The Good Life

We’ve finally completed the digging, hurray. It’s rained hard for the last few days and the ground was really soggy, so this prevented us from rotivating and properly weeding the last bits, but the plot is now complete.

Rob brought some celeriac and planted it at the bottom end and I have sown some more peas. The strawberries have suffered quite badly but new growth is starting to come through and the rhubard is well on its way. So it’s looking good.

At home my flat looks like a nursery and I’ve re-potted the courgettes, cucumbers and peppers. The tomatoes are growing well but I reckon another week or so before they need re-potting.

Tomatoes:

 Courgettes and cucumbers:

Nipped down today and dug a couple more bits. The bit with the carpet is the only ground left to dig which, weather permitting, will be done before the weekend is out.

I got an email at work yesterday:

Dear Phil,

I know you do not believe in me (or any other gods or goddesses either), however I have watched you and your friend Rob toil at the allotment for many months now, and with great interest.

I saw you gazing over towards Oakwood with great yearning this morning, and I have granted you the following gifts as proof that god loves ALL creatures on earth, regardless of whether they believe in him.
Gift One: A SHINING PATH OF WOOD AND BRICK

Gift Two: A CRUMBLING AND WEEDING OF SOIL

Gift Three: A BRAND NEW VEGETABLE PATCH OF HOLINESS

I hope you will accept these gifts in good faith (haha), and perhaps I might one day see you in one of my many curches on the Sabbath.Yours all powerfully,

GOD

Got up to the allotment early today. I started to clear the pea plot for the cold frame and lo, there were peas growing! Unfortunately their fate was already sealed so I looked away while I stomped the ground flat.

The cold frame was a bit twisted from the strong winds the previous week but is now firmly set in the ground with the glass on, so should be ok. There is a severe storm warning this week so fingers crossed it doesn’t blow away.

Rob arrived later and rotovated the ground which has really sorted the soil out. It looked like a ploughed field afterward.

I planted another set of peas and this time my faith will not waver,  while Rob planted some onions and beetroot. I brought the seed potatoes up to plant but because there is a risk of snow/rain in the next few days I haven’t planted them. I’ve left them in the cold frame so hopefully the mice/weather won’t get them.

The rhubarb is now coming up in its new home and I brought a couple of crowns back for my mate Dan.

Got some courgettes and cucumber set off at home along with some more tomatoes.

Next week: The final dig.