Feb
2015
Spring, is that you?!
What a complete and utterly glorious day it’s been today! The sun has been shining, the birds are singing and theres not a gust of wind or signs of rain in the air, Springtime is just around the corner and I cannot wait!
It is however, still too early to sow any seeds and I’m being patient and not risking it, there’s nothing worse then sowing seeds for them to only be destroyed by cold weather a few weeks down the line. Instead there’s a few jobs that need to be done so off I went nice and early to spend the day up the allotment in the sunshine. I miss this place terribly during the working week and especially in the Winter when evening visits are out of the question. I long for Summer days when I can relax outside the shed, surrounded by flowers, butterflies, bees and eat raspberries straight from the canes.
That is all to come though and right now my mind is set on sorting out the fruit cage, ideally I would like it netted and secure before the bushes start producing so I can actually enjoy my homegrown berries this year! It is only the bushes 2nd and 3rd years so I’m not expecting a lot, but last year the cage was unprotected and the birds beat me to it, let’s just say I was not at all happy.
The first job on the list was to sort the ground out. Now I’ve always liked the idea of having a layer of bark on the ground of the fruit cage; one, it would make my life a lot easier because I wouldn’t have to weed, and two, did I mention I wouldn’t have to weed? Ok I admit I’m a tad lazy! However, fate intervened when my Dad decided to prune some large trees in the back garden, he brought a second hand shredder and then all of a sudden we were inundated with tubs of shredded, bark sized brances. So today I find myself on hands and knees, carefully rolling out weed control fabric around the fruit bushes and securing it into the soil with pegs.
I managed to take 5 tubs of bark up to the allotment and it covered roughly about 1/4 of the cage, there’s still a huge mountain of branches to shread at home so it’s going to be a busy few days but so far I’m rather pleased with how it looks. I’ve left around 8 inches of fabric around the edges so it can be attached to the planks of wood that I’m planning on putting around the edge of the cage. The netting will also be attached to the wooden edge and a stronger net will be attached to the roof (which needs to be made higher so I can actually stand up in it!) I also mulched the 4 blackcurrants and 2 gooseberry bushes with a layer of well rotted manure and the next job will be to prune the older bushes. Once the cage is complete then hopefully the fruit can just do it’s thing, with the exception of harvesting and pruning, and I’m hoping all the hard work pays off with buckets full of berries 
I also took advantage of driving the car up to drop off my new vintage trestle table. I’m planning on using it in future cooking videos aswell as for picnics and BBQ’s on the plot. The legs fold up for easy storage and so far it’s been very useful for potting on snow drops and for planning out the plot on. Now all I need is a bigger plot and then I can invite you all round for a picnic! x
Ciara
February 8, 2015 at 6:45 pm (3 weeks ago)Oh lovely a BBQ at 15c!!!! I do a mean courgette and chilli salad
Katie
February 8, 2015 at 11:32 pm (3 weeks ago)Haha! I would love to have an open day/BBQ but my plot is just so tiny
Ciara
February 9, 2015 at 8:20 pm (2 weeks ago)Never mind, keep the videos coming as they are a total pleasure. I am hoping to get the hazel poles next week, (when the chap gets around to cutting them) so I will send you a picture of my attempt of your hazel arch! Cannot wait to have the munchkins grown up them. And I am going to try cucamelons too!
Katie
February 16, 2015 at 9:51 am (2 weeks ago)Oh I can’t wait to see the photos! You’ll have so much fun building it I’m sure. I really want to me make some small hazel fences to go between my veg beds.
Oh Cucamelons do sound great, do you grow them in a greenhouse?
