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Springtime on the allotment- sunny late April

Springtime on the allotment- sunny late April. The most magical place. The winding pathways are laced with bluebells about to bloom, the courgette, spinach, cabbage and pom pom dahlia seeds that we planted with Hazel are showing their faces and it’s the first time in goodness knows how long that I’ve had to utter the words “factor 50 sun cream”allotment garden

Isaac and Gina came for a morning of fresh air, the chickens were roaming around and we basked in the sun. Isaac got busy watering the daffodils shouting “clean now” after watering almost each flower on the whole allotment.garden allotment rhsallotment garden daffodilgarden allotment daffodils

There are five chickens on the allotment, there were many more but sadly the fox got seven of them. The remaining five are happy, healthy and very friendly, they eat a mixture of strawberries, cabbage and rice. Isaac had a pretty great time feeding the chickens and chasing them around.garden allotment chickengarden allotment chickens

The raised beds around the allotment have been planted with vegetables including green beans, Japanese onions, rhubarb, artichokes, sweet corn, herbs and oh so much more. We have also planted a patch of our bed with wildflower pollinating seeds including cornflowers, poppies and a mix of flowers to attract the bees. You can read a useful list compiled by the RHS of pollinating plants perfect for bees HERE. There are lots of flowers on the allotment that will reappear every year including the fabulous bluebells and crocus.

crocus

With all this glorious sunshine my sole duty was to keep the seeds watered, Isaac took care of the rest. Post allotment we hit the park before driving off into the sunset.

garden allotment springtime

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.” -Walt Whitman

Stay fabulous

Christine

 

Easter Wishlist- Spring wardrobe inspiration

Here’s a suitably floral Easter wishlist that will hopefully offer a little spring wardrobe inspiration. Anyone else excited for the long Easter weekend? I’m looking forward to a quiet one at home, hopefully getting to spend some quality time at the allotment and maybe doing a little bit of DIY.

Allotment life: You may have noticed from my Instagram @thefabuloustimes that I’ve been spending most Saturday mornings down on the allotment, there really is no better way to unwind. Here are a few choice items perfect for springtime on the allotment.country-gardener-fashion

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Shopping for brunch: For those welcome sunny days picking up fresh flowers at the florists, grabbing an avocado from the grocers and some streaky bacon from the butchers for a lazy brunch.

spring fashion

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Lay in til lunchtime: It wouldn’t be a true long weekend without at least one shameless lie in right? Here are a few choice pieces to enable you to lie in, snuggle up and relax in style. What’s better than waking up late and having a proper well deserved pyjama day? -nothing that’s what.

easter spring fashion thefabuloustimes

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Whatever you’re planning for the long weekend, I wish you lots of chocolate eggs and all the happiness spring has to offer. What’s on your Easter wishlist?

Stay fabulous

Christine

5 tips for growing your own vegetables

Growing your own food can be an incredibly fulfilling experience, and the results can not only be delicious, but save you money. If you’re looking to start your own vegetable patch or rent your first allotment, follow these tips for great results straight off the bat. Here are 5 tips for growing your own vegetables…

Start small:

If this is your first attempt at growing your own food, it’s a good idea to start small to get a feel for it before dedicating a border of your garden to a vegetable patch or renting an allotment. A perfect way to ease yourself in to growing your own vegetables is by starting off with grow bags. Tomatoes, aubergines, and chillies all thrive in grow bags, whether in a sunny spot on the patio or in a greenhouse. You can fit three vegetable plants in each 35cm x 95cm bag, which contain top-quality compost which cannot become infected by soil-borne diseases. For information on growing vegetables in a grow bag, take a look at this guide from the BBC.

organic gardening tips

Choose what you want to grow:

What you want to grow determines what preparations you’ll have to make to your garden, so decide on what you’d like to try your hand at before anything else. It’s a good idea at this stage to stick to the tried and tested fruit and veg, such as carrots, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and runner beans. You’ll be able to tackle more exotic varieties once you’ve gained more experience.

What you’ll be able to grow will depend on the space you have and the climate you live in, so be realistic when choosing what you’d like to plant. It’s a good idea to sketch out a quick plan for your vegetable patch to make sure you have enough room for everything you’d like to include.

organic gardening

Prepare your soil:

When you know what you want to grow, you can prepare you soil accordingly. Some vegetables, such as root veg, may thrive in well-dug and well-composted soil, while others may not require that much preparation. Some plants benefit from high-alkali soil, while others enjoy acidic conditions; some need watering, feeding, or composting frequently, while other plants prefer to be left to their own devices. Make sure to do your research before planting up your vegetable patch so you know exactly what conditions your produce will thrive in. For specific information on the fruit and veg you’d like to grow, check out the excellent series of gardening guides on the Wyevale Garden Centres website.

Plan ahead:

It’s crucial to get your timing right when growing veg, so a bit of forward planning is essential for a successful vegetable patch. Allotment Garden have a great reference chart which shows when to plant and harvest commonly grown fruit and veg, so use this to plan when you’ll need to perform certain tasks. It’s a good idea to schedule everything long in advance so you get your timing perfect, which will give you the best yield possible. A garden planner, such as this one from Amazon, is perfect for this, while the more technologically minded may prefer to use Google calendar, which will send notifications directly to your smart phone reminding you of scheduled tasks.

organic gardening allotment

Be patient:

The most import attribute a successful gardener can have is patience. Once your vegetable patch is set up, it won’t take much hard work to maintain, but there will be a lot of waiting involved. The worst thing you can do when growing your own food is to try and rush the process by digging up your produce too early, so remember to sit back and give nature time to run its course.

Keep these tips in mind when starting your own vegetable patch or renting your first allotment and it’s sure to be a success.

Stay fabulous

Christine