A few days away up north

From Monday 29th December 2014 until Saturday 3rd January 2015, I will be off up to Lincoln for a few days so will not be doing anything in the Greenhouse or on the Allotment. In the next few days when I am back a list of things needed to be done, Tidying up of the allotment needs doing as well as order any items such as seeds will need ordering or brought.

Seed sort out

Today I had a sort out of the vegetable seeds. I have sorted the outdated packets from the seed packets that are still in date and the following are the seeds that I have got so far:

- Thompson & Morgan Beetroot ‘Boro F1 Hybrid’ (100 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Thompson & Morgan Broccoli ‘Extra Early Sprouting Rudolph’ (50 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Brussels Sprout ‘Napoleon F1’ (40 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Brussels Sprout ‘Evesham Special’ (250 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Cabbage ‘Hispi F1’ (25 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Suttons Cabbage ‘April’ (200 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Suttons Cabbage 'Mozart' (45 Seeds)
- Suttons Cabbage ‘Red Drumhead’ (150 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Thompson & Morgan Cabbage ‘Ruby Ball F1 Hybrid’ (40 Seeds)
- Suttons Chinese Cabbage ‘F1 Hilton’ (100 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Thompson & Morgan Calabrese ‘Aquiles F1 Hybrid’ (17 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- D.T Brown Calabrese ‘Marathon F1’ (30 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Suttons Carrot ‘Purple Dragon’ (180 Seeds)
- Wilkinson Carrot ‘Nandor F1’ (350 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Carrot ‘Chantenay Red Cored 2’ (2000 Seeds)
- Thompson & Morgan Carrot ‘Early Nantes 2’ (1000 Seeds)
- Cauliflower ‘All the Year Round’ (100 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Dobies Cauliflower ‘F1 Trevi’ (15 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Dobies Cauliflower ‘F1 Purple Graffiti’ (15 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Cauliflower 'Deakin F1' (20 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Suttons Chicory ‘Rossa di Treviso precoce’ (300 Seeds)
- Thompson & Morgan Continental Salad’ (1750 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Fennel ‘Di Firenze’ (125 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Thompson & Morgan Golden Berry ‘Pineapple’ (8 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Kale ‘Nero di Toscana’ (Unknown)
- Suttons Khol Rabi ‘Purple and White Vienna Mix’ (140 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Leek 'Musselburgh' (500 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Lettuce ‘Little Gem’ (1250 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Lettuce ‘Lolla Rossa’ (750 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Lettuce Leaves ‘Mixed’ (Unknown)
- D.T Brown Lettuce ‘Mazur’ (200 Seeds)
- Suttons Lettuce ‘All The Year Round’ (1000 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Thompson & Morgan Lettuce ‘Salad Leaves Mixed’ (400 Seeds)
- Lidl Melon ‘Charentais’ (8 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- D.T Brown Melon ‘Sweetheart F1’ (8 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Mustard ‘Oriental Colour & Bite’ (250 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Onion 'Bedfordshire Champion' (350 Seeds)
- Homebase Onion 'Ailsa Craig' (300 Seeds)
- Johnsons Onion 'The Kelsae' (120 Seeds)
- 2 x Suttons Onion (Japanese) ‘Senshyu’ (350 Seeds each)
- Johnsons Onion ‘Paris Silverskin’ (125 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Seekay Hort Supplies Onion ‘Sturon’ (300 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Thompson & Morgan Onion ‘Bedfordshire Champion’ (100 Seeds)
- Suttons Parsnip 'Tender & True' (300 Seeds)
- Thompson & Morgan Parsnip 'Tender & True' (275 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Suttons Pea ‘Dounce Provence’ (270 Seeds)
- Suttons Radish ‘Mooli’ (200 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Thompson & Morgan Radish ‘Rougette’ (140 Seeds)
- Thompson & Morgan Salad Leaves ‘Winter Blend’ (300 Seeds)
- Suttons Sea Kale (20 Seeds)
- 2 x Thompson & Morgan Strawberry ‘Sarian F1 Hybrid’ (10 Seeds each)
- Suttons Strawberry 'Wild White' (240 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Sweet Pepper 'California Wonder' (150 Seeds)
- Mr Fothergills Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ (75 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Suttons Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ (90 Seeds)
- Thompson & Morgan Tomato ‘Gardener’s Delight’ (33 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Mr Fothergills Tomato ‘Roma VF’ (38 Seeds) (Open Packet)
- Johnsons Turnip ‘Snowball’ (1750 Seeds)
- Lidl Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’ (15 Seeds) (Open Packet)