Claire Tasker
February 8, 2015 at 7:01 pm (3 weeks ago)Katie, just started following your blog, had an allotment for over 6 years with my sister in law. Really loving seeing you setting out on your new venture, esp. like the bike trailer…….been hunting for one! Keep up the good work
Katie
February 8, 2015 at 11:31 pm (3 weeks ago)Hello and welcome! I was lucky enoughto find that trailer at a market and I couldn’t resist it. It needed a bit of work but I do love it and it’s extremely handy. You can buy new trailers though so thats worth checking out
Lisa
February 8, 2015 at 7:04 pm (3 weeks ago)Sounds as though you’ve had a very productive day Katie. Great idea to use weed control fabric and bark mulch around the fruit bushes-I hated weeding around mine last year. I used weed control fabric for lots of the beds (beabs, onions, sprouts) and it was a great help but I hadn’t thought about it for the fruit - that’ll be next weekends job! Thanks for the idea. x
Katie
February 8, 2015 at 11:30 pm (3 weeks ago)I honestly don’t mind weeding but I just keep finding jobs to do and the weeding always gets pushed to the back of the list. I tend to just forget about the fruit bushes too because they aren’t as high maintenance as annual vegetables. I’ve never used weed control fabric before but seen it used on my site, if it makes my life easier then I’m in!
No problem x
Karen W
February 8, 2015 at 7:23 pm (3 weeks ago)Just wondering how you get in the fruit cage. Do you just leave an overlap in the netting to slip through or do you build some sort of door? I was describing the fruit cage to my husband, and he wondered. We have been trying to figure out a way to not have to share all of our blueberries with the birds and this looks like a great prospect.
Katie
February 8, 2015 at 11:28 pm (3 weeks ago)Ah yes I forgot to mention the door! We will be making a door to go on the side of the cage just to make it easier to get in and out, which would be handy wouldn’t it
Those pesky birds ate all my berries last year too, good luck and I hope you get to eat some of your berries this year too
Penny
February 8, 2015 at 11:12 pm (3 weeks ago)You certainly put in the hours!!! When is the next video cannot wait !!!!!
Katie
February 8, 2015 at 11:26 pm (3 weeks ago)I just love being there, plus I have no life!
We are filming a video during the week so if it all goes well then it will be uploaded by the weekend. But there are big plans which I will reveal soon!
lance
February 9, 2015 at 5:40 pm (2 weeks ago)So, you are “plotting” a picnic, eh? (Ugh! I know!!)
Love your mild weather and slanting sunlight. If I am reborn, I think that southern England would be just right.
By the way, you are doing a wonderful job.
Katie
February 16, 2015 at 9:47 am (2 weeks ago)Haha yes!
I’m loving the mild weather too, it seems like Spring is just around the corner and I can’t wait!
Thank you so much Lance
Cyrene
February 9, 2015 at 6:49 pm (2 weeks ago)Well done Katie, but my advice to you is not to rush things; let nature takes its own course. Before I quit the city life and become a farmer, I used to hate winter and yearn for spring, summer and the heat, but now I don’t because I know each season is very important for mother nature and us too.
In no time Spring will be here and the good fun will start. My dad (bless his soul) used to say 28 of Feb is the first day of Spring, because it is my birthday And I always think of it as that.
Katie
February 16, 2015 at 9:50 am (2 weeks ago)I do agree, and even though I moan about Winter it sure does have it’s own unique beauties that no other month can offer and we have to appreciate that right? But as a gardener I am yearning for life on the allotment
I guess Winter time is supposed to be a relaxing period for gardeners but for some reason I am one of those people that has to be doing something.
Oh Happy Birthday for the 28th of February! What a lovely way to think of Spring
anne
February 15, 2015 at 4:47 pm (2 weeks ago)Hi, Katie,
I so enjoy seeing your photos on Instagram and thought I’d drop by your blog. I’m envious of your pottering in your garden… I won’t be able to for a while because mine is covered in snow! I know, spring will be here soon for both of us, but it’s hard to be patient.
Here’s to spring thoughts!
Katie
February 16, 2015 at 9:55 am (2 weeks ago)Hello Anne and thank you so much (by the way your drawings are always so beautiful!)
Oh dear, snow? We had a little dusting by that was nothing compared to what you are getting I’m sure
It is very hard to be patient isn’t it? I’m longing for Summer now but having to do with looking back at photos from last year.
I hope your snow clears soon
x