Photographic Tour of Plot 8-6-16

[Pa Snip]

I deliberately held back from sowing and planting a lot of things this year as I had a gut feeling there may be a late frost. Although there were a couple of nights in early May with a light frost, our area did not suffer any late in the month.
Despite holding back the plot is now almost fully sown and planted.
With the exception of a couple of experimental sweet potatoes, the raspberry canes and the fruit trees everything has been grown from seed either in the home greenhouse or direct on the plot.

The full size plots on our site are 10 pole ( 250sq yd. approx. ) although many are now divided and let as half plots. I started with a front half plot to the left of the concrete path in July 2012 and was fortunate enough to get the front half plot on the other side of the path in 2013.

We start the tour with a wide angle shot, a full size plot would normally be each side of the path and runs back as far as the tall laurel hedge. My plot is made up of the two front halves. This means that the aspect of my plot gives me a frontage twice that of any other plot on the site. Handy when it comes to having bulky deliveries.

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Moving to Front left hand corner we have some raised beds made from small pallets from the time I had a almost unlimited supply of these FOC.
The troughs contain carrot Royal Chantenay 3 sown earlier in the day, the beds contain Senshyu Yellow onion, followed in order by Mikulu Wight garlic, Valleado Wight garlic, Iberian white garlic

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Next we have some lower raised beds, the front one contains carrot Fiskee sown just prior to photograph being taken and along side that is a row of Eschlote Grise which we have never tried before

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[Pa Snip]

So often we hear people saying "It isn't worth growing potatoes on the plot, they are cheap in the shops"
Each to their own, our next bed contains this years selection, some tried tested & trusted and some we are growing for the first time (Marked with ** )

In order from the front of plot they are, 2 rows of each variety
Jazzy **
Lady Christl
Winston
Belle de Fontenay **
Rooster
Sarpo Axona **

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To the side of the shed is a small 'wildlife' area with stock wire fixed to the shed for sweets peas to climb. A small solitary bee hive, some water for birds to drink or bath in and also to encourage frogs or toads.

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[Pa Snip]

At the rear of the shed we have some rhubarb, a blackberry, more stock wire for sweet peas and some strawberries in containers

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Along the line of the half plot border I have planted 1 x cooking apple 1 x Eating Apple and the pear tree that I spoke about in another thread.
Also within this area are some Raspberries (Polka) and then this years attempt at big onions, a bed of Mammoth

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Next to which is a bed on Bedford Champion, both these onion types are my first attempt at growing onion from seed and the ones I have kept back at home in individual pots are actually bigger

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[Pa Snip]

On the far right of the plot are the raised beds that I made over last winter. At the rear of the beds is another rhubarb type, Gaskins Perpetual.
By the side of this is a bed of parsnips.

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Next to which there is a small recycled box containing beetroot.
You can also clearly see the path we have left on the far right of the plot

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The taller beds contain Butternut Squashes, Pumpkins and Melons with stock wire frames for them to climb up

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[Pa Snip]

Next to the raised beds as we work our way back to the middle of the plot is a bed of sweet corn with fleece around to give some protection from wind until stronger.

Under the netting tunnels there are brassica's, comprising 2 types of sprouts, purple sprouting, calabrese, cauliflower, and two types of cabbage

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To the right hand front of plot are a couple of raised beds of strawberries

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It is at this point I confess to being unable to complete this tour until I have returned to the plot and taken the pictures of the bean & pea bed that I have completely omitted to take pictures of

[Westi]

Wow Pa!

Looks great & your produce all looks so healthy & advanced, thanks to your wonderful compost no doubt! Now I've got plot envy to go with my compost envy! Just joking Pa - you've worked hard & it shows - well done!! Nice thread as well seeing a whole plot of pictures, hope other post theirs.

I have found my camera - well actually the box it is in (right at the bottom obviously)! Can't see the charger & stuff though, but will get Mr Westi to have a rummage. My plots are not anything like yours but I'm happy with them considering I work full time & mostly alone. Might even spend a bit of time swearing by re-sizing & use the phone if it can't be found. (Or not most likely, depends on number of children playing outside within hearing range)!

Westi

[Pa Snip]

So we take a walk up the centre path

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and as we do so we come to this years pea and bean bed. For those in the know part of this area also doubles up as the dog (or Shetland pony) agility training area

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[Pa Snip]

Walk across the plot between the beans and the compost bins to reach the pea bed.
Four varieties growing

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Turn and walk back across the plot to the concrete path
and you are back at the point where the two apple trees are.

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By way of these pictures you are able to see my work just like an open book.
So now you have unravelled the plot.

[Pa Snip]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Expletive expletive expletive.

Please don't anyone tell me this board doesn't ever cut you off because I have just spent a while replying to Westi's comment after my last post, I hit the submit button and the damn thing lost what I had written because it sent me to the log in page again.

[Pa Snip]

Westi

I hope you find the camera, charger etc, and that you and others are able to post some pictures.
A visual aid of the subject is always good.

Look forward to seeing some.

My plot is not one to be envious of, there are a lot better out there. My driving force is too keep the alien within at bay for as long as possible. So far it seems to be working but there are days when I am exhausted after half an hours work.

Its a case of determination not to give in.
The plot is such an enjoyable place to be.

Irony is that the months go by so quickly before we know it it will be time to order another load of compost for the 1/4 section of the plot that didn't get any this year (where the brassica's currently are) to prepare it for next year

[PLUMPUDDING]

What a lovely productive plot Pasnip. Thank you for sharing it with us. I like your pea supports. I use stock fencing for supporting various things and like the frames you've made. Another idea for next year. I've tried posting pictures and made a mess of it recently. I'll have to try when I've more time to work out what I'm doing wrong.

What make are your cold frames please, they look very useful with access from both sides.

I'm glad you are still enjoying gardening despite your problems. I find it very therapeutic, even if frustrating and tiring at times.

[Pa Snip]

Hi PP

Thanks to you also for your enthusiasm.

If you want some help with trying to post pics feel free to contact me via pm and I will try to assist if I can.

The cold frames were sold under the name Botanica but I believe that they were being discontinued at the time I got them about 3 years back. The tops slide out easily enough but they can be an absolute bugger to relocate sometimes.

Gardening, or at least allotmenteering in my case, is therapeutic indeed. Every day is different not only at ground level but just looking to the sky, observing and counting the Red Kites, watching the different types of light aircraft which fly low over the plot to take off or land at the airfield which our allotments used to be part of when all was owned by the MoD.
Couple that with being under the flight path for Heathrow and the imagination can run riot as to where people are returning from or travelling to.

[Diane]

That is one superb plot - what a lot of hard work you've put in. Wonderful pics too. Thank you. (goes off to poke compost heap!).

[Elaine]

Hello Pa Snip. Your plots are wonderful!

[Westi]

Well I bought a new camera - Mr Westi convinced me that technology has moved forward so much it would be better to get a new model, so used my birthday vouchers & got a little Polaroid!!

Now it has come with it's own headaches, the manual is on a disc & haven't found a disc drive on the Apple. (Let me know if little rascal has one hidden somewhere) & my google search could not find this model's manual, but I've muddled along - and along! Now I have been mucking around with what settings I can find & have had 2 unsuccessful attempts at posting. There isn't a Pixel setting but have found a resolution setting that says 'vga 640 x 480'! Nope haven't a clue, & didn't realise resolution settings had 2 pages either!

My baby cucumber - yes out of focus but happy it is there as it is the first one & although found it a couple of days ago I thought it would drop off being the first. Attempt No 3 - thank goodness they don't leave me in charge of technology!

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