Allotment diary. March.

2nd week.

The whole allotment was ready for planting but I've now sourced a supply of scaffold planks and we hope to make six raised beds on one side. This is going to hold up sowing by a week or so but to bring things  along I've started some things off in modular trays and popped them into the poly tunnel. So far the shallots are in and I've a tray of beetroot all tuck up. Tomorrow I'll do the onions and sow a tray of spinach, parsnips and broad beans. 

I have five different named potatoes to plant this year, all first or second earlies plus a salad potato. Four are chitting nicely but the Lady Balfour is a bit slow. Popped on the conservatory windowsill to bring thing along. 

All the seeds have arrived from the various suppliers but I think I need some more beetroot. I don't think the one packet I have ordered will give us the crop we will need.

One thing I do need is a marker pen that doesn't wash off in the rain, a Sharpie pen. 

For those of you from the D2E forum here are Rhonda, Hanno and Alice inspecting my compost bin. Not much in it at the moment.

Gyllyngvase Beach - Falmouth - Photos of Cornwall

Gyllyngvase Beach - Falmouth - Photos of Cornwall

Knit and Natter knitting club today. This is where I go on a wednesday morning, I sit and knit and chat and drink tea. It's lovely to met old friends and make new ones. We often have people joins us that are on holiday, regretting they don't have their knitting with them but never mind they can talk to likeminded friends. 

This beach is near my home and I can walk there in a few minutes. This walk takes me down the hill to our nearest small beach, along the cliff path to the next cove, where the cafe' sits. I love being here at all times of the year. Winter when the seas are running high and fast, waves on the beach and white seahorses out on the horizon. Summer when the beach is busy with families enjoying themselves, the hardened swimmers and the hundreds of holidaymakers. The cafe' is busy then but we can sit outside under the canopy and 'take the air'. 

I particularly like this club as the members are of different ages, we have young students from the local university, mums whose children have not long started school, old hands like me and seniors who are a mine of knowledge. Everyone is welcome, you don't have to attend every week or even every month, just when you feel like it. Knitting is not compulsory, we have one lady who attends every week but I've never seen her pick up a pair of needles while there. 

See you later after my knitting fix. x

Rhubarb, chives and daffodils.

 It's been a busy week sorting the house, washing, ironing, shopping and baking. I've had no time to visit the allotment until today. There was very little growing, but the Rhubarb looked surprisingly good. I only hope it produces the promising yield. Rhubarb crumble, rhubarb and custard and I hope even some rhubarb champagne.

This pot of chives had been outside all through the harsh winter, I could not believe how fresh and green they were. I snipped a few to add to the potatoes we were having for supper.

On the way home I just had to take a quick peek at the bulb fields, I would forgive you for thinking you were in Holland. Windmills and bulbs, not tulips but daffodils. 

Now a little present, this wooly wonder from Karen,  thank you Karen  :-)