Tuesday

 Good morning, everyone.  As expected, once the clouds disappeared, yesterday was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm.  Today is supposed to be the same - bring it on!!!

I changed yesterday's plans a little bit.  I waited until after lunch to go to the allotment, thinking that it would be that bit warmer and it was.  I had a nice (distanced) chat to the chap two along before setting to.

I got four of the six bags of potting compost out of the car and emptied two into each of the raised beds, which was just enough.  Regarding those beds, we were going to replace them but the ones I ordered haven't arrived yet and I want to get sowing in those beds, not to mention planting out those strawberry plants.  When the new beds do arrive, whenever that will be, they can wait until autumn.  The near bed is for the strawberries - the three already there are survivors from last year and the move.

The other bed is for carrots, beetroots and spring onions - not loads, just a couple of rows of each.  In fact, I must start sowing some soon.

The rhubarbs have finally been weeded!  I tried to get up as much invasive root system as I could but I know I will never get it all up so it's a regular task.  It looks nice now and the rhubarb certainly looks happy and healthy.  I was able to pull some and gifted part of it to Chris over the cul de sac.  Sharing produce is lovely.
I will want more for Sunday lunch with Beth and Alex but by then there will be loads more.
We talked of splitting the crowns a few months ago and the one second up on the photo seems to have done it for us.  It's in three very distinct sections already.  One will be for our friend, Julia, one stays there and I'm not sure about the third.  Maybe Chris or Val would like it.

The trees are budding up nicely.  From top left, clockwise, they are the plum, the pear, the laxton apple (we think that is what it is) and the redlove (which is such a picture when it blossoms).

I must get some fleece to lay over the plum if a night frost is predicted as it's very vulnerable.  Allotments really are a bottomless pit at times, aren't they?

The autumn fruiting raspberry canes are now coming up nicely.  Some have travelled to the side of the ground cover but we don't mind that at all.

There are some gaps.  We have holes in the ground cover for nine plants and I think five are coming up so yesterday I went online and ordered some more.  We like to have them fruiting in the autumn so I got this:  it's thornless, resistant to disease and might actually crop a bit this year, depending on how well they grow.  Beth or I will have any spare ones.

And - great excitement - we have a baby broady!!  That means some of the others in the first double row will be popping out soon.

Thankfully, they have now turned the water on at the site so I was able to  give things a good drink - the pansies, the strawberries, the rhubarb and where the broad beans are sown.

So that's the allotment update!

I have to laugh - I've just checked my mailbox to get the link to the raspberries and those raised beds are arriving in a few days.  Now I have to decide - I think I might replace the front one, the one without the little strawberry plants, and see how it goes.  I can shovel all the soul to the middle and build the sides up round it.
I'll hold off sowing those seeds until after it has arrived.

Today, the plan is to get the housework done before breakfast, pop to the allotment between breakfast and lunch and then, after lunch, Chris is coming over for a distanced chat in my garden.  Most exciting!

I think today is going to be a lovely day.  Have a good 'un and stay safe.  xx