MALE OR FEMALE?
THEYRE THE SORT OF QUESTIONS I GET ASKED BY FELLOW ALLOTMENTERS.
I HAVE BEEN GIVEN NUMEROUS PLUG PLANTS SINCE STARTING MY PLOT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS AND HELPFUL .
MY KNOWLEDGE IN FRUIT AND VEG - EXCEPT HOW TO COOK THEM -IS VERY LIMITED.
I GET A SEED ,I PLANT IT. I NOW KNOW ITS BETTER TO START IT OFF IN A SEED TRAY SOMEWHERE WARM.
I GET A PLANT, I PLANT IT-MAKES SENSE,RIGHT? OF COURSE,THE BETTER THE SOIL OR COMPOST-THE BETTER CHANCE IT HAS OF GROWING IN A STRONG AND HEALTHY PLANT.
WALKING PAST A STRANGERS PLOT ONE DAY WITH AN ARMFUL OF CUCUMBER PLANTS, I STOPPED FOR A CHAT. I FELT LIKE A PROPER HOTICULTURIST - ALL PROUD AND LOOKING LIKE I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING UNTIL I WAS ASKKED THE QUESTION....
MALE OR FEMALE?
WHAT?? MALE OR FEMALE?? REALLY?? O MY GOD - I FELT A PLONKER.
I DONT KNOW,I SAID. THEYRE CUCUMBERS! OH GROUND OPEN UP AND SWALLOW ME.
HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN BUT I WANTED TO RUN AWAY. HAHA.STILL CANT RECALL WHAT HE SAID-SOMETHING ABOUT RUBBING THINGS OR BRUSHING-HEY,I NEVER SAID WAS ALAN TITCHMARSH.
ANYWAY,I WENT TO MY GREENHOUSE AND PLANTED THEM AND THEY GREW AND GREW INTO-WAIT FOR IT- GHERKINS!!
Monday 31 December 2012
Sunday 30 December 2012
PART 2
WENT TO BOG END THIS MORNING -SO NAMED BECAUSE OF THIS SUMMERS CONSTANT RAIN TURNING MY PLOT INTO A QUAGMIRE.
STAYED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF...PRUNED MY PEAR TREES,TIDIED UP AND WEEDED.
CAME HOME AND WENT ON GREENFINGERS.COM WEBSITE.
THEY HAVE SOME GREAT BARGAINS-BOUGHT A TRIPLE COMPOSTER FOR MY PLOT.MADE OUT OF TARPAULIN WITH A STEEL FRAME. ALL FOR JUST 6.99.
ALSO A NEW PAIR OF SECATEURS-I GO THROUGH THEM FASTER THAN A FOX AFTER A CHICKEN ( SORRY IF THAT OFFENDS ).
CANT WAIT FOR WARMER WEATHER...NEXT TIME IM THERE-IL TAKE LUNCH AND MY NEW PAUL O'GRADY BOOK. COME TO THINK OF IT ,PROBABLY WONT GET MUCH DONE.
STAYED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF...PRUNED MY PEAR TREES,TIDIED UP AND WEEDED.
CAME HOME AND WENT ON GREENFINGERS.COM WEBSITE.
THEY HAVE SOME GREAT BARGAINS-BOUGHT A TRIPLE COMPOSTER FOR MY PLOT.MADE OUT OF TARPAULIN WITH A STEEL FRAME. ALL FOR JUST 6.99.
ALSO A NEW PAIR OF SECATEURS-I GO THROUGH THEM FASTER THAN A FOX AFTER A CHICKEN ( SORRY IF THAT OFFENDS ).
CANT WAIT FOR WARMER WEATHER...NEXT TIME IM THERE-IL TAKE LUNCH AND MY NEW PAUL O'GRADY BOOK. COME TO THINK OF IT ,PROBABLY WONT GET MUCH DONE.
