Spring Cleaning


Today was a beautiful sunny spring day and Kathryn and myself headed up to the plot, to pay our rent for this year which has actually gone DOWN. We started tidying up around the beds and checked what was coming on or not.Kathryn spotted this ladybird on a raspberry cane as we were working on clearing old canes and opening up the bed as there were too many canes per plant.We inherited these on the plot and this is the first time in 3 years we have been ruthless with them and cut them back. We thought it was early to see a Ladybird out and about?

This is the raspberry bed tidied up,we cut out quite a lot of wood and left just 2 of the strongest straightest canes on each plant.They will be tied in next week as march winds have yet to arrive!

We have decent looking rhubarb this year, the sticks are much thicker than any we have had so far and there are quite a few of them coming up.

We tidied up the Asparagus bed also. This is its 3rd year so we are looking forward to harvesting at long last.I loosened up the soil gently with a garden 'claw' , I don't want to damage the crowns by digging. They need a mulch and some organic fertiliser now (early Spring)

Zwena has added 5 more plots to the allotment which now brings our total to 25.These new ones are in a walled area and have been dug over and compost added to them. We have put our name down for a second plot as we are running out of space for all we plan to do.

Comments

Diary From Africa said…
Your allotment is looking lovely, & ready for Spring ! Glad to hear that you've had some warmer weather later. Wouldn't it be exciting if you could get a 2nd plot/allotment ? Just think of all the things you could plant !
February 13, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Peggy said…
Great spring weather at the moment Lynda, and we are 'plotting' already what we can do wiith a second one.
February 14, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Faux Stone Trough

Image
The word faux is a really nice word,somehow it does not seem to mean false, just a kind of copy! I had read about making these stone looking troughs or flower pots and again it was on my list of things to try.With my supply of donated flower pots I decided this was as good a time as any.The first pic is of the completed trough or tub filled with compost waiting on plants. I began with a plain white plastic tub, it does not have to be white it can be any colour.Glue ,I used PVA which was painted on thickly and left to get tacky and either sand or I used a mix of small stones and sand, sold in the builders suppliers as 'filling'. It is not a quick job to do as each side is pasted, shake on the sand thickly and press down to dry, I also did the opposite inside edge. I left it overnight each time but if it was sunny and warm it would probably dry faster.The first side drying, when it is dry shake off the excess leaving a thin covering. The final application and it is completed onl...
Read more

Tumbling Pots

Image
I have seen these tumbling pots in magazines and blogs from time to time, the latest being in KeeWees garden , having got a number of terracotta pots from one of my daughters who was clearing out her shed I decided to give it a go!They look stunning when the flowers have settled in, I had toyed with the idea of putting in strawberry plants which would also look great but having grandchildren around I don't think I would have a lot of strawberries from it! You need terracotta pots with one central drainage hole and in different sizes. First I had to go to B&Q to get the metal rod to support the pots, I also got the pansies there. Place the pot where you intend to leave it permanently as it cannot be moved easily once completed.Place the rod through the drainage hole and fill the pot with compost, it is easier to fill each pot as you go and firm down well. Slide the second pot onto the rod through the hole, this one will rest partly on the compost as well.Slide the remainder of t...
Read more

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival

Image
I am back from a few days in Co Clare.The matchmaking festival is in full swing for the month of Sept,as it is every year for generations.It has become a month long dance and music event also with dancing commencing at 12 o'clock every day in various venues and continuing around the town and outside until 3 am. It was my first visit and I had a ball!People come from all over the world and every county in Ireland was represented.A matchmaker is in residence in this famous pub (where else) and for a small fee will match anyone up for a week or for life! Couples come back every year who have met in Lisdoonvarna and since married! I did not avail of his services preferring the dancing !Lots of videos on Youtube, just type in Lisdoonvarna. The Burren is a few miles from Lisdoonvarna and is a protected area which is now a National Park, what looks at first sight to be barren rock has in fact rare species of plants growing in crevices.It is a breathtaking sight and no single photo could...
Read more