BeetrootandSpuds

 Work is underway on our new plot, Plot B.  The first stage, clearing, is not as bad as might have been, because a previous owner  had laid old carpet over much of it.  This was effective in killing off the weeds underneath, except for a generous amount of bindweed, whose thick white root comes up in every fork full. The soil is not as good as that on our first plot (Plot A), and contains much more clay, which is sticky, slippery and heavy to dig.  

One of the truisms of allotments is that no matter what size your plot, you always wish it was a bit bigger.  So I am delighted to let you know that Spuds and I have been allocated an extension to ours.  In fact it is more of a sub-plot, Plot B as you might say.  Our predecessor had seen fit to cover it with old carpet, which must have been laid down for a few years, as it has been quite successful in killing off the weeds under it, with the exception of hanks of sickly white root, bindweed.  Anyway,  by the end of the 1st afternoon (we only took possession at lunchtime yesterday) it was looking like this:

A couple of days ago Spuds and I went on an outing to our local garden centre.  We have not yet built our fruit cage, and the weather was miserable, so we thought it would be the ideal to time to stock up on a few components.  But in recent years the old-fashioned nurseries of my early days have been transformed into profit centres, packed full of enticement (Hell and Damnation be upon all Marketing Depts) and before we had been there for 2 minutes we were both checking out all sorts of seedy temptation.  Then I heard somebody singing away behind one of the display stands to the tune of "Oranges and Lemons."  You've guessed it: there, sitting on a large plastic mushroom, was Spuds happily chortling: Radishes and melons...

Spuds and I recently bought a gooseberry bush from an offer by D.T. Brown Seeds , which included a free black currant along with our choice, Hinnonmaki Red.  The plants arrived well packed, and helpfully labelled, "Live Plants."  It'll be interesting to see how they do, but one thing is for sure, we are going to have to expand our fruit bed by  round 1m to get them in. Turning to another matter, I was amused to learn recently that the French for gooseberry is groseillier à maquereaux , which literally translates to "mackerel currant." So there you are !

A tip I picked a few years ago, and which I am happy to pass on, is that one of the best ways to store potatoes is in a hessian sack, left in a cool dark room.

One of the things we are looking forward to this year is making some jam from the fruit we are hoping to grow on our plot, always assuming the birds don't beat us to it.  While I was sorting through a forgotten cupboard recently I came across these packets of jam covers, which since they are in "old money" must have been sold before 1971.

Cloudberry's youngest brother, Flowerdew, (the others are Dodder,  Baldmoney and Sneezewort), has left Oak Pool House, and yesterday he turned up in our tunnel. We are pleased to welcome him, and hope that the gardening expertise for which he has renown will bring us luck for the coming season

Those fortunate enough to have read the greatest children's book ever written, The Little Grey Men by BB, will be familiar with Cloudberry, the lost brother of the last gnomes in England.  I am delighted to report that after many travels, he has now arrived and taken up residence in our polytunnel

The process of tidying up our plot ready for the new season is now almost complete.  We have dug over all our beds, reconfigured some, and squeezed in 3 new ones.  The polytunnel, too, has had a complete re-fit.

Spuds likes nothing more than a joke. So here's a picture of "Nothing."  Now, on with the joke: Once upon a time there was an Old Potato who had 3 daughters. One day the eldest one came to him and said "Father, I'm going to get married, and I would like your blessing." "Well my dear," said the OP, "and who is your intended ?" "I am going to marry King Edward," said the daughter. "Very good," said the OP A few years later the second daughter went to her father, and said "Father, I'm going to get married, and I would like your blessing." "Well my dear," said the OP, "and who is your intended ?" "I am going to marry one of the Jersey Royals," said the daughter. "I'm delighted," said the OP  A few years later the youngest daughter went to her father, and said "Father, I'm going to get married, and I would like your blessing." "Well my dear,...