Nostr notes by Lauren

#allotment #bloomscrolling ...

2026-05-06T19:51:17Z

#allotment #bloomscrolling

Looking for advice on what's wrong with this rose plant! ...

2026-05-03T15:54:46Z

Looking for advice on what's wrong with this rose plant! (I'm in the UK)

It has patches of red leaves alongside white spots / variagation on the green leaves. I've been away for a week and it looks worse with a small branch withering.

In other years it's had green leaves and been healthy, although last year it did have some black spot which I pruned back.

I'm thinking it could be mosiac virus, in which case I need to remove the plant? But happy for any advice #rose #gardening #allotment

Went to the #allotment site earlier so I could secure my ...

2026-04-03T18:13:59Z

Went to the #allotment site earlier so I could secure my greenhouse windows with the winds picking up. Took the opportunity to walk around the site to see other people's spring plots. This is one of the lanes. Helebores, forget-me-nots, stocks, primulas, heucheras and other pretty plants beside the hedgerows :) #bloomscrolling

Even though it's a cold blustery day (accompanied by short ...

2026-03-28T17:21:49Z

Even though it's a cold blustery day (accompanied by short bursts of hail) I spent an hour at the plot in my big coat to repot the scabious plants I've grown from seed. They should be happier with this compost mix and space. 12 Giant scabious and 10 Macedonian scabious so I'll have plenty to give away. #allotment #gardening

Planted out my leftover shallot sets and a line of carrots for my ...

2026-03-21T12:20:42Z

Planted out my leftover shallot sets and a line of carrots for my neighbour who's had a series of illnesses recently.

This planter is an old industrial sink from a chemistry lab. The neighbour let a parsnip self seed so he's now got a forest of parsnips. I was a bit brutal and pulled a bunch out along with weeds to make this patch. #allotment

My default is green tomato chutney. Add apple, sugar, vinegar and ...

2025-10-09T23:30:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…s5hu
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My default is green tomato chutney. Add apple, sugar, vinegar and spices you like. Can add onion and alternative fruits too. Use paprika to deepen the colour to a rich brown.

I’ve had a high octane evening sorting through my remaining ...

2025-09-13T20:21:26Z

I’ve had a high octane evening sorting through my remaining #allotment shallots. I’ve been eating the biggest ones over the summer and I want to pickle some of the small to medium sized ones. The smallest ones are getting saved to be planted next year.

Feel proud of them all laid out 🥲 #growyourown

Saved this image a long time ago. Recently I’ve been collecting ...

2025-08-12T12:02:22Z

Saved this image a long time ago. Recently I’ve been collecting and sorting heritage / heirloom seeds ready to give away, and “gardening is a revolutionary act” often comes to mind.

At the allotment we share and give away spare produce, use second-hand materials to build things, support and give time to each other for free, make spaces for wildlife and care for our environment. Which shouldn’t be radical but feels it in a world increasingly measured by profit and monetary mechanisms.

I love your setup for giving surplus veg away, and the fact that ...

2025-07-16T19:24:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…cm0r
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I love your setup for giving surplus veg away, and the fact that you give it away :) Hope you can stay cool!

I’ve been trying to plan ahead for what green manures to use ...

2025-07-08T12:24:12Z

I’ve been trying to plan ahead for what green manures to use over autumn and winter. UK folk - what have you found works best for you, ideally in #nodig approaches? (Eg things that can be cut back or smothered rather than needing to be dug into the soil) #allotment #growyourown #gardening

I went back and picked a couple of Cephalaria gigantea / giant ...

2025-07-05T14:08:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…jx05
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I went back and picked a couple of Cephalaria gigantea / giant scabious heads today to try my hand at germinating them from seed.

I’ve been giving people my Knautia macedonica / Macedonian scabious seeds and apparently they’ve germinated well in previous years, so here’s hoping I can do similarly well with these 🤞#gardening #bloomscrolling

Emulate the style of a wealthy person with zero taste and have a ...

2025-07-04T15:48:57Z

Emulate the style of a wealthy person with zero taste and have a knockoff Koons for your very own garden

Found my first blackberries of the year on a walk yesterday 🌱 ...

2025-06-27T09:40:34Z

Found my first blackberries of the year on a walk yesterday 🌱

I’m in deepest darkest Devon atm and saw this inspo for an ...

2025-06-23T22:07:25Z

I’m in deepest darkest Devon atm and saw this inspo for an insect house while on a train #gardening

I’ve been leaving native wild plants in situ dotted around the ...

2025-06-17T09:54:50Z

I’ve been leaving native wild plants in situ dotted around the allotment plot especially when I know they are larval food for various moths and butterflies. But I’ve been reading about the concept of a “butterfly bank” and I’m now trying to think of how much shade and light I have in different places.

