In the bleak Mid Winter, Bits and Bobs...

[Motherwoman]

That's one really good view from your garden Geoff, how do you ever get any work done!

All we've had is heavy rain, but now sunny with a cold wind. Himself has just mowed the grass. First cut always surprises us with how long it's got.

MW

[oldherbaceous]

Just put 12 x 30 foot rows of shallots in over the allotment, and doesn't my back know it......i was very surprised how workable the soil was.

[Motherwoman]

I've been up the plot this morning, reshaping a bed after moving the shed last autumn. It involves taking up a now redundant grass path and the soil was working well, dry enough to work but not so hard as to make the job difficult... just tedious....

MW

[PLUMPUDDING]

Seen five frogs yesterday afternoon, so looking forward to them turning the two ponds into frog spawn soup

[oldherbaceous]

Still no frogs in any of the little ponds round the village, thanks to the herons.

Going to make the most of this windy, drying weather today and get some of the allotment soil broke down for planting and sowing.

[Pa Snip]

OH

I have the same plan on section 2 of the plot for today as well.

Section 1 was dug over pre-winter and as that is the planned brassica bed for this year I will not be digging the majority of it again. Will just hoe weeds as they appear.

[Monika]

Temperature reached 12C yesterday and today! Wow ! The wind was still quite strong and cold, though.

Spent all morning on the allotment: putting in the posts for the broad bean and pea supports, measuring up the brassica bed and liming it, preparing the soil for sowing carrots and (pre-sown) parsnips, manuring the perennial chrysanthemums, hoeing, making two soil and manure mounds for my two courgette plants and preparing a small bed for early potatoes.

The last few years we have been quite extravagant with the space on our large allotment, but as we now only have half an allotment, we are trying to fit in as much as possible.

At home, broad beans and peas are coming up nicely in rootrainers in the cold greenhouse, as are leeks. Things are moving, folks!

Oh, and we have lots of frogs in the pond but as yet no spawn.

[Pa Snip]

When I opened the shed door on the plot this afternoon the internal temperature was reading 24 degrees.

As I have put a film on the glass windows to make it opaque I am now thinking ' Hmmmm poor mans summer sauna' could be on the cards

[robo]

We have spent most of the day down the plot lots of things to do i think we are playing catch up at the present today was the first time for 3 months my wife has been down to the plot ,since she had a stroke two and a half years ago she struggles sometimes with energy levels but a dose of flu 3 weeks ago has not helped her

[peter]

Bonfire night!

Disposed of shed shuffling debris, rotten timber, offcuts, etc, the hedge/boundary coppicing debris and the burn pile. Just left a glowing mound of embers, always enjoyable a good bonfire.

[Pa Snip]

Just left a glowing mound of embers, always enjoyable a good bonfire.

And if you are like me you get mesmerised by the flames and then those glowing embers, stand there for ages watching and in process justify my lack of other action by telling myself I am making sure it stays under control. Even though it is in a purpose built incinerator !!!

[oldherbaceous]

Just been over and put two rows of earlly potatoes in.....i think we need to change the topic to "earlrly spring bits and bobs", if anyone would like to start it...i dare not, just incase i tempt fate, what i seem very good at doing.

[Pa Snip]

Have done as you suggested OH

2015 Springing Bits and Summer Bobs thread started.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12491

[oldherbaceous]

Excellent Job, Parsnip.