Katrina’s Allotment Diary
January is the perfect time for planning your allotment garden but It’s also a time to go crazy at the sales! I’ve been shopping like mad, grabbing as many plant bulbs as I could, tools and things I didn’t realise I needed, before waddling to the till trying not to drop anything. In my first EVER vlog, I share all the garden goodies that I bought from Homebase and B&Q in the sales!
Happy New Year! I’m going into 2018 with a list of personal allotment resolutions – eek! Let me make it clear that resolutions aren’t normally my thing. To be honest, I don’t see the point in striving for unrealistic personal goals, putting pressure on yourself to live a certain way, only to forget all about the #NEWYEARNEWME by the 4th January *rolls eyes*. It just isn’t me. With all that said, I was reflecting on my allotment progress and realised how I could make things better for myself, my land and hopefully for others too. Some of my resolutions I have started already, because they aren’t just for a new year remember! It’s never a bad time to make a few changes to your lifestyle or future plans.
Continue reading “2018 Allotment Resolutions”
Saving seed has become an important part of my allotment practises this year and I’ve come to realise that It’s something everyone should be doing! Not only are seeds themselves such beautiful things to study close up, but the more you grow and preserve your seed, you are in turn developing the variety to become better adapted to your growing in your soil and micro-climate conditions. Here are my 5 reasons why you should save your seed! Continue reading “5 Reasons Why You Should Save Your Seed”
I don’t know about you but autumn is the time of year when I am most excited to be in the kitchen! I think it’s just when the weather begins to turn frosty and the leaves outside crispen and curl that I particularly enjoy cooking the hearty, comfort foods that we all love to indulge in. So what a better way to celebrate the colour and taste of autumn than with this delicious seasonal dish using homegrown butternut squash? Continue reading “Butternut Squash and Chorizo Macaroni Cheese”
Following on from my recent TOP 7 Successes of 2017 post, it only seemed fair to share my failures too. I have to say that 2017 was overall a very good year on the allotment but some crops didn’t perform as well as I hoped. Continue reading “TOP 4 Failures of 2017”
I’m joining Annabelle’s (from Life at No.27) mission to reveal #myrealview on my plot because my allotment isn’t all as it might seem! Continue reading “#MyRealView”
Overall, 2017 has been a great year for growing and experimenting. I tried new methods to increase plant production, prevent diseases and I also got creative in the kitchen using the glut of the harvests to make new recipes including cakes, cider, chutneys, jams, indian snacks and desserts! Take a look at my top 7 successes for 2017 and be sure to let me know in the comments what your biggest success was for the year. Continue reading “TOP 7 Successes of 2017”
Well, what can I say? It’s been an amazing year for the squash! In fact, it’s actually my first successful attempt at growing squash and now I’m overrun with them! Continue reading “Oh My Squash!”
Happy Apple Day! Since today is the day that we, in the UK, celebrate the versatile fruit we all love eat, drink and grow, I thought I would share my home-brewing cider process so far. Continue reading “How I Made Home Brewed Cider Part 1”
I can’t believe it’s September already and the growing season has almost come to an end! I thought I would do one last tour of the polytunnel (below) to show how the plants have progressed with their new support and water systems in place.
Continue reading “September Polytunnel Video Tour”
Homegrown Garden 