I like to spend an hour or so on the allotment a few days a week in winter, just keeping on top of things before it gets really busy in mid-February. Today I planted out the first and second successions of early peas, my second succession of calabrese and some...
What we’ve harvested and eaten We harvested a ‘grand’ total of £15 worth of veg this week, excluding anything from the store, because we’ve been away on holiday in Edinburgh for most of the time. We had 5 meals with ingredients from the allotment. We picked broccoli, sprouts, brocollini, lots...
Every couple of weeks I do a tour of the allotments to show what we’ve been working on during the last few weeks and the progress – or otherwise – on the plots. If you are new to my allotment videos you might find a bit of context useful. We...
Let’s get this out of the way immediately: there’s no desperate need to sow in January. I’m doing it for some very specific reasons that I explain in the video, but normally sowing in the autumn and mid-February onwards are the best times. That said there are a few things...
This is a new monthly video where I will do a quick run through of the seedlings that I’m sowing and growing on and planting out during the current month. I will try and do it early in the month, in case I inspire anyone to do likewise, but remember...
One of my new years resolutions is to get my a bit more balance in my activities. Specifically I want to spend more time writing, to complement my reading and video making. My writing topic of choice for this year is a new blog focused on my allotment and it...
This is a long video, but then it’s on an important topic. I explore my approach to self-sufficiency and then spend quite a while illustrating how I put it into practice through successional sowing, choosing different varieties that mature at different times, choosing veg suited to different seasons and season...
In this video I do a full tour of the three allotments, the polytunnel and the kitchen garden and store. It’s a long video, but it’s worth it because it finally feels like not only has spring arrived, but warm weather has arrived too. The word on the allotments is...
Big update on the progress of my super early potatoes and how I’ve planted in the ground this year. I’ve planted lots of Charlotte and Arran Pilot in tubs on the patio at home and on Jennie’s plot. I’ve also planted Charlotte in the ground (with some chits removed) for...
It’s been another challenging week on the allotment. Hail, sleet, light frosts and plenty of rain and wind. As a result we’ve had a bit of downy mildew rearing it’s ugly head on some of the lettuce; ironically the variety that’s meant to be most resistant! I’ve picked off the...