I weeded the front of the plot & then hoed & weeded the beds. On close scrutiny of the brassicas, I am slightly more optimistic that at least some of them may recover from their pigeon mauling. Maybe. The BROAD BEANS (barry plot 19) in this bed look super – the plants are about 2’ high, & the flowers are starting to form. Knowing how unruly these got last year, I put some bamboo sticks & strings as supports to try to stop them spilling out & overwhelming their neighbours.As I finished, a gent walked up from the bottom of the plot who I didn’t recognise, carrying a Sainsbury wire basket half filled with rhubarb sticks. Turns out that he’s the new chap from 4a – “hullo”, he says, “you’re getting on well. I’ve copied you & have four beds made – where do you get your bark for paths from?”
I pointed him in the direction of the park where there might be some chippings left for collection, & he said “cheers, that’ll save me £35-a-tonne of bought chippings – I could chat all night, but it’s rhubarb & custard for tea” & off he walked, swinging his wire basket as he went.
Once I’d earthed up the potatoes a little, & pulled a dozen or so rhubarb sticks for Dave-&-Patti-next-door, I had a walk down to the bottom to see how things are progressing. JB’s Dunluce potatoes are well ahead of mine, which is a swizz as I got him the spuds; returning allotmenteer Chrissie’s plot is so pretty – like Julie’s (2nd best plot) & cheery Bri & Pauline’s. Mine is ‘functional’, but I guess that some people just do ‘flair’ better than others.Got home & dropped the rhubarb off next door – once it was gratefully accepting & snaffled away – thank you very much – Dave showed me a pack of just three sticks of rhubarb that he’d bought from Asda. £1.50! Crumbs – perhaps I should set up a stall!
Rhubarb is a rip-off isn't it? You can't kill the stuff but they charge you the earth. I have a couple of elderly ladies in the village who are always grateful for a couple of sticks now and again.
ReplyDeleteI had cold stewed rhubarb and stem ginger for breakfast!
We love rhubarb ...But yeh gods Thats expensive .... Better look after ours a bit more :O)
ReplyDeleteD
Hi, I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now and very inspirational it is too. We've just got our very first allotment so are in the process of getting it ready for sowing (it was a grassy field up until a few weeks ago!) Just wondering, what is it you're using as eye protectors on the end of your canes? They look very funky!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Flum - when I was little it seemed like everyone had a rhubarb in their garden, so I certainly wouldn't have put it into the 'luxury' category, but now I know that it goes for 50p a stick...!
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing, Dinzie, it's not as though rhubarb needs looking after - a barrowful of muck once a year and that's about your lot!
Thank you for dropping by, Marie - and for your kind words. Good luck with your new plot - isn't it exciting! The funky eye protectors are actually plastic balls (the sort you get in ball pools), and you can get them from Tesco and Homebase in a pack of 100 for about a fiver. Just cut a cross in with a knife and push them on the canes.
Functional is absolutely fine and I think your plot looks gorgeous, please stop talking yourself down! {smile}
ReplyDeleteI was about to ask about the funky balls - but Marie beat me to it!