Allotmenting in a rather wet spring

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Norfolk allotment in spring
Norfolk allotment in spring
I can't lie, the allotment has been really hard work for the last month or two. We understand how much it takes to get an allotment up to speed in spring, it's our third or fourth year (I lose track).
C has put so many hours in over winter to move a bazillion barrow-loads of muck for almost the whole plot, he's dug over lots. We've potted up hundreds of seeds in the greenhouse kept them watered, re-potted in larger pots. Weeded.
As you can see, the allotment itself is 50% stone which is a ruddy nuisance.
Norfolk allotment in spring
The time at the allotment doesn't stretch that far. It's a little disheartening when we spend so long toiling with little to show for it. As if it weren't bad enough that the intermittent rain has soaked the plot; by far, the worst thing is that the slugs have eaten the asparagus tips, the beans, the everything else.... Starting from scratch with seeds again.
It's frustrating! We put in so much effort.
C has put slug repeller down and I'm hoping that solves the problem.
Norfolk allotment in spring

Norfolk allotment in spring


Norfolk allotment in spring

Norfolk allotment in spring
My initial enthusiasm for growing flowers has waned significantly since some of them haven't germinated, some (I now realise) wont even flower this year...
The re-potting process from tiny plugs into large pots was a disaster if I'm honest. The plugs mostly just crumbled into nothing and made for particularly tricky handling. Most seem to be surviving (against the odds) but in future I'll use larger pots to start with and compact the compost a little firmer.
Norfolk allotment in spring
The sunflowers have the best chance of doing well. From the start they have grown fast and strong. They're meant to grow taller than me and I'm looking forward to tracking their progress. Most of them are planted out at the allotment, hope the slugs haven't eaten them. I'm going to keep a couple in pots at home to brighten up the garden.
I planted some bulbs in between the fruit trees; irises, freesias, lilies and more. Plus some cornflowers from seed.
Norfolk allotment in spring
Maybe we're just going through a lousy patch at the moment but I'm feeling a bit gloomy about it at the moment. Fingers crossed that things turn a corner soon.
Sophie

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