Allotment envy, or something to aim for?

We were at the allotment last night watering, and checking to see how my fence and sticks had fared against the wildlife and there was good news; the fence was still standing, some sticks had been disturbed but most importantly the four newly planted tomato plants had been left alone. Phew. 

While MOH busied himself watering and re-watering I found myself looking at the plot next to ours, it's one of the most bountiful and best looking on our site. I'm not surprised that the BBC will be at our site filming and no doubt it'll be this double-plot they'll focus on (unless of course they want to show a contrasting plot, then we'll be right up there!)

Not only is it bountiful, twice the size of the other plots, it looks good too.

It got me wondering if I was envious, or if it's something to aspire to. I definitely started at the envy end of this, but knowing how much work we've already put into our plot I know this has to be the result of many, many hours hard work over a long period. As such it's a shining example of what can be achieved, so it's also an inspiration.

PEARS

PLUMS

It's always good to compare and learn isn't it and I think that's the beauty of allotments, we can quickly learn from others by having a wander around the paths that separate our plots. All of my photos were taken from the path - that's important for me to include in this post as plot holders aren't allowed onto other plots without permission. Just saying.

I don't know the circumstances of this lady's plot (and if I did I'm sure I wouldn't be sharing them here) but I do know she manages two plots single handed. That alone is quite some feat, and then you see how much she grows, it's amazing. I know it's all about the ground work (pun intended) but even so, I think it's impressive.

LAVENDER

MOH is also impressed with the plot next door but also frustrated. Frustrated because there's often so much left on the plants and he wonders if it ever gets picked. I've a theory that it's all about the growing for this lady, and I guess if there's only one of you that's a lot of produce to consume.  But we don't know, for me, it's enjoyable to see but it can be a bit daunting looking over and comparing at times!

ASPARAGUS

We do benefit from some migrating plants though - and well, free plants! A couple of raspberry canes bridged the path last year and I've happily left them where they planted themselves. Last weekend I noticed that some very tiny asparagus-like plants have appeared near where my potatoes are, so these have been moved further in the plot, we'll see how they go - they are tiny, so I think it'll be a good few years before we keep ourselves in asparagus!

The other thing I like about this plot, but I'm not sure I could manage is that the plants merge into one. There isn't the formal and blocky paths that we'll have on ours, who knows perhaps as things grow and grow well we'll lose the grass paths to cram in more growing space.

And flowers, it's full of flowers. And of course that means pollinators, which of course helps all over.

And look at those cubes of lettuces. Not striped like I dream of (well not actual dreams) but blocks of the same lettuce. Maybe that's more do-able for me. I've not sown any lettuce yet this year, but I really should.

The mix of flowers and veg works well and there is as much lavender as you think. And it puts my small plants to shame, but they'll get there and as they came from cuttings they're doing well.

Ah yes, don't talk to me about the onions. The few I have left are about pickled onion size, thankfully it's good we like pickled onions...

I've long-term ambitions for more soft fruit including redcurrants. We've had plenty of raspberries and strawberries before them, and MOH really does make a rather good Eton Mess.

Even the compost and more messy areas are flourishing.  Yes, it's definitely something to aspire to, isn't it?

A succulent in a tin

A while back I bought a tin of strawberry tea in a fabulous pink tin from Fortnum & Mason. It turned out that the tin was indeed fabulous, but the tea not so much. So saving the best of it, the tin has been in my cupboard for a while as I knew, one day I'd have a use for it. I vaguely remembered seeing succulents planted in tins on Pinterest and I thought, as you do, how hard can it be?

In short, pretty easy - the hardest and most laborious part was removing the paper labels from two sides of the tin. There'd been plenty of cycles through the dishwasher, some scoring and some soaking, but some of the label remained. Last weekend I decided the paper labels were going once and for all.  Cue more soaking - and a new trick - some nail varnish remover to remove that sticky residue that some glues leave.

And finally my tin was ready.

I decided not to pierce drainage holes in my pretty tin, but also didn't want the succulent to sit in water. But instead of crocks and stones I added some corks to the bottom of the tin before filling with earth.

