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Category: Allotment Diary

Sowing the right seeds

Published on Mar 18, 2017Jun 21, 2017 by Richard Chivers10 Comments

For the first time since I began growing my own, I’ve kept the promise to myself to have patience when sowing the first seeds. Continue reading “Sowing the right seeds” →

Categories Allotment Diary•Tags Allotment, Allotment Diary, seeds, sowing, Spring

Happy New Year – Allotment reflections and plans for the new season

Published on Jan 3, 2017Mar 26, 2017 by Richard Chivers10 Comments

Happy New Year!

January has arrived and I’m excited. It might be the middle of winter, but New Year always makes me feel rejuvenated. Continue reading “Happy New Year – Allotment reflections and plans for the new season” →

Categories Allotment Diary•Tags Allotment, GYO, New year

I'm Richard and I'm passionate about growing fruit and vegetables on our family allotment garden. Sharpen your Spades is a blog to inspire anyone to pull on their wellies and join in the movement to grow their own.

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The current view inside the polytunnel. A bed that is full with salads. What a sight! I've been nervous over the last few weeks as the heavy rains will have been a pleasure for the slugs. The good news is there has been a few casualties but in the main, the salads are thriving! I've even had a nibble on a few of the leaves. The salads outside have not had as much luck. Although the Mizuna still seems to be standing 🌱 . . . . . #allotment #polytunnel #salads #kitchengarden #sustainable #thehappygardeninglife #allotmentlife #gyo #allotmentuk #growyourownfood #organicgardening #foodgarden #urbangardening #gardenactivist #growsomethinggreen #growyourownveggies #lovegardening #allotmentgarden #autumn #gardensofinstagram #growfood #gardenblogger #growwhatyoulove

The colour of Kale at this time of year I feel I magnified. Hazy days and the lower level of light really makes the pink in the leaves pop. My kale seems to have pulled through quite an attack over the summer. I honestly didn't think I'd have any left by this time as the leaves had been munched something terrible! But its survived and it will happily sit here through the winter now. . . . . . #growwhatyoulove #growyourownfood #organicgardening #allotmentgarden #allotmentuk #kale #gardenblogger #greenthumb #gardenchat #gardenersofinstagram #homesteading #urbangardening #gardenlovers #gardensofig #lovegardening #allotmentlove #growyourown #gardenphotography

It's welly wearing time on the allotment today. Thrilled that the rain had finally given way to some beautiful sunshine. But its left its mark. The plot is saturated and pools of water in the pathways. It's why I raised all the beds. The first autumn and winter on this allotment showed me how bad it can be. It was a pond! Raising the beds means the water never causes problems for any plants growing and it drains away from the paths after a day or two. After a week of not being able to get to the plot, I checked on the salads in the polytunnel. They look fantastic. A few have been nibbled by slugs and with the very wet weather it's to be expected. This is all about having an agreement with nature. Have you ventured out to your own plots today? 💚 . . . . . #allotment #polytunnel #stillswithstories #kitchengarden #sustainable #thehappygardeninglife #allotmentlife #gyo #allotmentuk #growyourownfood #organicgardening #foodgarden #urbangardening #gardenactivist #growsomethinggreen #growyourownveggies #lovegardening #allotmentgarden #autumn #gardensofinstagram #growfood #gardenblogger #growwhatyoulove

There's the work of summer stored for the autumn. The borlotti beans have been incredibly easy to grow. I had this single purpose in mind when I planted the seeds back in May. Although I harvested a few of the young pods to eat as green beans, I grew them to go until maturity and for the pods to dry and for us to enjoy the plump mottled beans inside. I'm hankering over a warming stew already. . How about you? Did you grow borlotti beans this year? How do you enjoy yours? . . . . . #borlotti #beans #allotmentuk #autumn #gardenersofig #eatwhatyougrow #aseasonalshift #alifeofintention #ilovegardening #ediblegarden #thehappygardeninglife #gardenlover #instagardeners #growsomethinggreen #plantlove #huerto #growyourown #growyourownfood #organicgardening

Little bit of light after work. But it's nearly reaching the point where allotment jobs can only be done on the weekends. I did catch this rose on my neighbour's plot. A bit battered but beautiful none the less. How do you feel about the light levels at this time of year? . . . . . #gardenlovers #gardenstyle #gardendecor #instagardeners #gardensofinstagram #rosegarden #thehappygardeninglife #growsomethinggreen #epicgardening #gardeninggoals #gardeningphoto #gardeningtherapy #allotmentlife #gardening #botanicalpickmeup #aslowmoment #alifeofintention #flowerstagram

Autumnal day and a crash back down to earth from the previous few days. . It's dry at least. I have to check on the salads in the polytunnel and start to prepare the beds for the winter. Which is is very easy #nodig .. just put some compost on top. . Then it's some proper clearing. I want to get the final part of the allotment into production by spring. Its covered in brambles and bindweeed. This should be fun. . . . . . #aslowmoment #slowsimpleseasonal #moodcollectors #sustainableliving #gardenblogger #allotment #lovegardening #allotmentgarden #aseasonalshift #gardensofinstagram #gardenlovers #gardenstyle #botanicalpickmeup #aslowmoment #alifeofintention #gardenphotography #allotment

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