Week four: The Shed has arrived!

Tension is mounting on the site - it is only four weeks until the village show and the original bunch of allotment holders vowed to put produce in the competition.

At last, a Crop!

Our radish(radishes?) are the best I have ever eaten; what a surprise. We have a bumper crop and have harvested at least twenty and even given some away. The variety is sparkler: a purplish red colour to about halfway down; very pretty.

One small courgette is hanging on for dear life on one of the seven courgette plants; will it survive: the insects, rabbits, and gales?

Planted:

Blueberry bush x 2 from Aldi (leaves have gone brownish, possibly due to wind)

Tabberry cane x1 from Aldi

Spring onions

Carrots (treated for carrot fly etc; bright blue coating). Given by neighbour and not sure these are truly organic

Alpine Strawberry x2 (variety=Alexandra)

And to make the plot look nice and encourage bees, a small hedge of:

Lavender x3 (variety=Munstead)

Lavender x5 (variety=Augutifolia Hidcote)

News

'It's my first ever Wendy House,' said an allotment holder as she skipped into her new shed. We were all the same; irascible at the sight of an 8ft by 6ft wooden box. Styles were compared, colours discussed, padlocks fitted. We opted for a Hipex, side door and window. Our teenage daughters (for a fee) painted it chestnut brown; they did a wonderful job and much praised by fellow holders. Looking forward to having my tea making facilities down at the plot soon.

We had been coveting a magical implement belonging to another holder: a hoe of sorts, with little toothed wheels, called a soil miller by Wolf, a German company. Great for weeding and leaves the soil deliciously crumbly. Thoroughly recommend it.

Lots of swallows swooping and darting over the site which I am told means rain; since the hose pipe ban we have had rain daily.

Allotment Society meeting: much concern re: non-regulation sheds and the possibility of it becoming a shanty town.

Steeping manure into liquid fertiliser as I type.