🌱 Tony's Allotment Tales 🌱🏴 Israel doesn't do ceasefires
@tonyjw.bsky.social
Radical Allotment Front.
In favour of a habitable planet for all, eat the rich.
The cult leaders have locked the gates to the compound.
South Cambridgeshire, UK.
In favour of a habitable planet for all, eat the rich.
The cult leaders have locked the gates to the compound.
South Cambridgeshire, UK.
Pinned
A bit of colour and a bit of heat from today's brief allotment visit, just what we need as it begins to get darker.
#allotmentlife 🌱
#allotmentlife 🌱
Time for an allotment infrastructure project, I've started building a little lean-to greenhouse on the end of our shed.
In keeping with my principles, only donated or salvaged materials are to be used.
Also in keeping with my principles, I'm making it up as I go along, so far, so good. 🌱
In keeping with my principles, only donated or salvaged materials are to be used.
Also in keeping with my principles, I'm making it up as I go along, so far, so good. 🌱
November 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Time for an allotment infrastructure project, I've started building a little lean-to greenhouse on the end of our shed.
In keeping with my principles, only donated or salvaged materials are to be used.
Also in keeping with my principles, I'm making it up as I go along, so far, so good. 🌱
In keeping with my principles, only donated or salvaged materials are to be used.
Also in keeping with my principles, I'm making it up as I go along, so far, so good. 🌱
Allotment cabbage reveal!
The red cabbage looks better than last year’s at this stage, I'm not sure about the Chinese cabbage (new variety this year), there's still time, but so far it's nowhere near the 800g heart per plant that Huw Richards claims in his book "The Self-Sufficiency Garden".🌱
The red cabbage looks better than last year’s at this stage, I'm not sure about the Chinese cabbage (new variety this year), there's still time, but so far it's nowhere near the 800g heart per plant that Huw Richards claims in his book "The Self-Sufficiency Garden".🌱
November 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Allotment cabbage reveal!
The red cabbage looks better than last year’s at this stage, I'm not sure about the Chinese cabbage (new variety this year), there's still time, but so far it's nowhere near the 800g heart per plant that Huw Richards claims in his book "The Self-Sufficiency Garden".🌱
The red cabbage looks better than last year’s at this stage, I'm not sure about the Chinese cabbage (new variety this year), there's still time, but so far it's nowhere near the 800g heart per plant that Huw Richards claims in his book "The Self-Sufficiency Garden".🌱
First celeriac of the season!
I’m looking forward to this, it should be big enough for two or three dishes.
#Allotment 🌱
I’m looking forward to this, it should be big enough for two or three dishes.
#Allotment 🌱
November 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
First celeriac of the season!
I’m looking forward to this, it should be big enough for two or three dishes.
#Allotment 🌱
I’m looking forward to this, it should be big enough for two or three dishes.
#Allotment 🌱
Four of the best dahlias I grew from seed this year.
The upper two are from Chiltern Seeds mixed varieties; the lower two were from Bishop's Children seeds, it's not often that you get flowers of those that aren't dark red.
#FlowersOnFriday
The upper two are from Chiltern Seeds mixed varieties; the lower two were from Bishop's Children seeds, it's not often that you get flowers of those that aren't dark red.
#FlowersOnFriday
November 7, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Four of the best dahlias I grew from seed this year.
The upper two are from Chiltern Seeds mixed varieties; the lower two were from Bishop's Children seeds, it's not often that you get flowers of those that aren't dark red.
#FlowersOnFriday
The upper two are from Chiltern Seeds mixed varieties; the lower two were from Bishop's Children seeds, it's not often that you get flowers of those that aren't dark red.
#FlowersOnFriday
Good things coming in threes, here are one of each of the carrots we're growing this year.
From left to right, Chantenay Red Cored, Volcano F1 & Autumn King.
Wedge shaped Chantenay Red Cored is our go to variety for growing on heavy clay, but Autumn King also looks good for heavy soil. #Allotment 🌱
From left to right, Chantenay Red Cored, Volcano F1 & Autumn King.
Wedge shaped Chantenay Red Cored is our go to variety for growing on heavy clay, but Autumn King also looks good for heavy soil. #Allotment 🌱
November 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Good things coming in threes, here are one of each of the carrots we're growing this year.
From left to right, Chantenay Red Cored, Volcano F1 & Autumn King.