I have a large quarter of my allotment plot still uncultivated so maybe I can plan a small bank / elongated hillock into this somewhere #gardening #butterfly

https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2024-01/Butterfly%20Bank%20Factsheet_FINAL.pdf

I realised after that the scabious is ‘Cephalaria gigantea’ ...

2025-06-10T10:29:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…uarh
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I realised after that the scabious is ‘Cephalaria gigantea’ rather than ‘Scabiosa ochroleuca’, it’s a 2m variety with particularly large flower heads (~6cm)

I saw these two flowers today which are new to me, I might try to ...

2025-06-09T18:09:58Z

I saw these two flowers today which are new to me, I might try to get my own at some point - Scabiosa ochroleuca / cream scabious, and Astrantia major / greater masterwort.

I’m a fan of scabiouses in general but this was a tall yellow version I haven’t seen before. And pollinators were having the time of their lives on the masterwort, there were a few different varieties dotted around this community garden.

#bloomscrolling

Javelin potato and Charlotte potato flowers #allotment ...

2025-06-08T12:54:27Z

Javelin potato and Charlotte potato flowers #allotment #growyourown

Currently weeding inbetween showers

Someone needs to tell the writer that docks are good for ...

2025-05-31T08:34:06Z

Someone needs to tell the writer that docks are good for fertilising plants through chop-and-drop, composting or weed tea. Those big ol' tap roots get to nutrients other plants can't reach deep in the ground and bring it to the surface into their leaves (the same as why comfrey is useful).

But glad to see couch grass (my nemisis) getting the hate it deserves #allotment #gardening #weeds

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/may/30/not-all-weeds-are-bad-news-but-these-interlopers-have-no-place-in-my-gardens-veg-patch

I’m feeling very grateful for the amount of steady rain we’ve ...

2025-05-28T11:47:32Z

I’m feeling very grateful for the amount of steady rain we’ve had over the last few days. The water butts have already filled a fair amount and the soil and wildlife are happy for it. I seem to have mostly escaped the threat of slugs and snails too #allotment #gardening

Broad / fava beans are looking promising. The taller plants at ...

2025-05-22T17:50:18Z

Broad / fava beans are looking promising. The taller plants at the back are field beans which have just started to set. We still haven’t seen any rain #allotment

I’ve been away so did a quick visit to the plot this evening to ...

2025-04-25T19:22:21Z

I’ve been away so did a quick visit to the plot this evening to water the greenhouse seedlings. Came away with a bag of rhubarb, cauliflower and greens to fill up the fridge #allotment

I love the layout!! Looks great as well as practical

2025-04-18T17:42:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…am80
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I love the layout!! Looks great as well as practical

I have done a lot of heavy lifting at the plot this week so today ...

2025-04-12T15:18:09Z

I have done a lot of heavy lifting at the plot this week so today I’m planting some beans and sunflowers at home to have a rest. Here’s to hoping the weather is kind and it rains as promised this evening #allotment #gardening

I’ve let a patch of white deadnettle grow in amongst my poached ...

2025-04-07T13:16:39Z

I’ve let a patch of white deadnettle grow in amongst my poached egg plants so it can be an early buffet for bees and other creatures. It’s full of life today #allotment #gardening

Sunny yellow blooms from today: my first tulips appearing, and ...

2025-04-04T18:56:34Z

Sunny yellow blooms from today: my first tulips appearing, and dandelions providing a feast.

(I should be swapping over to a new phone this weekend so these might be the last photos I post from a camera that had a piece of gravel pushed through it)

#bloomscrolling #allotment

I’ve finally varnished some of my painted pebbles, and I’m ...

2025-04-03T15:40:07Z

I’ve finally varnished some of my painted pebbles, and I’m about to plant seeds for 8 different types of tomato (all saved seed) 🌱

I have only just realised this morning that I probably need to plant all four of my pear trees nearer to each other (atm they are planted in pairs 20m+ apart) as one is a tripiloid and its pollination partner isn’t self-fertile. Once closer together they should be fine as the others are compatible. Pear trees are tricky!

#allotment

#growyourown #bloomscrolling and #allotment are more tags to ...

2025-04-02T21:52:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…ymz4
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#growyourown #bloomscrolling and #allotment are more tags to follow for gardening joy :)

Went for an evening walk and looped around to the plot to pick ...

2025-03-10T18:00:41Z

Went for an evening walk and looped around to the plot to pick more spinach for tonight’s palak paneer. It grows as fast as I can pick it atm. Daffs are starting to bloom and the birds are singing!

#allotment #gardening #bloomscrolling

Taking a break at the plot to listen to the chorus of birds. ...

