I got the garden to the left of mine (pictured above). I just have to wait for it to be cultivated and then I can have it. Planned for that side are potatoes, leeks, and parsnips.

The pea plants are climbing their netting. The carrots are coming up, as are the onions and garlic.

At home I transplanted 6 each of Gem Squash (Rolet) and Butternut F1 to their own little containers. These were sown on 11 March and finally germinated late last week.

I've also transplanted the cherry tomatoes that were sown on 3 March and 11 March into their own pots. The whole living room windowsill is full of little plant pots. I hope no-one thinks I have a hash plantation!

Outside I have lettuce ready to go directly into the beds, and peas germinating slowly.

Last week Wednesday, the 28th, I planted more carrots, peas, and lettuce directly in the beds. In the bed next to them I planted alternate rows of spinach and garlic.

One of the raspberry plants I bought appears to be dead. I've trimmed down the stem and will wait a bit to see if anything comes up from the bottom. Hopefully it will.

The blackberries are sprouting furiously. The plum tree is in blossom and the herbs under the plum tree have been joined by a bay plant, two more rosemarys and a lavender bush.

The rosemary bushes that I took from home to be planted at the garden are looking a bit sad - one lost all it's needles and I've cut it down to see if it will resprout. The other seems ok, but it's yellowing. No idea what is wrong with them as they've been standing around here on the balcony for three years. Maybe it was too much of a shock for them to be transplanted..

The rhubarb is growing rapidly and the strawberries are sprouting. The last week we've had very warm dry weather so I have had to visit every day to water the garden.

Alas, there are only a very few of the bean plants still standing. I think the wind and the doves between them put an end to the beans. Never mind, I can always plant some more.

Yesterday while I was there I made a compost heap with chicken wire and bamboo. It looks pretty good for something made by someone with absolutely no idea! Photo coming soon.

Sunday the 25th

_{More tulips from 2006}

Today we were at the garden. We planted 100 onions (Sturon), one head of garlic (Prinator), 100 shallots (Red Sun), 18 dwarf beans, (Borlotto and Contender), and one rhubarb plant.

Yesterday we planted 12 each of Kelvedon and First Early May peas, and 12 strawberry plants.

The carrots that I planted two weeks ago have done absolutely nothing, even under thermal fleece, so I'm going to buy more seed and try again.

The blackberries are budding, the plum tree is blossoming, and I found out we have an extra bit to our garden containing black and redcurrant bushes.

Tomorrow I will continue digging, plant some flowers and cover the beds with mulch. 16C forecast for tomorrow! Spring is here!

Ponies at the Volkstuin

Today we were at the volkstuin.

Big big news! The ponies were in the meadow!

As you can imagine, the kids were overjoyed, but disappointed that the ponies came to me when I clicked my tongue to call them, but wouldn't come for them. The ponies (and the kids) have spring fever, galloping around the paddock full of youth and springiness. I think the ponies were after sowing some wild oats ...

The Husband did lots of handiwork. Amazing what a few minutes of ...errr...showering together... can achieve. Here he is surveying his handiwork.

Here's a photo of my tiny pea plants! Varieties Kelvedon Wonder and First Early May. I am so excited.

I am even more excited about the slight green spot I spied in the tomato tray. I yelped with glee and The Husband came running. He thought I had injured myself.

Happens so rarely you see... yelps of glee and all that... ahem.

Maybe this spring weather has gotten to me too?

My green thumbs are about to get a workout

Yesterday I went to the volkstuin (community garden or allotment for English speakers) and finalised the deal with the head of the association.

I am now the proud lessee of 50 m2 of very muddy tilled land which currently houses a plum tree and some blackberry canes.

You can see some pictures I took at the allotment today over here, including a beautiful photograph of a heron in the water.

I also saw a very large rabbit, but he ran off before I could take a photo of him. Hope he doesn't hang around much in the summer or we might have to call in Wallace and Gromit!

The kids were hoping to see the ponies kept in the paddock alongside the allotment, but the ponies were in the stable, out of the rain and snow.

I plan to create raised beds and follow an intensive vegetable growing plan, however, when I took the kids there this afternoon I realised that I may have drastically overestimated the space available. In order to create a balanced little garden I'll just plant less of my chosen varieties of plants.

I've written a list here so that you can try and picture it with me, working clockwise from the plum tree which is on the right hand side of the plot.

Bed #1: Strawberries, onions, garlic, lettuce, celery
Bed #2: Runner beans and peas (on wigwams), sweetpeas, marigold, sunflowers
Bed #3: Pumpkins and squash, corn, nasturtiums
Bed #4: Carrots, chives, rosemary
Bed #5: Tomatoes, parsley, basil, garlic
Bed #6: Peppers, onions, nasturtiums

Each bed will be raised about 20 cm and measure about 1m2. In between the beds will be a narrow pathway of woodchips.

At the back of the plot where it backs onto my neighbour I'll grow lavender bushes as a sort of boundary. I'll be planting thyme, marjoram and lemon balm between the other plants.

In the meantime, I need to buy some seeds and a propagator to start them off inside while the weather is still so cold, and spend my time looking at catalogues like the one from De Wiltfang.

Do you have plans for a summer garden? On your balcony, in your garden, in a community garden? if you're unsure whether to plant or not, go and read about Victory Gardens against global warming, maybe it will inspire you!

Please leave a comment if you have plans and satisfy my eternally nosy side which wants to know what everyone else is doing!

Welcome to my garden

In January 2007 I signed our family up for an allotment, or volkstuin at our local allotment or volkstuinvereniging. The allotment is in Amstelveen, on the Nesserlaan and is part of the moestuin complex called de Nesserlaan Tuinvereniging.

This is a journal of our attempts at growing enough food for a family of four, in a gentle, mostly organic fashion.