Wedge shaped Chantenay Red Cored is our go to variety for growing on heavy clay, but Autumn King also looks good for heavy soil. #Allotment 🌱
From left to right, Chantenay Red Cored, Volcano F1 & Autumn King.
Wedge shaped Chantenay Red Cored is our go to variety for growing on heavy clay, but Autumn King also looks good for heavy soil. #Allotment 🌱
A selection of vegetables from the allotment, beetroot in two colours, kohlrabi and carrots were freshly-harvested; potatoes, red onions and shallots were taken from the shed, while the self-seeded calendula in front of the shed was almost glowing in the fading light.
#AllotmentLife🌱
#AllotmentLife🌱
October 30, 2025 at 5:38 PM
A selection of vegetables from the allotment, beetroot in two colours, kohlrabi and carrots were freshly-harvested; potatoes, red onions and shallots were taken from the shed, while the self-seeded calendula in front of the shed was almost glowing in the fading light.
#AllotmentLife🌱
#AllotmentLife🌱
A bit of colour and a bit of heat from today's brief allotment visit, just what we need as it begins to get darker.
#allotmentlife 🌱
#allotmentlife 🌱
October 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A bit of colour and a bit of heat from today's brief allotment visit, just what we need as it begins to get darker.
#allotmentlife 🌱
#allotmentlife 🌱
Beautiful foliage with delicate flowers on Oca growing in a new bed on allotment 2.
Some say it's good to grow potatoes on new ground, but Oca may be good for this, the foliage is really dense, shading weeds & unlike potatoes, the wireworm you get on new ground doesn't seem to spoil the tubers. 🌱
Some say it's good to grow potatoes on new ground, but Oca may be good for this, the foliage is really dense, shading weeds & unlike potatoes, the wireworm you get on new ground doesn't seem to spoil the tubers. 🌱
October 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Beautiful foliage with delicate flowers on Oca growing in a new bed on allotment 2.
Some say it's good to grow potatoes on new ground, but Oca may be good for this, the foliage is really dense, shading weeds & unlike potatoes, the wireworm you get on new ground doesn't seem to spoil the tubers. 🌱
Some say it's good to grow potatoes on new ground, but Oca may be good for this, the foliage is really dense, shading weeds & unlike potatoes, the wireworm you get on new ground doesn't seem to spoil the tubers. 🌱
A second harvest of the Volcano F1 carrots looks even better than the first, these five together weigh more than 1kg.
It's true that the top few cm of the bed is loose mulch, but most of the length of these had grown down into the harder layer of clay.
#allotment 🌱
It's true that the top few cm of the bed is loose mulch, but most of the length of these had grown down into the harder layer of clay.
#allotment 🌱
October 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A second harvest of the Volcano F1 carrots looks even better than the first, these five together weigh more than 1kg.
It's true that the top few cm of the bed is loose mulch, but most of the length of these had grown down into the harder layer of clay.
#allotment 🌱
It's true that the top few cm of the bed is loose mulch, but most of the length of these had grown down into the harder layer of clay.
#allotment 🌱
Could this be the year our celeriac finally edges past 2kg?They're swelling up nicely and should continue to do so for a while, this one was sown a bit earlier than usual (February instead of March), that seems to have helped.
#Allotment 🌱
#Allotment 🌱
October 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Could this be the year our celeriac finally edges past 2kg?They're swelling up nicely and should continue to do so for a while, this one was sown a bit earlier than usual (February instead of March), that seems to have helped.
#Allotment 🌱
#Allotment 🌱
Garlic planting day at the allotment, 60 cloves Solent Wight & Rhapsody Wight that I'd saved were planted amongst the White Mustard green manure.
I also thought I'd try a few of my Zebrune Shallots, they're not one of the varieties recommended for overwintering so we'll see how that goes. 🤞🌱
I also thought I'd try a few of my Zebrune Shallots, they're not one of the varieties recommended for overwintering so we'll see how that goes. 🤞🌱
October 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Garlic planting day at the allotment, 60 cloves Solent Wight & Rhapsody Wight that I'd saved were planted amongst the White Mustard green manure.
I also thought I'd try a few of my Zebrune Shallots, they're not one of the varieties recommended for overwintering so we'll see how that goes. 🤞🌱
I also thought I'd try a few of my Zebrune Shallots, they're not one of the varieties recommended for overwintering so we'll see how that goes. 🤞🌱
I finally got round to harvesting my Caledonian Rose maincrop potatoes today, it's a good yield from a 3 sq m bed but they're well scabby due to the drought, so jacket potatoes are unlikely to be on the menu.
