Got this 2 weeks ago

Just saw Mark on the TV. It is 'stay local' from tomorrow - but with a limit of 5 miles - so I still can't go down the allotment. The 'stay local' restriction is ending on the 27th - so from this date I can legally down the allotment.

I have peace of mind - I know that I have fully followed the rules to the letter and have done all I can to stop the virus spreading. I'm not breaking the rules now for the want of an extra couple of weeks.

 

Got down there at 7 am this morning - before it got crowded.

The good Glyphosating I gave it before this 2nd lockdown has worked - the weeds in these pic's are all easily removed - they are ones that spread out across the surface like an umbrella - so there are fewer than it looks. But for good measure I finished off the Rosate 360 and gave them a blasting.

Poly tunnel will be going in the next couple of weeks.

 

What size tunnel are you putting up? I looked back a page but could not find reference to it. But anyway, you will love your tunnel however big it is.

I have two up now, and just bought a third to go up shortly...it will still not be enough undercover space though, it never is!

Your plot is looking good and tidy and a quick tickle over on the beds it will be sorted.

Steve...

 

It's 4 x 2m Steve. There are rules around the maximum areas that can be covered with sheds and polytunnels - to avoid excessive run off - flooding is an issue - we don't want to exacerbate the situation.

I purchased the tunnel in March 2020 just before the first lock down - so it's been sat in the conservatory for over a year now.

Plan is that after supping a cuppa you leave the shed, walk through the honeysuckle arch - down the path in between the front raised beds and then you are standing at the poly tunnel door. I planned the layout when I first got the plot and it's more of a leisure than productive plot - although I am seriously thinking of growing sprouts and leeks this year.

I'm not going to spend as much time as I did down the plot - with the poly tunnel installed it will just be ongoing maintenance. With lockdown my own garden is finally how I want it - I need to dedicate more time to maintaining it. My pension has also finally came through - I'm spending every penny as it comes in - and am looking to do a few weekends away when allowed.

I'll keep the plot on though. The waiting list to get a plot is far larger than it was before lock down - I daren't give it up I might not get another...

 

And...here is the base of the poly tunnel frame - finished today. Should be a quick job to bolt on the rest of the bits - I've spent a lot of time getting the frame level - if I cock this stage up the whole tunnel will look like a bodge.

If you look closely, you can see that the plot slopes away to the back - so the frame has been fixed to some posts which stick up above ground level. Threw in a couple of bags of postcrete to keep things nice and secure.

More pics to follow as the frame goes up...


:

 

Wow that space is bigger then my flat!
It is very nicly laid out.
Looks like you did a good job making a flat base for you the polly.
Its good to see you will be making full use of it.

I look forwards to your future pics

I use a 120cmx60cmx100cm cupboard for the plants i sell on ebay
And i made over 200 the last 90days.
(Each sale includes at least 8 plants, 4 per plug).

 

And...here is the frame erected this morning - I haven't tightened up the bolts yet - I'll do that next week - I ran out of time this morning. I'll check it is square, tighten up the bolts and then dab a blob of fast set adhesive on each joint to stop the bolt coming loose and to give it a little more rigidity.

 

And...here it is with the cover on. Will be installing bench and trenching in the sides next week.

 

And...here it is with the bench - 2 cross bars and one upright support:



here is the cobbled together cover for the brussels sprouts - they had grown too big for the cloches:



thought I'd also throw in a pic of the honey suckle around the arch:

 

Bench top installed - apple tree staked before it falls over due to weight of the fruit. The toughest job was trenching in the sides of the polytunnel. Only did one side and back and was pooped out. I'm convinced some one is pilfering my rain water - it's gone down rather alarmingly - but whoever is nicking it will be disappointed - it's all been used up now.

 

Glyphosate - it's brutal - some might say it's the Mike Tyson of the weedkiller world. I strimmed the treated weeds and they just fell apart - didn't even need to pull them up.

2 weeks after application:



and here is a pic of the vine - it's doing well:

 

Popped down for 10 mins today - to pick the cabbage white butterfly caterpillars off the sprouts.

Pic's taken this morning:

Leeks -




Sprouts -




Grape vine -

 

Watered and filled up the water butts. Couldn't decide whether to have tea or coffee. Plumped for coffee in the end:

 

Very naughty - I've just found out that financial decisions have been made that appear to conflict with the Constitution. My view is very clear - if you're not happy with the Constitution - then ask the Commitee to change the Constitution - don't act outside it and think that no one will notice.

The AGM is coming up on Friday - let's just say that it's not going to be a 'fun explosion'.

 

I've just found something else out that would make your toes curl.