tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489Mon, 07 Oct 2024 06:43:35 +0000strawberriesonions drying outpolytunnel seedspoppyAlan and David dismantling the shedApplesBBC crew setting upBradley and Si creating raised bedsCharlotte new potatoesDavid and Ian putting the finishing touches to the polytunnel in sunnier timesDavid and Peter filling the raised bedDavid on the sofaDavid with the final fruit tree -a cherryEmma and Ruby in the newly planted willow domeHarvest produceHow it all began...views of the allotment autumn 2006Hulme Garden CentreIan on his benchJacob sheep fleeceLavender snow bathingManchesterMe and Mark Denton from the BBC (courtesy Hugh Kelly)Me and Peter planting salad seeds in the raised bedsMystery CaterpillarOpen dayPaths and raised beds - February 2007Peas lettuce and runner beansPeas ready for pickingPicking the first crop of radishesPicnic time in the willow domePolytunnel frame April 2007Pussy willow on the willow domePutting the final touches to the polytunnelRaindrops on the water butt lidRed kiteThings are getteing greener...or is it just the weeds?TomatoesUsing green manures in crop rotationalpaca droppings on hopsand clockapple blossomartichoke animalash treesattaching the chicken wireaubergine flowersautumn squashesbee on wildflower meadowblackcurrant bushbrussel sproutsbrussel sprouts under snowbrussels sproutcabbage patchcape gooseberrycarton clocheschicken shedchillies (twilight)chocolate eggscollecting horse manurecomma butterflycommon hemp nettlecorn and beanscourgettecourgettescrocusdaisiesdamsons and blackberriesdavid and scythe on the meadow areadockseggegg and mushroom pizzaethel's hiding placeeucalyptusfive day old chicksfleece on spring cabbageflowering rhubarbfree range chicksfrosty benchfrozen water on compost bingarden spiderginger on the high raised bedgrowing hopshollow spudhop garden signhopshorsehot bed full of squashhover fly on poached eggjersusalem artichoke flowerslavender and jackleaf mould binlettuce flowerlittle henliving saladslooking down towards the gate over the brassicasmaking a christmas wreathnasturiums and Tequila Sunrise rosenative hedgenew flower bednew growth on the willow domenew hen houseorchardorchard path taking shapepea green soupphacelia green manurepolytunnel tomatoes and squashraspberriesred tomatoesrhubarb bedrhubarb patchshed floor in progresssleeping hensmells activitysnow fallingsoil conditionersowing seedsspinachsquashsquash on a benchstrawberry plantsstrawberry runnerssun going down on the allotmentsunflowersweet peas and nasturiumssweet peas and potato seedteaselthe start of the native hedgethree week old chickstulipview from the cornerview from the gateview from the shed in the snowview from the top cornerview outside the allotmentviews of allotmentwildflowerswildflowers and artichokeswillow denwillow domewillow dome covered in snowwillow weave fence in progressxmas flower arrangementyellow submarine tomatoesKeep up-to-date now at: http://www.thehopgarden.toucansurf.com/blog.htmlhttp://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Sarah)Blogger82125en-ustag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8989982228735951778Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:51:00 +00002010-02-22T13:02:30.341+00:00native hedgeorchardxmas flower arrangementPlease note that this is an archived blog - a new blog about the Hop Garden can be found at www.thehopgarden.toucansurf.com/blog.htmlI was feeling creative, which usually results in completely trashing the kitchen and disappearing under a mound of greenery. This occasion was no different. However, it wasn't all in vain as I managed to create three festive flower arrangements for the association http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/12/fayres-and-festive-thoughts.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-7282124848182285458Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:53:00 +00002008-12-04T11:58:30.369+00:00willow dome covered in snowAbout three inches of snow has fallen overnight and the garden looks as tidy and picture perfect as it will ever be! I love the fact that snow covers all jobs yet to be done - very relaxing.....I did get a bit done in the polytunnel though (lovely and snug in there with the snow on top), planting some ground cover plants into the border to sit tight until Spring.Amazingly, a Council truck made ithttp://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/12/winter-wonderland.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-3148925941969435951Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:43:00 +00002008-11-30T17:53:56.806+00:00strawberriesteaselThere's not much to update work-wise as the ground has been rock solid for most of the week, but I did pop out with the camera one morning to capture a few frosty moments, like the teasel above, just melting in the early sunshine.These strawberries above also had their fair share of frost cover. I love cold, crisp winter mornings when the birds are singing, the sun is shining and your breath http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/jack-frost-jumps-in.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-2274578270925141746Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:45:00 +00002008-11-24T21:13:32.558+00:00brussels sproutdaisiesginger on the high raised bedDespite a light dusting of snow over the past few days, these little daisies are still going strong - and I didn't even plant or sow them, so they've definitely defied the odds. It's lovely to see such bursts of colour this time of year.So much for clipping the chickens' wings: Ginger shows just how simple it is to fly 3ft off the ground and into the high raised beds. I'll forgive her for now, ashttp://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/daisy-daisy.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5115271658328943204Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:49:00 +00002008-11-09T22:34:42.838+00:00autumn squashesIt's been a strange growing season this year: the late frosts in Spring finished off a few of the plants which had dared to risk some new shoots and the windy/wild/wet conditions that seemed to come and go for most of this year have certainly not helped the situation. Still, a brief Indian summer did raise the spirits a little, and the late sunshine managed to ripen a few squashes and courgettes http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/11/time-to-take-stock.