The allotment - mid May

A quick visit to the allotment today to pick asparagus.  The asparagus bed needs weeding next time, but today was more of a day for picking and wandering around looking at what's happening.  

Here's another bit that desperately needs tackling - the rhubarb patch behind the shed.  The poor rhubarb doesn't stand a chance amongst the grass and weeds.  I think I'll have to dig it up and keep it in a pot for a bit while I sort out the mess.  But it's feeling like it might be a biggish job, so I'm thinking I'll have to put it off for a bit.

Round the front of the shed the artichokes are flourishing.  I even found a couple of buds to harvest.

I love the colours, and as luck would have it they perfectly match the asparagus.  This is a variety called Gros Vert de Laon that I grew from seed a couple of years ago.  Apparently it has the biggest heart of any artichoke.

The last of the apple blossom.

And a rather lonely plumlet.

This is on a tiny little tree that I planted last year after it had a very rough start in life due to small boys and footballs.  It had hardly any blossom this year, but it does have quite a lot of foliage.  So I think this year it's having a rest from trying to produce fruit and it's going to concentrate on getting bigger and stronger, which is fine with me.

In the handful of days since I last visited the potatoes have burst forth.  Quite amazing how fast they grow.  The planting looks quite close together and a little haphazard.  It was done by the little people and there was a slightly edgy competitive element going on at the time.  But I'm happy to have them helping, whatever the result.

The onions are also looking quite close together.  Hopefully they won't mind too much, it's not as though they have masses of foliage.

Little radishes, one of my favourite things to grow early in the season.  And probably the first thing I ever grew as a child.  The boys have planted some as well, they're quite satisfying for little people to grow - nice and fast and easy.

The gooseberries are scaring me a little.  Two vast bushes, already covered with decent sized berries.  I haven't finished up last year's lot yet, there are still some in the freezer.  Anyone got any good gooseberry recipes?  I have one for fool, but I'm wondering if I could make Eton mess with gooseberries cooked with elderflower.  It might be quite delicious.

A final look down the plot as I headed for home.  Don't worry, I did remember to shut the shed door.  There's been another spate of shed break-ins lately, as well as some vandalism.  The brown shed to the right of mine in the picture has been broken into repeatedly.  And the shed behind where I'm stood taking the photo as well.  And the one just out of shot over to the left.  I think I'm spared because I don't have a window or a conventional shed padlock.  My corrugated shed has an ordinary door handle and is quite a tough structure.  Although I shouldn't speak too soon.

The edges are a bit of a shocker aren't they.  I'll add it to my to-do list.

On my way back across the site I passed so many amazing plots.  I really must go back with my camera and take some pictures of them, they deserve to be seen!  There have certainly been some serious hours put in to get them in such beautiful shape.

If you're a gardener, how are things growing for you right now?  What have you dared to plant out so far?  Wishing you some good gardening weather, CJ xx