The Calm Before the Storm

Canoodling Carrots!

What more bucolic scene could one behold?

This rural idyll was not to last though. 80mph winds from the Irish Sea raged across the allotment site last week and upturned 3 sheds (ours was one of them) and ripped the roofs off many others. It was like something out of the Wizard of Oz. Our shed had flown 15 feet and landed on its side across the main path - 2 more feet and it would have been in the ditch!

Some wonderful fellow allotmenteers helped us put it back in place. The number of people that told us it would happen, only we didn't quite believe it.You live and learn. Now have four 5ft posts drilled into the ground at each corner. Hubby is still recovering from the shock and his injured back from lifting it. All part of the adventure I suppose.

Harvesting:

Spinach - wonderful in stir frys, makes it taste authentically Chinese
Broccoli
Leeks - need a decent leek soup recipe
Kale
Sprouts doing well - looks like we may have to some!
Waiting for the one good cauli to get big enough before frosts or insects get it

Jobs done:
Chopped down pea and bean plants and dug in their roots as they apparently fix nitrogen in the soil and therefore stuff should grow well on their patch next year.
Finally gave in and put down some slug pellets - organic ones that don't affect birds (end of season bargain from Wilkinsons at 75% off)

First sighting.
After the storm it was very clear and Blackpool Tower was visible across the estuary for the first time.

Mystery on the Allotments
A kind allotment holder offered me some raspberry canes, which I accepted gratefully and waited for them to appear (she said she would leave them next to my shed). They never arrived: she had put them on the wrong plot and the other person had planted them, as you would.

Plans
Still hoping to plant some raspberry canes and currant bushes but cannot order any yet because the drainage system is nigh. Two trenches 3 yards wide are to go through the plot - will have to move some onions and just hope it doesn't look anymore like a World War I battle has been fought down there than it does now (presently mud ++).

How much leaf mould will one bin liner of leaves produce? I wonder for the first time in my life.