Saturday 29 December 2012
the allotment gardener
IN MAY OF 2012 , I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM LIZ (ALLOTMENT MANAGER OF BEBINGTON RD. ALLOTMENT SOCIETY) TO SAY THAT IVE FINALLY REACHED THE TOP OF THE LIST TO RENT MY OWN PLOT.
I'D BEEN ON THE LIST ABOUT 15 MONTHS , THO I'VE LIVED LOCALLY FOR 11 YEARS.I GOT THE PAPERWORK THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
IT WAS MY DAUGHTERS IDEA.SHE PLEADED WITH ME TO PUT MY NAME DOWN SO WE COULD 'GARDEN' TOGETHER. AS IT TURNS OUT - SHE HARDLY EVER HELPS THESE DAYS-IN FACT,I CANT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME SHE EVEN VISITED THE PLOT.SHE HAS HER OWN STRAWBERRY PATCH WHICH IS NOW OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND LOOKING VERY SAD.THINK I MIGHT TURN THAT INTO A POND THIS SUMMER.
ANYWAY , BACK TO MY PLOT. ITS QUITE BIG THO IVE NEVER MEASURED IT.WONDER HOW I'D DO THAT? MUST FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
IT WASNT THE FIRST ONE I WAS OFFERED. THAT WAS HORRENDOUS. NO FENCING OR GATE-JAPANESE KNOTWEED AND COUCH GRASS EVERYWHERE!
THE 2ND ONE WAS FENCED OFF,GATED,HAD 2 SHEDS AND A GREENHOUSE.NEEDLESS TO SAY-I SNAPPED THAT UP!
IT WAS OVERRUN WITH WEEDS AND BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE.TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY-BLIMEY.
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING MY PLOT AND JOING BRAS ON FACEBOOK,I WAS BEFRIENDED BY A WONDERFUL CHAP AND FELLOW ALLOTMENTER CALLED BOB BAXTER.
HE FIXED MY GREENHOUSE FOR ME,GAVE ME SEEDS - THO NONE OF THEM TOOK DUE TO THE BOGGY GROUND,AND STARTED OFF MY GREENHOUSE BY GIVING ME BABY PLANTS.
THE GREENHOUSE IS THE ONLY THING THAT 'TOOK OFF' THIS SUMMER DUE TO ALL THE RAIN.
THEN I MET CARL HOLMES-HIS PLOT IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER FROM MINE AND HES BEEN A GODSEND TOO.COLLECTING COMPOST FOR ME-GIVING ADVICE AND PASSING ON PLANTS AND SEEDS.HIM AND BOB LAID A PATIO FOR ME AT THE BACK OF MY PLOT-THE SLABS WERE HUGE SO I NEED BRAWN.
IT TOOK ME 6 WEEKS OF SOLID WEEDING TO GET IT LOOKING RESPECTABLE. I HAD BICEPS LIKE A SHE-HULK AND MOSQUITO BITES THE SIZE OF GRAPES!
EVERYDAY I'D GO TO THE PLOT AND LOSE TRACK OF TIME.SOMETIMES I'D GET A CALL ON MY MOBILE AT 10 AT NIGHT ASKING IF I WAS COMING HOME!
IVE NOT DONE MUCH THIS AUTUMN/WINTER-KEPT THE PLOT TIDY ETC...THE RAIN HASNT STOPPED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO TACKLE THE MANY LEAKS IN MY SHEDS-ROLL ON SPRING.
IVE LOADS OF IDEAS - AND EVEN MORE SEEDS TO POT AND WATCH GROW.THINK IVE DONE PRETTY GOOD FOR A NOVICE.
THE ALLOTMENT COMMUNITY IS GREAT - WEVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH VANDALISM,ARSONISTS AND FLY TIPPERS BUT HOPEFULLY THE NEW CCTV WILL CATCH SOME OF THE CULPRITS AND WE CAN CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE LOVE.