Edited: 4th January 2014 to add some seed packets

Set out Potato 'Rocket' and Sowed Onion 'The Kelsae'

Today I set out the Potato 'Rocket' potatoes onto cell trays so they are able to chit. I also sowed the following in the unheated Greenhouse:

- Onion 'The Kelsae' into Westland John Innes Seed Compost in a half seed tray which was placed  
  into a heated propagator

Brought Potato 'Rocket' and Onion 'The Kelsae' Seeds

Today I brought the following from Newbridge Nurseries:

- Taylors Potato 'Rocket' 2kg - £3.99

- Johnsons Onion 'The Kelsae' (120 Seeds) - £3.85

Sowed Onion 'Bedfordshire Champion', Onion 'Ailsa Craig', Leek 'Musselburgh' and Sweet Pepper 'California Wonder'

Today I have sowed the following in the unheated Greenhouse:

- Onion 'Bedfordshire Champion' into Westland Jack's Magic into a full seed tray in a heated
  propagator
- Onion 'Ailsa Craig' into Westland Jack's Magic into a full seed tray in a heated propagator
- Leek 'Musselburgh' into Westland Jack's Magic into a deep polystyrene container placed in a heated
  propagator
- Sweet Pepper 'California Wonder' into Westland Jack's Magic into a 3 1/2 inch pot placed in a
  heated propagator

Brought Onion 'Ailsa Craig', Onion 'Bedfordshire Champion', Leek 'Musselburgh' and Sweet Pepper 'California Wonder' Seeds

Today I brought the following from Homebase with 20% staff discount and 4 for 3:

- Mr Fothergills Onion 'Bedfordshire Champion' (350 Seeds) - £1.65 - £1.33
- Mr Fothergills Leek 'Musselburgh' (500 Seeds) - £1.89 - £1.51
- Mr Fothergills Sweet Pepper 'California Wonder' (150 Seeds) - £2.09 - £1.69
- Homebase Onion 'Ailsa Craig' (300 Seeds) - £1.29 - FREE

Christmas Day visit to the Allotments

I had time this morning to finally get down to the Allotment. I didn't get a chance to go down the allotment in November so its been almost two months since I have been to the Allotment. As seen in the pictures below. On Allotment 2, all of the onions which were sown by seed appear to not be showing however the Onion sets that I planted as well as the Onion plants appear to be growing, however due to the cold conditions they are presently staying still. The Shallot sets appear to also be sprouting as well as the Garlic however the Garlic does need some care as some appear to have fallen out, probably been pulled out by birds. On Allotment 1 the Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Kale and Broccoli plants which were planted appear that they need to be composted, however I will decide in time if to leave them a little longer or to compost them. In a few days time I shall write a list of what needs to be done in order to get the Allotments ready for the Spring.

Planted Onion 'Senshyu Yellow' sets, Shallot 'Jermor' and Garlic 'Thermidrome'

Today I planted the following into the 2nd Allotment:

- Onion 'Senshyu Yellow' sets 4 inches apart in one row

- Shallot 'Jermor' sets 6 inches apart in 1/2 row

- Garlic 'Thermidrome' 4 inches apart in 1/2 row

Planted Onion 'Red Electric' and Onion 'Red Winter' Sets

Today I planted the following into the 2nd allotment:

- Onion 'Red Electric' Sets 4 inches apart in 1 row
- Onion 'Red Winter' Sets 4 inches apart in 1 row

Brought French Garlic 'Thermidrome'

Today i brought the following from Reigate Garden Centre:

- 3 Bulbs French Garlic 'Thermidrome' - £2.99

Sowed Onion 'White Lisbon Winter Hardy', Onion 'North Holland Bloodred Redmate' and Onion 'Senshyu' seeds and Transplanted Onion 'Paris Silverskin' and Onion 'Sturon' seedlings.

