SATURDAY on the ALLOTMENT
I was on my allotment at 5.30 am, when the sun had not long risen and the world was resounding with a variety of bird life. A veritable cacophony of sound, the raucous squabbling Rooks were in the ascendancy with a very loud chorus resonating from the trees that make up the rookery situated alongside the cemetery that adjoins the allotments.
My first job was to cut some Asparagus spears, I had a very good crop as I have not been there for the previous two days. I filled a plastic fruit container with luscious red strawberries, some half-ripe that will ripen off nicely on the kitchen window-sill at home. Fresh baby new potatoes, dug straight from beneath the healthy looking foliage of my first-early potato plants were bagged and deposited in the car ready to transport home. I then foraged further and collected some Spring Cabbage leaves, Rocket leaves and I was delighted to harvest some amazing White Radishes. I also picked some Coriander leaves that have self-sewn from last year.
Next I watered all my pots and baby plants and the seedlings in my seed-beds. It is really important to keep the young growing plants moist. I then planted three fruit bushes that I purchased from the Wilkinson's store I visited in Norwich yesterday. A Blackcurrant ~ A Redcurrant ~ A Whitecurrant. I will not get fruit from these until next year. There was quite a stiff Norfolk wind this morning and I thought it best to support my new fruit bushes with some short bamboo canes. Then after a short blitz on the infernal weeds it was time to call it a day.
My friend Tony arrived while I was busy and we passed a good few minutes discussing the bowls match he is playing in this afternoon. Another very good allotment friend Linda arrived to feed her chickens and we passed a few minutes bemoaning the lack of rainfall and the effect of the variable weather on her Corgettes.
I was on my allotment at 5.30 am, when the sun had not long risen and the world was resounding with a variety of bird life. A veritable cacophony of sound, the raucous squabbling Rooks were in the ascendancy with a very loud chorus resonating from the trees that make up the rookery situated alongside the cemetery that adjoins the allotments.
My first job was to cut some Asparagus spears, I had a very good crop as I have not been there for the previous two days. I filled a plastic fruit container with luscious red strawberries, some half-ripe that will ripen off nicely on the kitchen window-sill at home. Fresh baby new potatoes, dug straight from beneath the healthy looking foliage of my first-early potato plants were bagged and deposited in the car ready to transport home. I then foraged further and collected some Spring Cabbage leaves, Rocket leaves and I was delighted to harvest some amazing White Radishes. I also picked some Coriander leaves that have self-sewn from last year.
Next I watered all my pots and baby plants and the seedlings in my seed-beds. It is really important to keep the young growing plants moist. I then planted three fruit bushes that I purchased from the Wilkinson's store I visited in Norwich yesterday. A Blackcurrant ~ A Redcurrant ~ A Whitecurrant. I will not get fruit from these until next year. There was quite a stiff Norfolk wind this morning and I thought it best to support my new fruit bushes with some short bamboo canes. Then after a short blitz on the infernal weeds it was time to call it a day.
My friend Tony arrived while I was busy and we passed a good few minutes discussing the bowls match he is playing in this afternoon. Another very good allotment friend Linda arrived to feed her chickens and we passed a few minutes bemoaning the lack of rainfall and the effect of the variable weather on her Corgettes.