Friday 29 November 2019

December 2019


Links to Mr. Middleton's tasks 1st (please note that I have not updated all these tasks at present) :


December 1st Week
December 2nd Week
December 3rd Week
December 4th Week
December 5th Week

In the news 80 years ago. Snippets from January 1st 1940:



Saturday 2 November 2019

November 2019

Below are the links to Mr Middleton tasks from his 1945 book:

November 1st week
November 2nd week
November 3rd week
November 4th week

Link to the November1945 Allotment & Garden Guide:

Allotment & Garden Guide NOVEMBER


2019 On The Allotment

 2019 has been a good year for apples, in fact, I have an abundance. I am still harvesting apples and sorting out the best to store for use over winter and next spring. Beside making apple pies and crumbles for family members I've been using them imaginatively in the kitchen. On November 1st I sliced some and added to a stir fry along with the stalks of Swiss chard leaves finely sliced, tonight (2nd Nov.) I've added some along with sliced Swiss chard to a curry. The raspberries that I'm still harvesting have been put in the freezer for jam making at a later date.

Sunday 6 October 2019

October 2019

Links to Mr. Middleton's tasks 1st (please note that I have not updated all these tasks at present) :

October 1st Week
October 2nd Week
October 3rd Week
October 4th Week

The first week of October, following on Mr Middleton's weeks, ended on the 12th in 2019.
I only managed to visit the allotment on Saturday this week due to work and other commitments along with the heavy rains we've had this week.

Friday 13 September 2019

Thursday 9 May 2019

May 2019

Links to Mr. Middleton's weekly tasks first:
May 1st Week
May 2nd Week
May 3rd Week
May 4th Week

Things I did in this month last year can be found here:
May 2018

Sunday 7 April 2019

April 2019

Links to Mr. Middleton's tasks 1st (please note that I have not updated all these tasks at present) :


April 1st Week
April 2nd Week
April 3rd Week
April 4th Week

Sunday 3 March 2019

Leek & Potato Soup Recipe

3rd March 2019, I still have leeks to harvest on the allotment and as I am clearing the beds ready for this year's growing I'm unearthing unexpected potatoes. The temperature is cold, wet and windy outside and so I decided to make some soup.
Ingredients :
1 tbsp vegetable oil.
1 medium sized onion finely chopped
450g of potato, peeled, washed and finely grated
450g of leeks, trimmed and washed, finely sliced
1200 ml of vegetable stock,
Salt and pepper for seasoning.

Method.
The vegetable oil was heated in a pan before adding the onion. The heat was reduced and pan lid applied for a minute or two whilst the onion softened without browning.
The veg stock was then added along with the leek and potato. The heat was increased to bring the pan to the boil. Once boiling the heat was reduced to simmer for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes of simmering the pan was removed from the heat. Salt & pepper was added to taste before using a stick blender to transform the mixture into a smooth creamy soup ready to serve.

It will keep for several days if refrigerated once cool.
 

March 2019



Links to Mr. Middleton's tasks 1st (please note that I have not updated all these tasks at present) :

March 1st Week
March 2nd Week
March 3rd Week
March 4th Week
March 5th Week

Friday 8 February 2019

February 2019

Welcome to February, we've had snow, plenty of frosts, ice, rain & strong winds. The first week in February, if following Mr Middleton's plans, begins on the 3rd in 2019 and in preparation on the 2nd I sorted through my collection of seeds and made a list of all those that I can sow this month. I will need to manage to sow 30 different varieties a week to get through all of these. I'm hoping too reduce my seed collection considerably this year and only replenish with those that I truly need and like.



Links to Mr. Middleton's tasks 1st (please note that I have not updated all these tasks at present) :

February 1st Week
February 2nd Week
February 3rd Week
February 4th Week

Wednesday 2 January 2019

January 2019

January 2019 Happy New Year.

New Year's Day falls in the 5th week of December in Mr Middleton's 1945 book. Below is an excerpt of Mr Middleton's New Year musing back in 1935 :
I

The last visit to the allotment for 2018 and Broad beans (Luz de Otono) still growing well. Kales, oca, Jerusalem and Chinese artichokes along with Swiss chard ready to harvest now. I began weeding. Did some tidying in the fruit cage and began tidying up the apple tree prunings putting aside any suitable to be used instead of canes. In the backyard, at home, I have parsley, bay, basil mint, wild garlic and more Chinese artichokes ready to harvest. Before New Year I finally got around to putting the remainder of my Red Duke and Provence Wight garlic into cells in the greenhouse. Also sown were sweet peas, there were 8 varieties in that batch.(Royals: Crimson, White, Maroon and Blue. Rose Pink, Scented Mix, Striped Mix & Dwarf Bijou Mix.). 
Back now to 2019, January 1st and I managed to do small sowing of the following: Common Cress, Garden Cress, Mizuna, Basil (Sweet Green), Dill, Onion (Mammoth Improved), "Continental" Salad ( Romaine, Frisee, Lollo Rossa & Lambs Lettuce), "Speedy Mix" Salad (Rocket (Victoria), Greek Cress, Mizuna, Mustard Green & Red Frills, Pak Choi Canton White) and finally Triumphator Lettuce.


Links to Mr. Middleton's tasks 1st (please note that I have not updated all these tasks at present) :

December 5th Week
January 1st Week
January 2nd Week
January 3rd Week
January 4th Week

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