It’s all about the legumes on the plot

Can you guess where I’ve been? Yes, the plot was calling. Actually, I thought I’d done a post earlier last week to fill you in but apparently not…tut tut. So to put things right:

Early last week, we went back up to the plot and I put in some kohl rabi I’d had growing happily in the back garden. I wasn’t going to put up hoops but decided to put in some of the small ones I have so the netting wouldn’t be lying directly on the veg – but it went a bit squint! In my defence, I was tired and hungry as it was somewhere around 8.30pm and I hadn’t had my dinner yet.

So to bring you up to date with the earlier visit I have some pictures you.

I used my autumn raspberry cuttings to make a little frame for some sweet peas to grow up and made a start on weeding the main fruit corner. Dearest Son has done a bit more work on this and it’s really looking good now.

The broad beans are continuing to grow well and I had a go at a little DIY while we were there. Our watering can had a hole in it after being pierced during an incident I won’t go into so I had a look online to see if there was a way to fix it instead of just getting a new one. I found a guy who used a lighter and a cable tie! You melt the cable tie over the flame and when it gets to the drippy state you put it over the hole and the plastic drips in. It hasn’t completely worked as I am patching a large gap and he only had a small hole in his can but someone suggested I patch it from the inside which is what I’ll try the next time I get up there.

On the more recent visit, I was working on the area for the legumes. This is the ‘before’ shot:

Turns out potatoes and borage had moved in when I wasn’t looking. It didn’t take too long to clear which I was delighted about. Then I got to work setting up something for the peas to grow up so I could pot them out. I still have a lot of the chicken wire so I decided to use that and try and make something a bit stronger than I’ve had in the past. Sometimes the odd snow pea gets mixed in and they are too heavy for my old support system!

Metal poles, chicken wire and string – doesn’t get much more ‘allotment’ than that! I believe in using what you have, not what you can buy. It might not be Pinterest-worthy but it’s functional.

The weather didn’t play nice at all which made the day a bit more uncomfortable than it needed to be.

By the time I was done, the patch was looking pretty good. I got some of the peas out and the snow peas but I need to do another metal frame for the other peas. I haven’t sown my beans yet but will be getting them started over the next couple of days – with these temperatures I’m not rushing!

While I was doing that, Dearest Son was working hard in the fruit corner and we are happy to see the strawberries are starting to form!

The weed in the photo is the dreaded spreading sorrel. We have it mainly in the top part of the plot and it is a nightmare. Constantly pulling it out whenever I see it! Between that and the couch grass, there is no time to sit back idly and admire our handiwork.

Right then, that’s you up to date for now! I will be putting a video about all of this soon on the old YouTube for those of you who follow me there – would be great if more of you did! Either way, happy gardening to those of you who do and buy a plant to those of you who don’t…..yet!