Today I went down to the 2nd allotment and I done the following:

Sowed:

- Onion 'White Lisbon Winter Hardy' into a row
- Onion 'North Holland Bloodred Redmate' into a row
- Onion 'Senshyu' into a row

Transplanted:

- Onion 'Paris Silverskin' Seedlings into 1 1/2 rows (Sown: 23/08/2014 in Home Greenhouse)
- Onion 'Sturon' Seedlings into 1/2 row (Sown: 23/08/2014 in Home Greenhouse)

Dug over another 5 foot of Second Allotment

I went down onto the second Allotment this evening for another 1 1/2 hours and have dug over another 5 foot, removing couch grass roots and dandelions. I am planning to hopefully start to put in some of my onions tomorrow as well as sow some spring onion seeds and possibly some winter lettuce seeds.

Brought Cabbage 'F1 Mozart' Seeds

Today I brought the following seeds from Squires Garden Centre:

- Suttons Cabbage 'F1 Mozart' - £1.99

Brought Onion Sets 'Red Winter' from Haskins

Today I brought the following from Haskins:

- Onion Sets 'Red Winter' (50 Sets) - £1.99

Brought Onion Sets 'Senshyu Yellow', Onion Sets 'Electric' and 2 x Shallot Bulbs 'Jermor' from Doves Barn Nursery

Today I brought the following from Doves Barn Nursery:

- Onion Sets 'Senshyu Yellow' (50 Sets) - £1.99
- Onion Sets 'Electric' (50 Sets) - £1.99
- 2 x Shallot Sets 'Jermor' (10 bulbs each) - £2.99 each

Dug over part of Allotment 2

Today I went onto Allotment 2 for about 1 1/2 hours and started to dig up some of the couch grass to make room for where I plan to put the Sweet Peas next year. I also dug over some of the soil which I previously dug still removing couch grass roots. I also used the Brush Cutter to be able to cut back the grass and also cut the edges.

Brought Strawberry 'Sarian F1 Hybrid' Seeds

Today I brought the following seeds from Country Gardens,  Handscross

- 2 x Strawberry 'Sarian F1 Hybrid' - £0.50 each

Planted Cabbage '

Brought Cabbage 'Red Drumhead' and Onion (Japanese) 'Senshyu' Seeds

Today I brought the following seeds from Squires Garden Centre:

- Suttons Cabbage 'Red Drumhead' - £0.50
- Suttons Onion (Japanese) 'Senshyu' - £0.50

Brought Onion (Japanese) 'Senshyu', Pea 'Douce Provence' and Chicory 'Rossa di Treviso precoce' seeds

Today I brought the following seeds from Squires Garden Centre:

- Suttons Onion (Japanese) 'Senshyu' - £0.50
- Suttons Pea 'Douce Provence' - £0.50
- Suttons Chicory 'Rossa di Treviso precoce' - £0.50 - FREE

Brought Onion 'Paris Silverskin' Seeds

Today I brought the following seeds from Homebase:

- Onion 'Paris Silverskin' - £1.32

Brought Onion (Japanese) 'Senshyu' Seeds

Today I brought the following seeds from Crawley Garden Centre:

- Suttons Onion (Japanese) 'Senshyu' - £1.27

Welcome to my 2014 - 2015 blog

This is my new Allotment blog for August 2014 into the year of 2015. I aim to keep this updated as much as possible with all the new seeds that I get and all the work that goes on the allotment. I will also be doing a blog for the Greenhouse to help keep track of what I am doing in there.