Page 42 - ALG Issue 4 2020
P. 42

                                Yorkshire
Yorkshire and parts of Humberside
  Rotherham Ramblings
Three months ago, I was struggling to fit
time on the allotment into my busy schedule. Actually, and more accurately, my busy schedule was not full of activity of my choosing. It was more that I had to fit activity which I thought worthwhile into the activities my other half thought worthwhile, which, obviously, took preference over the activities of my choosing;
I hope this is clear. Let me explain by offering examples of what I mean.
On a Monday morning, after breakfast, I might read the paper and check my emails. Then I could make a few phone calls and reply to said emails. I might then think: “I’ll pop to the plot”, but when this thought is given voice it could be met with: “I thought you might sit with/look after grandson number 2”. In response I might ask why: “he was unwell and is not at school and S (his mum) and I have arranged to...” any of the following (a) shop, (b) hairdressers, (c) collect something, (d) return something. I’m sure you get my drift, so Monday peters out.
Tuesday I might say “anything on the agenda?” This may be met with: “I thought you might
take grandson number 1 to school as number
2 is still unwell.” You are now getting the idea. Wednesday, we pick number 3 up from school and take him to numbers 1 and 2’s house or to meet them at a play centre. I can drop them off, but I have to return in two hours to collect Nana and number 3 and take him home (a one-and-a- half-hour round trip).
I may be given Wednesday off, but receive a phone call at lunch time that we are picking the boys up from school as they asked to come to our place for tea and to play. Thursday might be spent repairing or replacing what they broke on Wednesday due to “burning off frustration and enjoying unrestricted freedom at Nana and Gramps house”.
Friday, we shop and get extras that the boys
so look forward to as well as stuff their mother forgot when she shopped either Monday or Wednesday, or both. I hope you’re following this.
Saturday daddy is home, but his lawn mower, (which we bought to stop him borrowing ours), is broken so would I drop ours off. I do this and fill it with petrol so it, naturally, comes back empty.
I, foolishly, once lent it out empty, but it caused more trouble than it was worth. Then came lockdown!
In some ways I feel a little guilty for telling my wife that Boris’s drip fed loosening of the screws doesn’t apply to us shielders, then I look over the weed-free pristine, “best it’s ever looked” plot and think: “make hay while the sun shines” and make the most of this silver lining.
  The perpetual cauliflowers
Last year I followed my usual practice of starting my seeds off in one of the raised beds in my polytunnel. Amongst the seeds planted were some winter cauliflower, some old seed of my favourite variety ‘Maystar’. I planted most of the plants out in the back end but there was a clump of maybe a dozen seedlings left. I left them in the polytunnel, thinking I may get a couple of early cauliflowers before the ones planted outside developed.
Well, I got a couple of earlies in March from the polytunnel, then the outdoor ones were ready. As I was shielded, my friends kept bringing them round during May and June; they were beautiful specimens, firm and hard, huge and very tasty. They kept bringing them
to my home through July but then in August from the polytunnel, saying they were really growing well in the polytunnel and were amazed by the quality and size. We are in September now and I have just harvested another two large specimens, and there is still
another one developing which should be ready mid-September. Quite amazing as I have already planted out next year’s cauliflowers.
I am, however, devastated to find ‘Maystar’ seed is no longer available. Well, I only hope one of the varieties I have planted this year has the same characteristics.
Phil Gomersall
Victory Garden Allotments, Leeds
  42 Allotment and Leisure Gardener










































































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