#allotmentlife 🌱
#allotmentlife 🌱
October 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I finally got round to harvesting my Caledonian Rose maincrop potatoes today, it's a good yield from a 3 sq m bed but they're well scabby due to the drought, so jacket potatoes are unlikely to be on the menu.
#allotmentlife 🌱
#allotmentlife 🌱
At one end of the bed, lovely looking Radicchio (completely unscathed), at the other end Napa Cabbage (shredded), if even the slugs won't eat the Radicchio then I'm not so confident about its suitability for human consumption.
#allotmentlife 🌱
#allotmentlife 🌱
October 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
At one end of the bed, lovely looking Radicchio (completely unscathed), at the other end Napa Cabbage (shredded), if even the slugs won't eat the Radicchio then I'm not so confident about its suitability for human consumption.
#allotmentlife 🌱
#allotmentlife 🌱
Another harvest of cav nero leaves from the allotment for tonight's dinner, they're absolutely pristine with no trace of whitefly or aphids thanks to the deployment of our tailored heavy duty fine mesh cover, I'll change it for standard bird netting to allow more light through at some point soon. 🌱
October 8, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Another harvest of cav nero leaves from the allotment for tonight's dinner, they're absolutely pristine with no trace of whitefly or aphids thanks to the deployment of our tailored heavy duty fine mesh cover, I'll change it for standard bird netting to allow more light through at some point soon. 🌱
Plot second anniversary post 🎉
In September 2023 we took on the abandoned plot next to our first one, we cleared weeds, dug out and rebuilt beds and remade paths.
Yesterday I planted up a new strawberry bed with plants raised from runners, the view is from shed at the top end.
#allotment 🌱
In September 2023 we took on the abandoned plot next to our first one, we cleared weeds, dug out and rebuilt beds and remade paths.
Yesterday I planted up a new strawberry bed with plants raised from runners, the view is from shed at the top end.
#allotment 🌱
September 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Plot second anniversary post 🎉
In September 2023 we took on the abandoned plot next to our first one, we cleared weeds, dug out and rebuilt beds and remade paths.
Yesterday I planted up a new strawberry bed with plants raised from runners, the view is from shed at the top end.
#allotment 🌱
In September 2023 we took on the abandoned plot next to our first one, we cleared weeds, dug out and rebuilt beds and remade paths.
Yesterday I planted up a new strawberry bed with plants raised from runners, the view is from shed at the top end.
#allotment 🌱
Dahlias looking good in the late afternoon sun with a new allotment cat visiting, this is always the danger if you plant catmint.🌱
September 29, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Dahlias looking good in the late afternoon sun with a new allotment cat visiting, this is always the danger if you plant catmint.🌱
We had a slight ground frost in S Cambs (UK) today, note the crispy leaves on this dahlia, other flakey stuff was also damaged.
We had a really late ground frost on the 23rd May this year, so we basically only had three frost free months which makes our climate sound colder than it is!
#allotment 🌱
We had a really late ground frost on the 23rd May this year, so we basically only had three frost free months which makes our climate sound colder than it is!
#allotment 🌱
September 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
We had a slight ground frost in S Cambs (UK) today, note the crispy leaves on this dahlia, other flakey stuff was also damaged.
We had a really late ground frost on the 23rd May this year, so we basically only had three frost free months which makes our climate sound colder than it is!
#allotment 🌱
We had a really late ground frost on the 23rd May this year, so we basically only had three frost free months which makes our climate sound colder than it is!
#allotment 🌱
We’re away for a while so I picked these tomatoes to ripen at home, there are 6kg in the box with plenty left on the plants and we've already had about 15kg.
Considering the price of fancy tomatoes they're potentially a valuable crop, sad that most just end up as fancy passata though.
#allotment 🌱
Considering the price of fancy tomatoes they're potentially a valuable crop, sad that most just end up as fancy passata though.
#allotment 🌱
September 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
We’re away for a while so I picked these tomatoes to ripen at home, there are 6kg in the box with plenty left on the plants and we've already had about 15kg.
Considering the price of fancy tomatoes they're potentially a valuable crop, sad that most just end up as fancy passata though.
#allotment 🌱
Considering the price of fancy tomatoes they're potentially a valuable crop, sad that most just end up as fancy passata though.
