Latest allotment news December 2003

It has been a wet autumn down on the allotment, but work has progressed on pruning, digging and other exciting seasonal tasks.
We are currently harvesting brussel sprouts, parsnips, leeks and the last few carrots. Also the giant mustard leaves and lambs lettuce seem to be holding up well in the salad department together with some spring onions.
The main work has been to dig up the old current bushes at the end of the allotment and to put in some new beds ready for some raspberry canes. These will ultimately replace the rather old canes in the narrow bed against the wall. A few mara de bois strawberries have been put in as well.
Forthcoming projects will include erecting a shed. Also planting the raspberry canes and some minarette style fruit trees when they arrive.

Latest Pictures Taken with my new camera. Click on the image for a larger view of the same photograph.

Parsnips, leeks and brussel sprouts are ready for harvesting. The old raspberry canes have been well pruned back
All the old strawberry leaves and unwanted runners have been removed. The weed supressing matting will need to be renewed. Purple Sprouting broccoli due to be ready in the spring seems to be doing well at the moment.
The last few carrots remain to be harvested and a few hardy lettuces are still standing
Giant red mustard (rather hot peppery leaves) and lambs lettuce are the main winter leaves along with a few remaining spring onions
New beds have been built for the raspberries but I am not expecting the canes to be delivered now until January. behind the compost bins is the intended site for the new shed.