Allotment Vegetable Growing in December 2009
Allotment Site Looking Bleak 24/12/2009 Whilst the rest of the country enjoyed snow, it seems we just got the bleak midwinter treatment. The site was deserted, cold and damp with the fog threatening to roll in. Although that may seem unappealing, it was actually quite magical. |
Looking Wet on the Paths 24/12/2009 The paths just look wet in this photo but the water was just lying on top of ice, which made things incredibly slippy and slidy. I managed to get to the plot without ending up sitting down in the mud, but it was a close run thing! |
Curly Kale 24/12/2009 The last of some curly kale on one of the plots. Kale is an incredibly hardy vegetable and can provide fresh greens when everything else has frozen. Notice the plot is well dug over around it and you can see the frost on the clods |
Comfrey Bed on Plot 5 24/12/2009 The comfrey is well and truly died back for its winter sleep. Being at the bottom of the plot which is shaded by the trees, it's slow to take off in the spring. You can see that the light dusting of snow has lingered in this area. Still, comfrey is a useful plant for those patches where little else will grow. |
Planting through matting 24/12/2009 This chap likes to plant through weed suppressant matting. The crop has gone now but the weeds have taken advantage of the slits to come through. I'm not really in favour of weed matting on vegetable beds, but I have used it on decorative shrub borders. |
Covered Plots for the Winter 24/12/2009 They've covered their raised beds with matting for the winter. Of course it stops any weed growth but I really can't say I approve. First it stops the weather and air getting to the soil and breaking down clods, but if I'm truthful, it's the way it makes the site look like an industrial site that I really hate. |
Messy Plot 24/12/2009 I'm glad I'm not the only one somewhat behind this year! Next to the tidy, industrial plot with its matting this one just hasn't been touched for months. On balance, I think I prefer the messy plot - it's real and it makes mine look good! |
A Collection of Compost Bins 24/12/2009 Some people collect stamps, this plotholder seems to be collecting compost bins. They've got 4 at the end of this plot, all slightly different. I think they're good for a small garden but I'm not so sure they're the right solution for an allotment. |
Perfect Plot 27/12/2009 I wish I could say this one was mine, but it's not. She's got it nicely dug over and the frosts are breaking the clods down. Some of the rows have leaves mixed in and I think some are manured. |
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