#allotment 🌱
Today at the allotment I picked some nice things, deadheaded flowers and chose some good cloves from the garlic stored in the shed to plant next month, but mostly I just sat drinking coffee and enjoying the view because it's that time of year where there's a bit less to do and I for one am glad. 🌱
September 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Today at the allotment I picked some nice things, deadheaded flowers and chose some good cloves from the garlic stored in the shed to plant next month, but mostly I just sat drinking coffee and enjoying the view because it's that time of year where there's a bit less to do and I for one am glad. 🌱
More autumn/winter veg, here's our kale at the allotment, it's been grown under ultrafine mesh as usual, so no aphids or white fly & we don't really need to wash it.
The cav nero we're growing is cobra F1, it's alleged to have narrower leaf ribs than standard cav nero which would be handy if true.🌱
The cav nero we're growing is cobra F1, it's alleged to have narrower leaf ribs than standard cav nero which would be handy if true.🌱
September 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
More autumn/winter veg, here's our kale at the allotment, it's been grown under ultrafine mesh as usual, so no aphids or white fly & we don't really need to wash it.
The cav nero we're growing is cobra F1, it's alleged to have narrower leaf ribs than standard cav nero which would be handy if true.🌱
The cav nero we're growing is cobra F1, it's alleged to have narrower leaf ribs than standard cav nero which would be handy if true.🌱
Some "Czar" runner beans from the allotment to use as butter beans in a salad tonight, we harvest these regularly rather than letting the entire crop dry out, they only have to be boiled for a few minutes from fresh and they're probably tastier than if they've been dried. 🌱
September 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Some "Czar" runner beans from the allotment to use as butter beans in a salad tonight, we harvest these regularly rather than letting the entire crop dry out, they only have to be boiled for a few minutes from fresh and they're probably tastier than if they've been dried. 🌱
Autumn/winter allotment veg round up:
probably my best brussels sprouts plant ever,
red cabbage starting to heart up,
plenty of carrots (so much easier to get going from a late summer sowing than in spring),
finally a test bed of three different parsnip varieties to see which grows best on clay. 🌱
probably my best brussels sprouts plant ever,
red cabbage starting to heart up,
plenty of carrots (so much easier to get going from a late summer sowing than in spring),
finally a test bed of three different parsnip varieties to see which grows best on clay. 🌱
September 8, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Autumn/winter allotment veg round up:
probably my best brussels sprouts plant ever,
red cabbage starting to heart up,
plenty of carrots (so much easier to get going from a late summer sowing than in spring),
finally a test bed of three different parsnip varieties to see which grows best on clay. 🌱
probably my best brussels sprouts plant ever,
red cabbage starting to heart up,
plenty of carrots (so much easier to get going from a late summer sowing than in spring),
finally a test bed of three different parsnip varieties to see which grows best on clay. 🌱
A colourful bed of phacelia, mustard and buckwheat full of bumblebees on a sunny day.
Since we got more growing space we don't have to cultivate quite so intensively and we were able to relax and sow green manure in this bed after the climbing peas instead of carrots.
#Allotment 🌱
Since we got more growing space we don't have to cultivate quite so intensively and we were able to relax and sow green manure in this bed after the climbing peas instead of carrots.
#Allotment 🌱
September 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
A colourful bed of phacelia, mustard and buckwheat full of bumblebees on a sunny day.
Since we got more growing space we don't have to cultivate quite so intensively and we were able to relax and sow green manure in this bed after the climbing peas instead of carrots.
#Allotment 🌱
Since we got more growing space we don't have to cultivate quite so intensively and we were able to relax and sow green manure in this bed after the climbing peas instead of carrots.
#Allotment 🌱
Celeriac and red cabbage growing at the allotment with clover as a living mulch to avoid bare soil, When I cut the clover down there are spiders and beetles moving around and the clover leaves have been nibbled by slugs, maybe they're acting as a decoy for the veg, hopefully all good signs. 🤞🌱
August 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Celeriac and red cabbage growing at the allotment with clover as a living mulch to avoid bare soil, When I cut the clover down there are spiders and beetles moving around and the clover leaves have been nibbled by slugs, maybe they're acting as a decoy for the veg, hopefully all good signs. 🤞🌱
This is how it looks in our kitchen most days now, tomatoes coming in thick and fast from the #allotment, this is the kind of glut that we enjoy. 🌱
August 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This is how it looks in our kitchen most days now, tomatoes coming in thick and fast from the #allotment, this is the kind of glut that we enjoy. 🌱