I hadn't planned to plant a pink succulent, I'd wanted to use one of the ice white ones that I'm propagating from a fallen leaf as I thought that'd make a nice contrast to the pink. However when I looked at the leaves, they weren't quite ready and I couldn't quite bring myself to uproot the ice white plant that's still establishing itself in my succulent trug. 

And instead this pink succulent called me.

I added some vermiculite to the top - I think I'd used my grit laying the base for the pizza oven - and that adds a textured addition to the soil, which glistens in the sun and will, I hope help with moisture retention. 

The results though were stunning, a pretty succulent in a pretty tin, and a great garden table decoration that'd look equally good in the conservatory, or well anywhere really.

What do you think?

If you want some more succulent inspiration, why not join me over on my Succulent Love board on Pinterest:

Reacquainting myself with my greenhouse

What with the preparations for our 110th party I haven't had much time to get into my greenhouse, and of course it suffered - and I think I did too a little, so when I found myself with some time to myself last Saturday morning I knew how I'd spend it. Yes, reacquainting myself with my greenhouse.

First up was taming the lemon balm. Usually I chop it just as it starts to flower, not quite the Chelsea chop, but more of a when I remember to chop. And it needed to be first up as it's growing just inside the door.  A fragrant job though.

Once I'd chopped my way in (it wasn't that bad really) I finally got around to labelling the wallflower and sunflower seeds I'd saved. I've sown many of the sunflower seeds and they're doing really well, and I've still got plenty left for next year. It was timely to have found the wallflower seeds, as according to Monty I should be sowing those already, but I haven't just yet. Soon maybe.

Looking around the greenhouse my tomato seedlings were still miniature, which was disappointing. This year was the first time for a while that I've sown them in modules like this, usually I chuck way too many seeds into a seed tray, and most likely would have potted them on by now. So that became my job to pot on my tomatoes. And of course, as is tradition I seemed to mix up the plant labels so once again I'm sure there'll be a surprise when (and if) they grow!

The sorrel had gone to seed. Again. I'm quite partial to a sorrel omelette, but I guess I'll be waiting for it to regrow a bit first.  It's pretty though.  The sorrel and lemon balm were sown the same year, and both have thrived in the greenhouse for a good few years, despite my neglect.

I've still some onions that need to go over the allotment. I know they should be out by now, and hopefully they will be soon. Everytime I water these two toads hop out looking most disgruntled.

And of course now the party is over, the tiny bedding plants have had a growth spurt. I think these are scabiosa, which have tight pom-pom like flowers. Hopefully they'll be a decent size by the end of the summer...

In more free-plant news I've some more succulents on the way. These leaves came off as I planted out a leaning succulent, and you can see teh roots are just starting to grow.

My squash is doing much better and is looking a more usual size. I've some butternut squashes, crown prince pumpkins and little munchkin squashes again. 

They clearly loved the heat, the greenhouse topped 43 degrees, unlike the climbing beans which failed to germinate.  I've only one courgette, and again I've no idea what type!

The tomatoes from dad are doing much better. He tells me they're giant ones, and in comparison to mine they really are. They'll be heading over to the allotment this weekend hopefully.

Given my lack of success so far with courgettes and climbing beans when we were at Hyde Hall on Sunday I bought some newer seeds, just in case that was the problem and quickly set about sowing them to give them the best chance.

And while we were there, somehow, i left with this purple chilli too.  Funny how that happens, hey?

My last task for this weekend's pottering was to collect seeds from the fading yellow marigolds. They went into two brown paper bags, one for me and another for dad. All I need to do now is remember to deliver them.

Usually by now I will have posted a Sow and Grow post,  but this month I haven't - mainly because I've sown and grown very little - and I'm not even sure I'm up-to-date with my magazine reading. So I've decided rather than beat myself up about not doing this, I'll skip this month, but will return with a July post, and if I get my act together I may have something new alongside that too.  You'll have to wait and see what that is, but I realised it's the sensible way forward.

So the pottering is back on, and so will the quilt making. I'm looking forward to get back into both of them.  How's your growing going? Hopefully better than mine!