Autumn Digging with my Autospade

Autumn Digging my Allotment with the Wolf / Terrex Auto Spade.

This is a genuine original Wolf/Terrex Autospade. that I have had for some years now. A newer version is once again available under the name "Backsaver Spade" Available from http://www.backsavergardentools.co.uk/  It really does take the backache out of autumn digging. It was invented by a guy who lost a leg during World War II who wanted to continue to garden.


The spring action of this spade removes the need to bend and twist. Simply push the spade in the ground and pull back on the handle the soil id flicked into the air and inverted. Once you get a rhythm going you can quickly zip a long a row. 

I'm well ahead this year on my plot preparation as this spade lets me do more than when I use an ordinary spade. That plus no aching limbs requiring a hot bath and a dose of anti-inflammatory medication

Another Barrow Load of Goodies

Saving Seed for Next Year

Christmas Potatoes

Its been a couple of weeks since I planted some held back seed potatoes for a Christmas crop and they have just began to show through. Since then I have found some old shop bought new potatoes which have started to chit so I'm going to put them in as well as a back-up.

Two rows of Garlic

No sooner have the spuds gone and the garlic goes in.

I don't know what success I will have this is just ordinary shop bought Garlic

Last of the Potatoes

The last of the spuds were lifted today. Here they are trying off in the sun.

Late Potatoes for Christmas

You can get special seed potatoes from most seed suppliers or you keep back a few main crop like I have. done here

The Harvest Continues

Longest Runner Bean

I'm going to enter the longest Runner Bean class this year, so how's my prize winning bean doing?

Onions

A bare plot now all the onions have been lifted while there drying off in the greenhouse just 4 remain for next years seed.

Once the flowers have been pollinated I will place a brown paper bag over the heads to catch the seed for next year.

  

Butternut Squash

Now there going they are growing at a fantastic rate.

Butternut Squash!

Suddenly the Butternut Squash make an appearance. Lots of little green butternuts everywhere

Broad Bean Harvest

This little haul yielded 2.6Kg of beans which are now in the freezer.
What to do with all those pods, is there anything more creative than composting?

More Spuds !

Another 60Kgs lifted this weekend.

Sorry no pictures but one sack of spuds looks like any other

Potatoe Harvest

A good yield per plant

A bucket full drying in the sun

A total haul of 35Kg! from just one and a half rows

At Sainsbury's prices that sack would have cost between £40 - £50 

not a bad ROI for a £3 investment.

Black Fly !!!

Spotted Black Fly one the Broad Beans this morning.

Hopefully picking the tops out will sort it out

Its all growing well following the rain.

Potatoes

 

 

Peas

Rain Gauge

I have installed a simple rain gauge on the plot made from a funnel, an old soft drink bottle and a couple of plant pots.The plant pots from a sleeve and hold the funnel in place. Knowing the diameter of the funnel the volume of 1mm of water can be calculated. This value is then used to determine the rainfall from the measuring cylinder values obtained.

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Mulching

This weekend with help from Rob & Izi I got the bark chippings down round the fruit trees and the poly tunnel

Chillies & Tomatoes

A Video Update

Main Crop Potatoes Are Showing Through

But you can be forgiven for missing them for the weeds!

So today's job is to carefully pull out the weeds and "Earth them up"

That's looking better

First Crop of Peas are ready

My mate Catweazle is a man of few words

Onion Patch Weeded

Planting the Sprouts Out

The Broad Beans Are Doing Well

FROST!!!

We had a frost last night.
Lost two cucumber plants in the Polly Tunnel and at least two rows of first early potatoes.

Preparation of the Brasica Cage

Irrigation and weed control fabric

Poles go on the Bean Frame

Polly Tunnel - Plants go in

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Chillies & Peppers

Main Crop Potatoes Go In

3 rows of Desiree and 3 Rows of King Edwards

Carrots

To try and combat the dreaded Carrot White Fly I am growing my carrots 1m above ground. The theory being that is above the White Fly's ceiling.

Oh Boy has it been a tad warm !

So warm in fact that an urgent modification was needed to the Polly Tunnel.

A window has now been added made from a pair of old kitchen cabinet doors.

Onions & Leeks

Another to rows of onions and a row of leeks go in.

Time For The Second Earlies To Go In

I was one or two seed potatoes short for the last row so I cut a couple in half that had chits at either end,