Race against time

This being the first full spring when I have had two allotment plots (I took on Plot 21 at the end of March last year but was marathon training and so did nothing until the end of April) I can see better now the differences between the two plots. The first plot which gets sun and wind all day already has warm soil that can be worked. Plot 21 is still cold and wet. No matter, it means I can have a good 3 - 4 weeks at the beginning of spring to get the first plot knocked into shape before starting on Plot 21.

I have been growing loads of stuff at home in seed trays to plant out in the next month or so (mainly tomatoes and half hardy flowers but I also have some of my dahlias starting in pots and there are lots of glads and ranunculus to go out). So now I am in a bit of a panic. I spent a good bit of Sunday and a couple of hours yesterday digging over one bed which is probably about 9ft x 4ft, so not huge. Not only did it take hours but it was tough on my back. The couch grass was never-ending.

One day this will all be compost

The wheelbarrow full of couch pictured here was from an area about 3ft x 4ft and which took about 3 hours to dig over. I have planted out second early potatoes - Charlotte - in this bed so at last I have something in the ground. But digging at this speed means I'm going to have to be at the allotments all day everyday to make room for everything I want to grow. It serves to reiterate the problem I thought I would have in the beginning - the beds are in such a state that I need to be doing more digging than actually growing. Without about 100 sacks of manure I don't see a way round this at the moment. All very frustrating! How I long for the day when I have a beautiful, productive plot!

The lack of organic matter in the soil means that nothing can go to waste on this plot. The couch grass is all going into an old metal water tank, being covered with plastic and an old shed door (to make sure no light gets to it) and then left to die off and compost. It won't be quick but it makes me happy to know that the couch grass will eventually serve some purpose.