Things at the plot are pretty full on right now, getting the ground ready, sowing seeds and potting on seedlings. So, when we got rained off today I thought i'd use the time to bottle last years blackberry wine which had been sitting out in the cellar awaiting my attention since christmas.
It took forever to clean and sterilise the bottles.
Before bottling, I thought I'd check the alchohol content using an online conversion tool and it worked out at roughly 14%, a wee bit high but it tasted really good. Stupidly however, I poured the wine from the DJ into the beaker for testing instead of using the syphon, resulting in the sediment at the bottom mixing though the rest of the wine.
So I only managed to bottle two of the DJs and have left the third to settle again.
I held off labeling them as I was tempted to buy nice ones rather than using the ones from the stationary cupboard. I'll need to check prices and have a think about it.
We went to Ireland at the begining of the month to see our first Grandchild, three week old Sarah. When we got home, Tommy took ill and ended up in Hospital, looks like he will have to go back in early next week again as things are not getting better.
Things at the plot are getting there and I have 5 drills of potatoes in and one more left to dig but with Tommy out of action i'm likely to fall behind any time soon.
I was really humbled by two of my plot neighbours today who have offered to help me rebuild my blown off greenhouse roof, this Sunday, I thought people like these were long gone, it's been so long since i've come across any. Another plot neighbour invited us along to his today for a BBQ, it was fantastic and certainly beat the turkey sandwiches we took with us :)
Hopefully i'll be back with some pictures soon.
The Glasgow potato day was fantastic. I love the idea of being able to buy just a couple of tubers of lots of different varieties to try them out and see what works best for me.
The only variety they didn't have that I want is Epicure but luckily one of my plot neighbours has kindly offered to pick me some up when he visits his supplier.
Here's what I bought...
First Earlies
Lady Christl
Arran Pilot
Red Duke of York
Second Earlies
Nadine
Nicola
Main Crop
Orla (early maincrop)
Sarpo Mira
Pink Fir Apple,
Along with these, I have the two varieties that I grew from true potato seed last year, looking forward to see what I get from those.
On the way home from the Potato day we decided to take a detour and had lunch up on the Campsie Fells, it was bliss.
Oh, and I have to just mention the amazing home baking that was on offer today, what a spread. Well done to all.
We had planned to spend the full day at the plot today, the forecast was good, dry all day until around 5pm.
It rained the whole day and dark overcast skies loomed above us as we laid cardboard in the tree bed.
The plan is to cover the cardboard with chipped bark when it next gets delivered, saving some money on weed matting, whether this will work or not, i'm not sure. Hopefully gives us time to save a bit more to get the right stuff.
By 2pm I was soaked through and frozen to the bone so we abandoned planting the remaining fruit bushes (poor things are sprouting in the packaging) Wednesday is forecast to be the next dry day so fingers crossed (or sooked and stuck in the air)
Glasgow will be having it's first ever Potato Day this year.
The event will take place at the Pearce Institute, Govan on 26th Feb 2012, 11am - 3pm.
One of the lemongrass stalks rooted really well, the other however has done nothing so far but i'll leave it in water and see what happens.
The rooted lemongrass potted up...
The sweet potato is coming along slowly, it has a few nice roots and the top of the potato is becoming a bit knobbly and rough looking, I hope that means there may be some slips soon.
The parsley done really well over the winter and I mostly picked it and used it fresh. Last time I was at the allotment I cut the rest of it down and will let it come back and go to seed, for saving, this year. I've never seen parsley in flower so i'm looking forward to that.
I dried the leaves that I'd harvested in a low oven and got two big jars from it.
