Diggin Spuds

We operate a 5 year rotation* on our allotment. There are five zones which are prepared each year according to the next year's crop.  In addition there is a sixth  growing zone, the soft fruit area which is static and has a wooden framework to support netting in the summer. The internal path separates two zones to the East from the four to the West. The picture above is of the two zones to the East. In the distance is the soft fruit area. In the foreground is this year's potato zone - and it is fully planted up! This is making me feel really positive - because that means I can concentrate my efforts on the four remaining zones, And this is how they currently look - in need of attention. Our patch stops at the shed (or more precisely the path in from of it)

Here's a reverse view with the alliums in the foreground.  There are three rows of garlic and four of onion so far. You can just see the corner of the first carrot tent to the right

*The 5 year rotation is a progression from Potatoes to Legumes to Brassicas to Curcubits to Alliums and Other Roots.  This has been tinkered with a bit particularly to accommodate the use of weed suppressant fabric with all the advantages that brings.

Just now the potato zone is looking the best to me!


Diggin

Trampled Underfoot

Standing to Attention Part II

There's not much happening now that the weather has put the freeze on the growing season. Parsnips, cabbages, kale, brussel sprouts,  jerusalem artichoke and next spring's leeks are shrugging off the the icy weather on their own.    

I've taken the opportunity to put into action my "great soft fruit cage plan" for 2013. This was going to be the great soft fruit cage plan for 2012 but was put on ice until the preparation time became available. The wood was collected from a skip when a building renovation was under way and they were being thrown away. I am happy to give them a second use. They've waited in a pile standing on bricks until now. 

I've already posted a picture of wooden poles soaking in a bucket of preservative.  Well these have now been fully painted with preservative and moved to their new location to dry out.

The next step has been to install the uprights:

I know my joinery limitations, so  every joint is made using an simple L shaped bracket and 4 screws.


The suspended beams will be next to be screwed into position.  Then all I need is the netting.  And some sort of access point.  I've got all winter to finish off so I am pretty pleased with progress so far.  There will be no point in netting the roof until after any danger of snow has passed.

Of course devoting 1/5th of the plot to soft fruit has upset my 5 year rotation plan which has had to be adapted to a 4 year rotation.   The Alliums and Other Roots will now share a block. Planning is actually a large part of the fun of allotment gardening - plans working is the payoff.

Happy winter days.