Someone stole Audrey 2. I could cry.

We've had some rain...
And I've made some progress, in no small part due to the efforts of my glamorous assistants, L and D. Here they are, looking proud with our mess of tools after a long day yesterday:
The crappy plastic that encouraged weed growth has been replaced with weedproof gauze in the hope that it will kill and weaken the nasty blighters so that I can weed gently once I've nurtured the two finished beds! Yes, that's right, two large beds are finished and full of onions, garlic, shallots, pumpkins, sweetcorn, beans, and Audrey2 the courgette. It's all very exciting. Look, it looks like a proper plot, if only it wasn't for the weeds:
Meet Audrey2 - I'll try to track her progress, she doesn't look too happy at being outside and left to fend for herself for a while: And here are three beans around a sweetcorn, at an attempt at 3 sisters planting with two pumpkins either side. I don't think I've really got the idea of it all. Close up of a bean:

And the best pumpkin. He's had lots of water and the soil under the surface is far better quality, I promise.

I cut the grass yesterday, so at least it isn't such a mess any more. Used hand shears though - my back is killing me!
Looks like rain this afternoon - let's hope so, then I can get on with things!

The weeds have gone really mad these two weeks while I've been away for Easter!
I nearly started crying...there's mare's tail everywhere.
My hands are chapped and cut and muddy and I have only two or three square feet cultivated.
I do, however, have apple blossom and some lovely flowers. And a compost bin...






For some reason, I left my gloves in that shot...

Oh, and I have garlic and onions, too.

I was supposed to spend all day at the plot today. I've bought chicken wire to make my composter.

But, the teapot and the weekend paper and some mild housekeeping is calling instead. There's always tomorrow.

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I've just finished Elizabeth and Her German Garden. Beautiful book, recommended highly.

My first garlic clove has sprouted! I've actually grown something.

Spent a good couple of hours planting out some onions, doing a lot more heavy digging and weeding today. Also took some photos, so, without further ado, here's my allotment.



This is my apple tree. The bags underneath are full of weeds. The messy half of my plot can also be seen.

See, I've also done some digging. These are the four dug over beds, my mystery tree - we think it might be a plum - and a cleared bed.
And, finally, here's the view. It makes it all worth while, somehow.

You can't see the perfect plot next to mine.

Starting the Good Life

Many people - well, three or four - have expressed an interest in how I'm doing with my new allotment. So, I've started an blog here to track my progress from the messy plot covered with mare's tale and couch grass, plus a burned plum tree (I think) and a neglected apple tree, to the good life of all the courgettes and beetroot a girl could want. I'll post photos and ask for help.

So far, I've two beds dug over and covered but am having to weed them more thoroughly by hand. Two more beds are dug over, but need a more thorough weeding. Half the plot is a mess. I need to burn it, really. I planted garlic and shallots yesterday and will spend this weekend clearing and getting out the onions and beetroot. Help so far has come from my lovely brother, Matt and Anna - I plan to go down there most Sundays if anyone would like to help me in the future.

It was terrifying to see the 40 sq m of earth that is now mine. I'm having to defeat my fear of getting dirty, to pull electric wires and glass out of the earth and to learn a lot of new skills very fast. I plan to make some cloches for the larger plants and have a herb bed with lavender and roses. I can't wait.

Anyone got any old plastic I could use to cover my messy half plot?