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-1647113268732572543Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:16:00 +00002008-10-27T20:27:21.004+00:00chillies (twilight)david and scythe on the meadow areaorchard path taking shapeDavid has a new tool - a scythe - which he has been trying out this week on the orchard and the soon-to-be wildflower meadow. Very impressive results and we're looking forward to making proper hay next year, albeit on a very small scale (but then our rabbits, who will be the main beneficiaries, are quite small too so it evens out nicely). It's also a lot more environmentally sound than a strimmerhttp://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/10/getting-chilli.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-2368666187102509548Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:09:00 +00002008-10-05T14:36:19.390+01:00little henstrawberry plantsThe title does not relate to the chickens (no excuse really for a picture of our newest chicken other than she's not appeared before), although they were completely freaked out by the 'fire breathing' event. I was trying to put the chickens to bed the other night as it was getting 'dimpsy' as they say in Devon (dusk-like), but they had other ideas and seemed to think that Thursday night was http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/10/fire-breathing-dragons.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-7429392473143710486Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:38:00 +00002008-09-13T21:45:17.530+01:00comma butterflyThis lovely butterfly, which apparently isn't very common this far North, turned up in the polytunnel this week. It's a lovely comma, which has very distinctive jagged edging around the wings and does a very good impression of bark or a leaf on its underside. In terms of jobs, I had help this week from Maria and we got stuck into clearing a path through the orchard and putting membrane down. http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/09/comma-dash.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-2868835982589772857Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:01:00 +00002008-09-07T21:15:50.878+01:00ethel's hiding placeeucalyptusstrawberry runnersAbout a year ago I had a post entitled ' Time to build an ark' so I can't use that one again, but it would be apt today when I really have trouble believing the sky can actually hold that much water. So, based on a comment one of my allotment neighbours made the other day, I'll use a Noah's ark reference instead. Luckily, the garden is located on a hill and not too near a river, so a boat is not http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/09/plants-are-in-two-by-two.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8410920033828003495Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:04:00 +00002008-08-25T19:42:30.917+01:00sunflowerWhenever I'm feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work (usually weeding) that needs my immediate attention, there's always something wonderful that pops up and reminds me to take a few minutes to actually enjoy the garden rather than just work in it. This lovely sunflower (above) was one such timely reminder, one of about half a dozen planted by the Greenfingers Club way back in early summer.I http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/08/ray-of-sunshine.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5299991131970194024Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:29:00 +00002008-08-07T15:23:32.776+01:00aubergine flowerslettuce flowerred tomatoesyellow submarine tomatoesI'm not feeling very talkative today so I'll wait for another time when the muse takes me and leave pictures to speak for me instead. The lovely blue flower above shows that sometimes it's actually beneficial to be a little tardy and leave your lettuces to go to seed if this is the result.I'm growing heritage varieties against non-heritage yellow tomatoes as part of a Garden Organic trial this http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/08/free-flowering.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5248959686080124676Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:42:00 +00002008-08-02T12:56:28.936+01:00I came out of the polytunnel today to find the chickens had disappeared (if I'm around they tend to roam around the allotment as well, picking off the bugs and nibbling the odd plant). It only took a few minutes to track them down - in the compost bin, happily scratching around and balancing on the edges rather precariously. They seemed a bit subdued yesterday night and off their food (I still http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/08/chickens-into-composting.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-49297541408106957Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:49:00 +00002008-07-26T15:14:50.042+01:00courgettespoppystrawberriesThis is a random poppy left over from the Greenfinger Club's mini wildflower patch, which suffered a little last year when it was dug over too soon by an over-enthusiastic volunteer. But, undeterred, a few flowers have come back this year, with this beautiful poppy being the best example to date. It's been, amazingly, a little too hot to do much on the allotment lately, although before the http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/07/poppy-day.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-3462656143327125055Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:12:00 +00002008-07-11T19:34:21.272+01:00Peas lettuce and runner beansI'm sure I'm not alone in being fed up with the unseasonal amount of rainfall we've being having over the past few weeks. On the plus side, I have two overflowing water butts, but the poor waterlogged plants need a little less of the wet stuff and a lot more warming sun's rays instead.Strawberries which were oozing with flavour a little while back are now decidedly watery (they actually taste http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/07/raindrops-keep-falling-on-my-head.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-307383347023661925Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:17:00 +00002008-06-27T17:56:13.332+01:00eggsleeping henviews of allotmentA very exciting day today on the allotment as Ethel laid her first egg - not her first ever, obviously, as even I, who fainted in any science lesson which dealt with reproduction, know that the egg comes before the chicken - but this was her first in my incapable hands.I was very pleased that I'd worked out her constantly clucking, worrying and weird 'looking at walls' behaviour meant she was http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/ethels-first-egg.