As you can see in the foreground I took the top off the Brassica cage today to let the poor things stretch their wings a bit. 

Courgettes (Romanesco) thriving. 

Beans & Corn OK. 

Strawberry Bed Update

Getting there! There should be a picture of Phil helping me by sitting on the top at one point to counteract the warp in the wood, but I was a bit distracted and forgot to take it! Curses.

Another Look!

This view gives a bit more of an idea of what still needs to be done. The tricky bit is going to be inserting a piece in at the bottom of the far end. After that I'm laughing! I have decided to treat the new beds with black timber preservative to aid longevity and style.

Courgette Flowers

The courgette flowers are stunning. I should really cut them to fry in a light batter.

Bed Update

I did a bit more on the strawberry bed this afternoon. It is very awkward as the wood has warped since I got it several months ago. Still, progress of sorts is progress ne'er-the-less.

That View Again!!!

This view has changed a lot in a few short weeks!!!

Path of Shame Update

The path of shame is better than it was this time last year, at least!

Tomato Update

I picked some tomatoes today which we had for tea. I also picked some courgettes but I was too late home. (Oops!)

Gorgeous Garlic

The garlic is ready to take home now.

Hybrid Squash Update

The little squash plants from our 'hybrid' are growing well.

The corn & beans are doing OK. 

Shedful!

Sue and I walked down to the land registry and then the allotment (via Lytham hospital) last night ( Tuesday. We walked back through the playing fields and Witchwood. (7.3 miles on the pedometer!) Cora loved it. We stopped off to water on the way. I am intending to have a day down at the allotment tomorrow (Thursday), which will be the first day officially of the Summer holidays as schools broke up today.)

Shedful (2)

I think we earned a bit of a sit down!!!

Onion Update

I forgot to put these up last week!!!
I went down all afternoon this afternoon and had as really good go in the shed! I lined a load of stuff up ready to go to the tip when I heard a cheery call and Jimmy arrived enquiring about three large panes of glass for his oddly proportioned greenhouse, a couple of sheets of hardboard and an old lawnmower for the bloke who does the verges. He made me a cup of tea and a piece of shortbread. He told me a bit about his time in the steelworks in Glasgow. There were 18 allotments actually in the grounds for employees. Jimmy ended up with three on the go.
I can hardly remember an afternoon at the allotment that felt so laid back! Although he did describe mare's tails as 'soul destroying'.
I will take some new pictures tomorrow.

Jobs I have planned are:

*Finish the 'new' strawberry bed
*Carrots & potatoes in the greenhouse for Christmas
*Two rows of peas lengthways along a bed
*Move Leeks asap when it's wet
*Thin new squash plants
*Plant up apple mint in Green container
*Weeding & general bed maintanence
*Ask Sam about railway sleepers

Should keep me busy for a while

Rust Never Sleeps

The shelves Phil dumped on me a couple of days ago are already proving useful. I wasn't sure about drying tje garlic off in the greenhouse as I did the onoins as they are full of rust. (Co-incidently so is the shelving unit!)

A fine bowl of onions! 

The herbs are doing ok. 

Salad Days

Today I harvested the first Courgettes and Tomatoes of the season!

Little Cucumber

There's a little cucumber in the greenhouse!

Garlic Chopped

I dutifully decapitated the garlic as recommended.

Weapon Amongst Us

Kevin checked out the greeenhouse with a handful of rhubarb already in the bag!

Chard Times

I picked another good load of chard today for our tea with Kevin. Sue did it with chick peas spices & meatballs & it was delicious!

New View Revisited

A (recurring) view of the allotment.

Another view of the allotment. 

Yet another view. 

New Bed Progress!!!

I finally got round to doing a bit more on this bed this afternoon before it rained. (Not touched since March and therefore more than justifying the three exclamation marks in the title). After having picked loads of strawberries from ground level this year I am sure that a raised strawberry bed is a brilliant idea.

Squash Update

One or two of the squash plants seem to be making a good recovery like this one - most aren't though. Today I sowed sets of three of 'our' hybrid squash from last year to see how they do. It should be much too late so we'll see.

Ghastly Garlic!

The over-wintered garlic appears to have flowered whilst I wasn't looking so I am assuming it will be useless!

Courgette Update

This little courgette has flowered since yesterday!

Fruity Frenzy!!!

Sue picked 18lb of redcurrants today...(& I managed 20lb of gooseberries).

Dedication is...

It can be a little bit tricky ....

Well Earned Rest

And it really does take it out of one...

Currant Cornucopia!

It's worth it in the end though!