21 May 2007
My allotment shame
Tonight we tiptoed down to the plot for the first time in over a month. A month that has seen plentiful rain and some nice fat dollops of sunshine. Perfect rampant weed weather. The sight that greeted us when we arrived was enough almost to send us sprinting back home sharpish – foot high grass covering all the ‘paths’ between the beds and bindweed spreading its evil fingers all over the plot.
I should feel dreadful, and had there been more people there I probably would have done. But the truth is, all I could think about was how much more manageable our back garden potager will be. A decent size for two busy people and free of bindweed. That said, I feel so ashamed of the mess down there that I would not dream of posting you a picture of what it looks like. That would be too much like bringing you upstairs to the toilet to show you the aftermath of last night’s balti. I don’t think either of us should have to deal with that level of embarassment, do you?
Our potatoes and broad beans and onions and lettuces are thriving and were grateful for the fleeting attention they received. We also finished preparing the first french bean trench – my seedlings will be ready for planting out pretty soon so we’ll have to complete the second trench and then build our frame.
Best make sure we don’t leave it so long this time.
Filed under: Hard labour — Clare @ 6:31 pm
Trust me, starting a garden plot is hard work in itself – make sure you watch the sun and shade so you can maximise the space
(22.05.07 @ 10:10 am)
Was that supposed to make me feel better???!
Don’t worry – the garden pretty much gets full sun and we’ve put a fair bit of time into planning what’s going where. I’m still waiting for confirmation from my brother about when he’s coming down to do all the heavy lifting, digging etc!
(22.05.07 @ 5:56 pm)
It was, but on re-reading it, it doesn’t
Not only that, but it appears to be two random sentences stuck together – what was I thinking!?
My back gardenfaces directly north so the sun swings in a perfect arc around the front of the house – the sod! Still, most of the year it clears the yardarm of the roof to hit the vegpatch so it’s OK really
As for your bro – if he double digs now, you’ll never have to do it again (this is what I keep telling myself through the long dark hours of spade-induced pain). Get loads of chunky manure to dig in – I didn’t and it was a big mistake that meant I had to re-dig lots in this year.
I think I’m rambling again.
(23.05.07 @ 8:08 am)
Burro – Don’t sweat it. Compared with some of the things that have been said to me recently your comment is nothing short of gushing in its warmth and reassurance! And at least I know you like me.
A colleague recently described me as ferocious and someone else said I was bullying and insensitive. So that was nice.
The fraternal double digging does sound like a good idea. Though where the raised beds are going was very intensively dug and conditioned and manured a couple of years ago. My plan is to fill the beds with a lot of good mulch and for us to go no-dig. I gues it all boils down to how much I want to see him sweat.
And you were worried that you were rambling!
(23.05.07 @ 7:21 pm)
“Compared with some of the things that have been said to me recently”
Examples! I’m always lovely and charming! A little flirty, yes, but never horrible!
(23.05.07 @ 10:49 pm)
I didn’t mean that yukky things had been said by you – you are are delightfully flirty and very charming. Disgustingly rude at times, but never horible. But I am obviously a Rottweiler as far as some people are concerned.
(24.05.07 @ 9:01 am)