Allotment Vegetable Growing in December 2005

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Leek Bulblets

Leek Bulblets
01/12/2005

On my visit to John Carver, who is a show judge for the National Vegetable Society and chair of our local branch, the Crewe and Nantwich District Association, he kindly gave me a seed head with little bulblets in from one of his prizewinning leeks.

Being as the weather is terrible and keeping me off the plot, I planted the little bulblets into some compost. Photo taken the next morning.

See: Vegetative Propagation of Blanch Leeks

Moving the Notice Board

Moving the Notice Board
02/12/2005

Our site rep, Larry along with another plotholder moving the notice board. We're tidying up the site and may be making some improvements such as adding a flower bed by the entrance.

The sign was moved to a better position near to the gates.

Leafmould Cage and Compost Bin on Plot 29

Leafmould Cage and Compost Bin on Plot 29
02/12/2005

Despite having been full to the brim with leaves just a few days ago, they've settled in the cage already. Whilst the leaves are still available, I'll keep re-filling to maximise the amount of leafmould for next year.

The compost bin is pretty full and I'll turn it in the spring to help it rot down.

The Skip on Site

The Skip on Site
02/12/2005

The council put a skip on site three or four times a year for the rubbish. Because of the time of year and the weather, there aren't many people on site so it isn't being filled as quickly as usual.

We have some old wire fencing and a broken down old shed in there, plus various bits of rubbish that accumulates. Personally I'd have had a bonfire with it but apparently some people have complained about bonfires on other sites so we don't want to rock the boat.

Leaves and Chippings

Leaves and Chippings
02/12/2005

In the foreground, the remnants of the chippings mountain and behind the wheelbarrow, a new pile of leaves. It may look like a lunar landscape but pretty soon they'll be gone around the plots.

Freshly dug bed on plot 29

Freshly dug bed on plot 29
15/12/2005

Its a great feeling when you dig over a patch, if you enjoy an aching back!

This was the brassica bed and was covered in 2"s of leafmould, which is now incorporated. Behind you can see the field beans as a green manure just popped up from the soil. The wooden strips in the foreground stop the soil falling over the chipping paths and the chippings falling into the soil..

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