The Carrot Tops Allotment Blog!

March has been quite a productive month, which is awesome and testiment to what’s possible when the weather is on your side.

Not only did I manage to rebuild the compost bins, which was a big job because not only did they have to be dug out, they had to be rebuilt with compost still in situ, but I also managed to order the seeds of what I want to grow, plus knock off a load of little jobs that were on the list – plus I added quite a sizeable one that wasn’t on the list because I managed to totally luck out this year when it comes to sowing seeds.

Seed prep and building propagators

Some good friends of ours are emigrating from one country to another and were looking to offload some stuff. I got the call – “Hey Adam, do you want to take our Ikea Krydda / Vaxer propagators, and all of the stuff that goes with it?”

“Hell yeah I do!” I exclaimed!

A big thank you to who sent this to us (you know who you are) and good luck with your travels!

This is showcase of the system here:

I believe this range has now been discontinued, but if you were to find it on their website, it would be under this category here.

I can’t wait to get sowing and get things growing, and I’ll definitely keep you posted on how I get on!

Repair steel water butt

Something that’s been on the list for a while, but I’ve been quite daunted by is repairing a steel water butt that had the tiniest of holes, that was just enough to stop it from being filled all the way to the top.

Ever since I built the water harvester, It’s been on my to do list.

I drilled a small hole in the side and then I put in a spare nut and bolt and used an old piece of felt on the inside to act as a washer.

Much to amazement – it’s holding and not losing any water. I always recommend people to accumulate as many water butts as possible – water is so important.

New posts for plot numbers

At some point last year, we all got new numbers from the council, meaning that I am now 15A and 16A.

Since then, I’ve been looking for some odd bits (but same width, length and depth) of wood that I could use to screw these numbers into and then bury into the ground. Another odd job completed.

First cut of the season

I remember that on the 1st January last year I cut the grass. The weather has been so bad this year, that I don’t think I’ve cut the grass since autumn of last year, and it was well overdue.

So far, it was one of those years whereby every time I went to cut the grass, the heavens would open, or a storm/wind would take hold and there was no chance. Thankfully, there was a gap, and I was able to cut and strim, and it was so satisfying.

Not only did I fill the compost bins up, but I managed to top dress the blackcurrants and redcurrants, to help keep the weeds down.

Mulching like this feels like a game changer for me time wise – it’s just so easy to chuck some cardboard down to kill the weeds and then establish a new bed. I think I’ll do this for gooseberries when I need to cut the grass again.

Pruning blackberries

The blackberries needed pruning, which isn’t a huge job to be fair. They’re so hardy, and so lethal at the same time, but they produce the most sweet and unique blackberries.

Legend has it, these are the fabled “Tolworth Blackberry”, which goes back as far the Doomsday book – but I’ve not real concrete proof or evidence for that. I’m hoping to get a decent yield, but there’s only a few plants, so who knows at this stage. They look like they’re in good condition – so I’m hopeful!

Well, that’s it for March! Let’s see what April brings, where hopefully, I can actually start sowing stuff into the ground!

The job tally so far

1. New posts for new numbers.
2. Raised pot for carrot growing.
3. Remove unwanted, rotten wood.
4. Repair the shed bottom on the outside, make mouse proof.
5. Board shed inside, add more shelves possibly, create a sitting area.
6. Chop open new barrels, remove lids, place in positions on plot.
7. Dig out compost bins.
8. Rebuild compost bins.
9. Clear out the bit behind the shed, create seed sowing area perhaps, or plant shrubs.
10. Order seeds/bulbs…etc.
11. Clean out pond, create sediment catcher (I think that’s what it’s called?).
12. Weed rhubarb strawberries and gooseberries and currants.
13. Dig out raspberries, replant.
14. Repair steel water butt.
15. Prune blackberries.
16. Sow seeds/plant bulbs.
17. Paint sheds, paint bench.
18. Go to the tip, remove unwanted stuff.
19. Repair wheelbarrow(s).
20. Build a new bug hotel with scrap logs and wood at the front of the plot.
21. Bonus: Plan growing season!

Having a list to work through at the top has really helped to keep things on track.