I DO WHAT I DO ON THE CHEAP AND CHEERFUL.I TRY TO RECYCLE WHAT I CAN AND RELY ON DONATIONS TOO.EVEN AND OLD LAWNMOWER THAT WAS DUMPED BY MY PLOT WAS PUT TO GOOD USE.
I'D BEEN ON THE LIST ABOUT 15 MONTHS , THO I'VE LIVED LOCALLY FOR 11 YEARS.I GOT THE PAPERWORK THE FOLLOWING MONTH.
IT WAS MY DAUGHTERS IDEA.SHE PLEADED WITH ME TO PUT MY NAME DOWN SO WE COULD 'GARDEN' TOGETHER. AS IT TURNS OUT - SHE HARDLY EVER HELPS THESE DAYS-IN FACT,I CANT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME SHE EVEN VISITED THE PLOT.SHE HAS HER OWN STRAWBERRY PATCH WHICH IS NOW OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND LOOKING VERY SAD.THINK I MIGHT TURN THAT INTO A POND THIS SUMMER.
ANYWAY , BACK TO MY PLOT. ITS QUITE BIG THO IVE NEVER MEASURED IT.WONDER HOW I'D DO THAT? MUST FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
IT WASNT THE FIRST ONE I WAS OFFERED. THAT WAS HORRENDOUS. NO FENCING OR GATE-JAPANESE KNOTWEED AND COUCH GRASS EVERYWHERE!
THE 2ND ONE WAS FENCED OFF,GATED,HAD 2 SHEDS AND A GREENHOUSE.NEEDLESS TO SAY-I SNAPPED THAT UP!
IT WAS OVERRUN WITH WEEDS AND BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE.TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY-BLIMEY.
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING MY PLOT AND JOING BRAS ON FACEBOOK,I WAS BEFRIENDED BY A WONDERFUL CHAP AND FELLOW ALLOTMENTER CALLED BOB BAXTER.
HE FIXED MY GREENHOUSE FOR ME,GAVE ME SEEDS - THO NONE OF THEM TOOK DUE TO THE BOGGY GROUND,AND STARTED OFF MY GREENHOUSE BY GIVING ME BABY PLANTS.
THE GREENHOUSE IS THE ONLY THING THAT 'TOOK OFF' THIS SUMMER DUE TO ALL THE RAIN.
THEN I MET CARL HOLMES-HIS PLOT IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER FROM MINE AND HES BEEN A GODSEND TOO.COLLECTING COMPOST FOR ME-GIVING ADVICE AND PASSING ON PLANTS AND SEEDS.HIM AND BOB LAID A PATIO FOR ME AT THE BACK OF MY PLOT-THE SLABS WERE HUGE SO I NEED BRAWN.
IT TOOK ME 6 WEEKS OF SOLID WEEDING TO GET IT LOOKING RESPECTABLE. I HAD BICEPS LIKE A SHE-HULK AND MOSQUITO BITES THE SIZE OF GRAPES!
EVERYDAY I'D GO TO THE PLOT AND LOSE TRACK OF TIME.SOMETIMES I'D GET A CALL ON MY MOBILE AT 10 AT NIGHT ASKING IF I WAS COMING HOME!
IVE NOT DONE MUCH THIS AUTUMN/WINTER-KEPT THE PLOT TIDY ETC...THE RAIN HASNT STOPPED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO TACKLE THE MANY LEAKS IN MY SHEDS-ROLL ON SPRING.
IVE LOADS OF IDEAS - AND EVEN MORE SEEDS TO POT AND WATCH GROW.THINK IVE DONE PRETTY GOOD FOR A NOVICE.
I DO WHAT I DO ON THE CHEAP AND CHEERFUL.I TRY TO RECYCLE WHAT I CAN AND RELY ON DONATIONS TOO.EVEN AND OLD LAWNMOWER THAT WAS DUMPED BY MY PLOT WAS PUT TO GOOD USE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)