Plotting the plots

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Went down the plots this morning to prepare for planting out.

The weather was somewhat showery, some of them torrential.

Luckily I had jobs that needed doing in the greenhouses, so I did these during the showers and worked on the outdoor stuff between showers.

A bit of history first;

Each year, usually around November,I plan for the next years crops.

This may seem a bit early but it is not really!

Firstly it means that what happened that year is fresh in my mind, so I decide if I am going to grow the same crops / varieties again or not!

Once this is done, I look at what I intend to grow the following year, and check if I need more seeds of the varieties I am growing again, if not, I place my order for more of these, along with any new varieties I am planning on growing.

Similarly I check my fertiliser stocks and order these along with my compost for a January delivery!

Once my orders are placed, I then plan my plot layouts so that I know which beds to manure when I am doing my winter digging!

This is how I plan my plot;

As you can see I have made a number of changes from my original plan (the blue text).

This has been necessiated by some crops not propagating as prolifically as others, so I have to juggle around with the plants I end up with.

There is a clearer explanation of this here;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Computers/Plot%20layout.htm

These are the plots! Plot 1 is the one with the white stripe (Fleece) Plot 2 is below it!

An aerial view courtesy of Google Earth!

Right! lets have a walk around my plots;

I will move in a clockwise manner!

Point one is at the top of plot 1 left of white stripe;

As you can see here I have my Pea and bean frames in place!

Walking straight forward I reach the bottom corner of plot 1 and this is the view!

I then walk along the bottom of Plot one to the division path between Plots 1&2.

This is the view of plot 1

This is the view of Plot 2;

Walking along the bottom of Plot 2, then this is the view;

Walking up to top of plot 2 gives this view;

This is the bed I use as a nursery bed, in this case, these are small daffoldil bulbs lifted from my garden at home to plump up!

Within the next couple of weeks I wiil fill inbetween the rows with Gladioli!

This is the view looking down plot 2

New early potato emerging;

The Garlic planted last October;

The Japanese Onions planted last October;

The Shallots planted last October;

Sweet peas planted out this morning;

Compost heap part prepared for Pumpkins and Courgettes;

Rings filled with compost, and ready for Pumpkins and Courgettes;

From outdoors, we go indoors, into the three greenhouses and part of a tunnel I share with other colleagues on the plot

The 28′ × 8′ greenhouse;

Plants hardening off;

A closer look – Leeks;

Runner beans and Celery;

Various Brassicas

French Beans

Tomatoes;

The ones to the left are for me, those to the right, are plants I have grown for fellow allotmenteers.

Sweet Corn

Broad beans and Sweet Peas;

Tomatoes covered with fleece to protect them from the impending frost forecast for tonight!

The 8′ × 6′ Greenhouse;

Rings and supports in place for tomatoes!

Rings filled with compost and watering funnels in place;

12′ × 8′ Greenhouse ready for Sweet Peppers;

The three beds I cultivate in the communal tunnel;

The Fruit Beds;

Rhubarb is ready for harvesting;
Bring on the custard!!

Gooseberry bushes;

Blackcurrant bushes;

Fruit forming on Blackcurrants;

Apple trees in bloom;

Strawberry bed in bloom;

Strawberry runners potted up to replace most of the above plants in October;

And that is the state of play on my allotments on Tuesday 15th May 2012…Tg

• 15 May, 2012
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