Maple Stirrup

Two seasons ago when we first started on the plot we dug up a horseshoe. We had just cut down a Maple which had grown quite large and was shading a lot of the plot. The shoe was placed on one of the stumps and today I thought that I would move it and nail it to our shed. It is impossible as the tree has started to grow round it.

I spent some time hoeing this afternoon and was also able to pick loads of sorrel which we shall have tonight with poached trout. I find that I am able to get lots more done during the week than weekends as I spend to much time chatting to other plot holders, weekdays I am often the only one there.

Our trading shed opens again on Sunday after the winter break, another sign that spring is just around the corner.

Introducing Don

We arrived early at the potato fair today as in previous years it has been quite crowded. And you are more likely to get the variety of potato that you are after.

We bought Sarpo Mira and Axona as we are only growing maincrop this year. They did so well for us last time, not a sign of blight and plenty of good size spuds. They were great for baking and mash,not so good for chips which suited us fine.

We also bought some onion sets (Sturon) and some shallots (Red Sun) and also some banana shallots which I have been looking for for quite a while.

Neither of us has ever tasted Globe Artichoke so bought one to try, but I have just been reading that they grow to about six feet tall so will have to be very careful where we plant it because of the shade it may cause.

Later at the plot Barbara tidied her herb bed and I lifted some leeks and cut some thyme which we have just turned into soup.

Gave my new scarecrow that my grandchildren made us for Christmas a bit of an airing before tucking him up again in the shed when we left. They called him "Don" after a Crystal Palace football legend "Don Rogers" a favourite player of mine from a few years ago.

While we were there a fellow plot holder "Ron" gave me some hand warmers which consists of a pouch full of gel which heats up when you click a disc inside it. They stay warm for ages and can be reused by boiling them in some water for ten minutes or so. It really was kind, and meeting people like him is another reason why I love allotmenteering so much.

Happy New Year

We spent a wonderful four hours on the plot on Sunday. The weather was kind and it was quite warm and sunny with very little wind for a change. We started a bonfire and managed to burn all the cuttings from the plum trees that we have had piling up for ages. A corner of the plot gets shaded in the late afternoon so we have to keep the trees well under control.

I had some really great Xmas pressies the best being a new scarecrow made by my two grandchildren (will post a picture soon) trouble is with all this wet and windy weather I cant bring myself to leave him out of the shed overnight. Barbara bought me a new nest box to replace the one that was smashed by our moronic visitors and a Jamie Oliver camping stove which we used on Sunday to have a brew up and heat up the vegetable soup (keep it quiet but it was supermarket veg)
but it was home made.


As we were unable to spend as much time as we would have liked on the plot last year we only have leeks growing but they are very good.

We are again going to the potato fair at Dulwich next week to buy some Sarpo as they did so well for us last time, and we are still eating them.

Along with all the usual girly stuff,I bought Barbara a new pair of loppers and she was more pleased with them that anything else. I have had to make her promise that she will not use them unless I am with her as she gets carried away and lops anything in sight.


Hope to get to the plot this weekend but the weather forecast is not to good so will have to see.