Update on 22nd April

There's been a lot of activity on the new plot, as well as on the former one. On Sunday we moved the lavender plants, rhubarb and vines, along with some wood (for future deep beds), garden canes and other bits and pieces. There's still a little left there to move in due course but the main things are already at the new plot.

Most of the garlic, onion and shallot sets are now in the ground, as is the rhubarb to be followed soon by the broad beans which are looking very strong and healthy and the vines (in the poly tunnel).

I planted the early potatoes this afternoon in mini rows from the poly tunnel to the fruit cane direction, as follows:

4 x Swift
5 x Arran Pilot
5 x Nadine
3 x Nadine

To try to deter badgers I followed Paul's advice and covered the rows with horticultural sheeting so hopefully that will allow the potatoes to establish themselves undisturbed.

More removal work .....

This morning we did a lot more in terms of moving things from the old allotment to the new one.

This included moving and replanting: an apple tree and a plum tree (both carried by Linda!), and a blackcurrant bush. We also moved all the blue tubing (for fleece protection of plant rows in early Spring, the weed suppressing membrane (to help warm up the soil before planting certain crops), and all the remaining tools and bits and pieces. The garden canes and a few pieces of planking for raised beds can be moved in due course.

There are still a few plants to move, in particular around 30 small lavender plants, and we'll have a good final look to see if there is anything else we can take with us when the moment finally comes to give the old plot up.

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Preparing the new allotment continues .......

Although it's been a very cold Easter, with overnight frosts, it's been completely dry. This has made it far easier to start to dig the rougher sections of the plot, as well as to remove some of old fruit bushes to make room for new ones and more general purpose vegetable beds.

With the help of the wheel barrow I have managed to get both of the deep bed frames in place at the new allotment. They need fixing in place and then filling with a good mixture of soil, grit and manure before the Gijnlim asparagus plants arrive.

In the green house the broad beans and yellow onions and shallots are all rooting well now and green shoots appearing. I think the next best place for them is in the polytunnel at the allotment, and this in turn will make more space in the greenhouse for things that require a closer eye on them.

Today I planted up the potato growing bag with the 5 Charlotte seed potatoes which had chitted quite well.  It's an experiment really but I'm sure if I follow the simple instructions closely everything will be fine and we'll get some nice early salad potatoes.

 As for the rest, this time last year I was definitely planting most of them into the ground.  What with the further digging which is required, and the need to wait a little longer until the heaviest night frosts seem to have passed, I can't see much potato planting until the middle of the month.