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5373302259098406404Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:05:00 +00002008-06-21T18:16:52.942+01:00attaching the chicken wirefree range chicksFar from being a balmy June here in the North East, it's a blinkin' cold one: last check on the barometer read a measly 9.4 degrees...and to add to the joy, it's tipping down, and has been pretty much solidly for about the last seven hours.So, what's a girl to do but tidy up in the polytunnel? The sweet peas are now in a container (not going to risk them outside, they'd probably curl up and die) http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/bird-on-wire.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-139736962243048137Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:58:00 +00002008-06-15T21:34:15.759+01:00new hen houseThe chickens now have a new, spacious home - complete with a rather fetching perch. Now the hard work has begun making the permanent pen (they're in a temporary one attached to the hen house for the time being).It's getting a bit chilly out now, but it's my favourite time to be on the allotment; just before the sun sets the light is beautiful, the birds are singing and somehow a rosy glow http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/theres-no-place-like-home.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-3666089225076101863Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:04:00 +00002008-06-06T13:21:02.792+01:00Charlotte new potatoesIf the garden was a house for sale at the moment, it would be described as 'having great potential' due to the fact that it needs so much work. Some warm weather and a good dash of rain have proved the perfect recipe for a weed invasion, and they're taking over the paths and the beds. Me and the chickens are both doing our best to keep on top of them, but they just keep coming....The potatoes arehttp://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/06/garden-for-sale-with-great-potential.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-4856357939274109283Thu, 29 May 2008 21:59:00 +00002008-05-29T23:19:32.480+01:00living saladsshed floor in progressThe shed we 'rescued' from down the street many months back has been sitting, neglected once again, in the corner of the allotment waiting to be transformed into a chicken shed. There are always so many other more pressing things to do (like planting and weeding) that it has been put on the back burner. But with the chicks getting bigger by the day, they'll soon need a bigger night-time hideaway http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/secret-world-of-sheds.html1noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8175035161708017099Fri, 23 May 2008 17:23:00 +00002008-05-27T20:11:00.937+01:00growing hopsthree week old chicksSome visitors to the site have asked for a bit more information about how to grow hops, and although I'm by no means an expert, I'll attempt to share what I've learned so far.To begin with, a strong structure which they can climb up is essential. It doesn't have to be huge pole and wire systems as seen in Kent's fields: I've got poles about 12ft high, (mine are dwarf hops which will rarely go http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/willing-weeeder.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-1821850847993657849Fri, 09 May 2008 17:06:00 +00002008-05-11T12:40:34.667+01:00five day old chicksI never really understood why the term 'chicken brain' was a derogatory one until now: these new additions to the allotment are really not the brightest light bulbs in the box, it must be said. I turn my back for a moment and find that the foster mum hen has managed to bury both the food bowl (and then looks around frantically trying to work out what just happened) and tip the water container http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/hippy-chicks.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-5739882474279949886Sun, 04 May 2008 16:16:00 +00002008-05-04T19:01:57.539+01:00BBC crew setting upMe and Mark Denton from the BBC (courtesy Hugh Kelly)Just a quick update today to say about the BBC Politics Show descending on the allotment, which, as is the way with the small screen, involved a lot of preparation for about four minutes' worth of viewing!The BBC team were really friendly and no trouble at all, and the big satellite truck with its huge terrestrial mast soon got the neighbours talking. Hopefully, the volunteers will be flocking inhttp://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/politics-comes-to-plot.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-377888975495528840Fri, 02 May 2008 19:55:00 +00002008-05-02T21:22:32.743+01:00apple blossomblackcurrant bushtulipWith a distinctly warmer feel to the air, it's tempting to 'cast a clout' as the old English saying goes, but I think it may be a little premature, as the 'May' in this phrase refers to the blossom on the hawthorn, which isn't in evidence yet. Clout, I've just discovered, is an old term for clothes, but even so I have always known it means to not throw your winter woolies to the back of the http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/05/time-to-cast-clout.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-8781505195368514804Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:02:00 +00002008-04-26T18:21:44.137+01:00willow weave fence in progressI like learning new skills, despite the fact that it often takes a while for my co-ordination skills to catch up with my brain, as was the case with yesterday's new challenge: creating a non-living willow weave fence. The premise was simple enough - twist two pieces of willow around each other, up then under, around each upright post. It was just that I couldn't quite 'see' it for some time. But http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/04/working-with-willow.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015826609974568489.post-7218792773504236463Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:14:00 +00002008-04-21T22:29:01.499+01:00flowering rhubarbI've grown rhubarb in my garden for many years, but never seen anything like this, which has recently appeared on the Victoria and Champagne varieties in the garden. Seems like they've decided, at a pretty young age and strange time of year, to flower and set seed. Takes all sorts I guess.Friday was another damp and miserable day weather-wise, so it was a case of braving out the elements in the http://thehopgarden.blogspot.com/2008/04/random-rhubarb-moments.html0noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Cossom)