A start...

Tunnel vision

I've been wanting to start an 'allotment blog' for a while now, I guess today wasn't really the best day to start it off. Booting down, I hid in the poly tunnel and wished I'd stashed a waterproof outfit in the shed.

Hiding

I guess I need to lay down some initial 'stats' this is my 4th season on my half plot in Manchester. The first season was really just clearing solid couch grass from a few patches and piling it in the centre of the plot. The second season was spent trying to remove the massive pile of couch grass and turf I'd made the first year. I eventually got the area clear, put a shed up (that incidentally had blown onto my patch from an adjacent abandoned plot) I was given a second hand 4x6' greenhouse frame with no glass in it for a couple of seasons; this winter that finally collapsed (probably from the amount of staples and plastic that I'd stuck on it) and so I finally got round to making this poly tunnel.

"Modifications"

I was just so jealous of everyone-else's pristine polythene refuges that I had to have a go at my own.
I got my DIY inspiration from Alans Polytunnel plans Thanks Alan! I'm not really to fond of following tried and tested rules and so I tweaked it for my attention span/lazyness and what I could get my hands on cheaply. Firstly I couldn't get the 50mm water pipe to fit over the scaffolding pipe and so I opted for the cheaper 25mm and put it inside em. I think it was only £22 from a plumbing centre. I fixed it to some wood so that it wouldn't slip down into the tubes, I couldn't face drilling through the scaffolding poles, they were already the bain of my life.
I'd turned up with 8x5' scaffolding tubes and laid them out and lined them up, it was only then that I realised I didn't have a lump hammer. Not being the most patient of people I found a big rock and bludgeoned each of them 2.5' into the dry ground caveman style. Here is a picture of the stone as proof!

Caveman stone

My hands and temper weren't in the best shape after that! But I got it up and skinned it with poly from First Tunnels it was £60 for the dimensions, but they sent so much I could have made it twice as big. My tunnel 'by the way' is roughly 7.5' x 10' and about 7' high.

As you can see from the following picture, it's a touch 'rustic' in symmetry and build quality... but its full of love and anticipation so hopefully they will iron out the lumps.

Streamlining

I sowed it up straight away with Turnips 'Golden Ball', Spinach Teton, Kale and mixed salad. I'm obviously still finding my feet with this as I seem to have planted a little too closely; still, it seems to be flying along!

Tight bed

I also wanted to try some peas 'Greenhurst'; I've never managed to get them past the mice before and yet they seem to be turbo-charged in the tunnel, some Basil coming through too!!

Peas + Basil

Cabbage 'Hispi'. I have some outside in the Brassica cage too, just got over exited and wanted to plant in the tunnel too. Don't think they are too far off...

Hipsi

The tunnel is really all about tomatoes, I also got a little over-eager with these and put them in too early.
The frosts ruined them, I had to remove all burnt leaves until they looked like twigs with a couple of green leaves stuck on the top... They seem to be recovering well and starting to set first flowers. I've got Tigerella, Ailsa Craig, Marmande...

Tomato row

and a bush variety (in pots) that I think is Red Alert, but don't quote me...

Red Alert

Thats it for today, I hope I can keep this up. I used to follow so many allotment blogs, but they always seemed to ebb and flow with enthusiasm and updates. Yet their successes; when everything on my plot was failing kept me exited about the possibilities.
My 100% favorite is Allotment Diary ; non stop inspiration.
I'll show you the rest of the plot when/if this rain stops... Take care

Today's fist-full