!

Spouse has been darkly muttering for some weeks about the lack of carrots, beans etc although he did compliment me on my, "lovely big cucumbers." We have 3 cucumber plants in a growbag which seem to be thriving despite all our efforts.

I think cucumbers will be our signature crop.

Tuesday 4th July - Blue Seeds

2006-07-04T07:35:00.000+01:00

Upon hearing that our entire carrot crop failed to materialise, a neighbouring plotholder kindly gave us some 'guaranteed' seeds. They are bright blue and we suspect are completely un-organic. But they have that magic word - guaranteed.

Principles temporarily suspended, we have sown the lot. Hopefully the weird seed colour will be forgotten by the time we dig them up.

Sunday 2nd July - Water

2006-07-02T15:18:00.000+01:00

All is looking very lovely on Allotment 21. Look a little closer though and you will see some floppy, yellowing leaves and shrivelled looking beans. Our non-watering policy has not worked. Today we began our arm muscle toning programme by trip after trip to the water trough. Everything got a good soaking and we will continue as long as this weather holds.

I will enter us for all local arm-wresting competitions and will put my money on Mel.

Saturday 1st July - Never Mind the Match

2006-07-01T14:42:00.000+01:00

Just look at this Warthog! Another local Art Gallery had a preview evening of 'Sculpture in the Garden' to raise funds for BCH which has completely put radish paintings out of my head. The artist is called Miranda Michaels and her work is breathtaking. I desperately would love to have this pair rampaging through my salad bed. All I need is a few thousand quid...

Friday 30th June - Minter Kemp

2006-06-30T06:54:00.000+01:00

Tom Dickins Art Gallery is holding a studio sale of original Minter Kemp art which is raising funds for Breast Cancer Haven where I work. Yesterday evening was the launch and I went along to drink Pimms, eat bacon butties and peruse the paintings. I fell in love with a radish drawing but just couldn't afford it. I did buy some great vegetable cards though and might have to go back for some more. Perhaps if I take my credit card and the radish drawing is still there...