Barnes Allotment

Manure, compost, onions, carrots, tomatoes ...

Scott kindly dropped off 6 bags of manure yesterday and some compost and spare wood for bed borders.  So it was back to digging. I dug over the plot again getting the manure and compost really mixed in and left it overnight. 

When I went back today I got brave and sowed some carrot and spring onion seeds in the bed next to the corn and aubergine.  Apparently onions and carrots make good companion plants - although since I planted I have found out from Monty Don's book that the onions need to outnumber the carrots (something to do with the onion odour keeping away the carrot fly) and I planted more carrots than onions.  Nevermind.  Mistake 1.

I also dug out and area next to the potting shed to plant a few varieties of tomatoes.  Again I am slightly cheating due to the time of year and have gone for already germinated plants from Homebase.  Next year I will start from scratch but I am up against it.  The wild garden is currently sprawling with Marigolds - these are a great companion apparently for tomatoes, I am not sure they are sitting close enough and they are in the way of my other planned beds so I may have to transplant.

 

Digging and Double Digging

I am astounded how much progress I have made in just a couple of days. 

I am really keen to get as much planted as possible so have cleared 2 areas straight away.  Perhaps I am cheating a little but I wanted to see something growing rather than bare soil everywhere so I have bought an aubergine plant and some corn as well as loads of seeds.

The planting is actually strangely intimidating. I don't feel time is on my side and knowing my nature I will get planting and learn later.  But this is a long term project so as long as I don't spend too much money, I can learn by my mistakes.

Day 1.

I am so lucky to have reached the top of the list to rent this fantastic allotment plot in Barnes by the railway line.  I have been on the list for 4 years.  Apparently I joined the wait at just the right time as all allotment lists in the Richmond Borough have now been closed due to a predicted waiting time of 10 years.

An elderly couple had this plot before me.  I believe they had it for years but it just got too much.  It's a little overgrown but nothing some back breaking digging won't resolve.  They were also pretty keen on their ornaments and gnomes :) - I will have to find a fitting place for that little lot.

Scott Lawrence, a friend and local garden designer, has kindly set up this blog for me as encouragement to document my discoveries on the plot over time.  He is also offering his knowledge and the odd bag of manure in return for some veggies.

I hope you enjoy my progress.

Kirsty