Home
About me
On The Plot
Articles
Plot Eats
Book Review
Media
Contact

Category: Allotment Diary

Sowing the right seeds

Published on March 18, 2017June 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 January 3, 2017March 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.

Come join me

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Follow Sharpen your Spades on WordPress.com

Follow on Facebook

Follow on Facebook

Instagram

Happy #nationalallotmentweek 🌱 The Tomato plants have really struggled this summer. The polytunnel is fantastic but the heatwave and growing them in pots has made it hugely difficult to manage the plants. Despite this, they are still giving some absolute beauties 🍅 Have you spent time on the plot today? . . . . . #allotment #allotmentlife #allotmentlove #homegrown #homegrownveggies #gardenblogger #selfsufficient #knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom #growfoodnotlawns #gyo #growyourown #growyourownfood #grownfromseed #homesteading #thehappygardeninglife #gardenlover #veggiepatch #gardeninglife #myhappyplace #livethesimplelife #thegoodlife #boyswithplants #gardenblogger

One of the best things about growing your own fruit and vegetables is there is an incredible variety. Even when it comes to staples like potatoes. Seriously. It's huge. And part of the fun is trying a new variety out on the allotment or in the kitchen garden each year. This year, I grew Albert Bartlet 'Purple Majesty' because, well, look at them! Incredible colour. And this has always been about using aspects such as colour to inspire my daughter to embrace growing and eating her veggies. And these are a lot of fun. Seriously, it's like having a big pile of purple play dough on your plate when you make mash. They roast ok too. However, that's as far as it goes. The taste is just meh. They are not very versatile. They break up into mush when you boil them. So, there you have it. I grew them. We ate them. But my review is you probably shouldn't bother. . . . . . #allotment #gardens #instadaily #allotmentlife #potatoes

The garlic is so good this year. I grew Provence Wight (softneck) and for the first time a hardneck 'Red Duke'. Wow! It's incredible. Look, if you like garlic you have to have a nibble of it raw. Only then can you really taste the flavour. Red Duke is a big kick up the backside. Tongue dance! . . . . . #allotment #veggiepatch #growyourown #garlic #kitchengarden

Getting an allotment was one of the best things I did. I can't imagine not being a part of this community. The ups and downs of growing your own are such a ride. There's been so many instances of allotment sites being taken away. My view is the best way to save these amazing spaces is to get people using them and reaping all the benefits they provide 🌱 . . . . . #allotmentlove #allotmentgarden #growyourownveggies #summerveggies

Just me with my head in the sunflowers. Loving this Solar Power. Multiple heads and more coming along 🌻 . . . . . #flowers #flowershop #floweroftheday #flowerarrangement #flowermagic #floraldesign #flowerslovers #flowerpower #flowerstagram

Last weekend, the heatwave finally broke and as many did, I savoured the refreshing rain that fell. However, it came with the wind as its sidekick. This combination provided the first storm since the winter and the first test of the newly constructed polytunnel. I opened the tunnel door and was confronted with the sight of three snapped strings and the tomato plants they once held looking very sorry for themselves broken across the floor 😫 With every disaster you learn how to make things better. The polytunnel is anchored but it does wobble in the wind. As the strings were attached to the frame, a good ole shake had caused them to snap. While I ponder on the solution for the shaky polytunnel frame, I sucked up the loss and made chutney! I've just published a NEW BLOG POST with the easy recipe. The link is in my profile. . . . . . #growyourown #polytunnel #allotment #allotmentlife #growyourowntomatoes #tomatoplants #allotmentlife #ediblegarden #growhatyoueat #eatfresh #vegetablepatch #sustainablesprout #gardenersofinstagram #allotment #epicgardening #dowhatyoulove #gardening #greenthumb #recipe #gardener #mymonthontheplot #tomatoes #harvest

Come join me

Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

SHARPENYOURSPADES.COM IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.CO.UK