2025-03-05T16:01:19Z

Taking a break at the plot to listen to the chorus of birds. Raspberry canes dug up ready for their new home. Shallots in. Garlic rising. A lot of work ahead over the next month but getting there.

#allotment #gardening

I’ve been clearing more brambles on the new half. I found the ...

2025-02-20T15:34:42Z

I’ve been clearing more brambles on the new half. I found the spikiest bits and have started making my slug defences for spring. These rings can go around transplanted brassicas to act as barbed wire. I make them while the plants are green and bendy, then dry them out for use in a couple of months.

If you don’t want to hurt your hands tying them you can just cut straight lengths to dry too, particularly good for rows of peas!

#allotment #gardening

I’ve been whacking in more edging posts for my dead hedge. ...

2025-02-14T15:56:52Z

I’ve been whacking in more edging posts for my dead hedge. It’s wide (shy of 4’ according to the length of my boots) and stops a meter away from my central path. I was guesstimating the size needed based on the piles of clippings from the hedgerow I’ve had in past years plus the 3m square patch of brash I already have ready to go. Plus the deeper it is the more fun the dunnocks, wrens and robins will have.

I’m away this weekend but looking forward to filling it up next week 💪 #allotment

Before I planted any trees I’d agreed with the committee that 4 ...

2025-02-13T16:27:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…5u20
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Before I planted any trees I’d agreed with the committee that 4 diseased unproductive plum trees needed to come out, and that when I took them out I’d replace them with new trees. This was originally the plan for when I had the one half with just two trees. But now I have both sides I’ve dealt with the left half too.

Tbh it felt like I was committing a crime cutting trees down but it was obvious by how soft the wood was in places that they didn’t have long for this world anyhow #allotment

It’s a long story but I ended up with four pear trees rather ...

2025-02-13T16:20:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…u6j2
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It’s a long story but I ended up with four pear trees rather than two so last month I also planted two trees further up on the left hand half of the plot too. I only paid for two trees so kind of a brucie bonus to end up with four (at first I had no idea where I was planting them all!) #allotment

Over today and yesterday I planted two pear trees (quince C ...

2025-02-13T16:14:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…cf7q
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Over today and yesterday I planted two pear trees (quince C dwarfing rootstock) at the front of my original right hand half, and made a chipping path and mini paved area leading up to and in front of my potting shed. #allotment

My original neighbours left last year so I’ve now taken on the ...

2025-02-13T16:07:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…w2tg
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My original neighbours left last year so I’ve now taken on the full plot.

It looks like chaos but I’ve cleared 3 loads of rubbish to the tip with more to go, including a broken trampoline and an endless amount of degraded plastic. The left hand hedgerow is also very over grown with lots of brambles. Now that I’ve cleared most of the rubbish I can hack all the hedges back next week. The tarps are all mine, seemed the easiest way to wrangle the first patch to make into a bed.

I’ve just passed my third anniversary of having my first ...

2025-02-13T15:56:00Z

I’ve just passed my third anniversary of having my first garden. On 6th Feb 2022 I got the keys to my #allotment plot. A family had just signed the lease for the left half the day before, and then I signed for the right half.

Slowly painting rocks for the #allotment, and by slowly I mean I ...

2025-01-14T14:20:06Z

Slowly painting rocks for the #allotment, and by slowly I mean I haven’t finished any. They sit on a shelf, I pick one up to work on it for 5 mins, put it back, come back two hours or two days later to the same rock and add more. If shelf studio practice isn’t a thing it should be, it’s satisfying.

I watched the first episode of three of Sandi Toksvig’s Great ...

2025-01-09T21:21:44Z

I watched the first episode of three of Sandi Toksvig’s Great British Woodland Restoration on Channel 4 tonight - UK #gardening #nature #rewilding folks will enjoy it.

Toksvig and her wife bought a 15 acre ancient woodland site so they can restore it as a lifelong personal project. It follows their progress with experts joining to provide advice.

Appreciated it being intertwined with Toksvig’s health journey, given I started gardening as a means to recover my own health too 🌿

I’ve had a lumberjack day using a hand tree saw to take out a ...

2025-01-04T16:46:50Z

I’ve had a lumberjack day using a hand tree saw to take out a couple of unproductive fruit trees. I’ll be planting four new pear trees later this month and possibly taking someone’s neglected patio apple in a pot with the hope to revive it.

I’m cutting the wood down into similar length logs to make a log wall as a wildlife space. I’m hoping to make a pond (I’ve said that for the last two years) so I’m thinking of placing the log wall in that area to extend it as a wildlife habitat #allotment

We need to just outright ban grouse moors. Game keepers killing ...

2025-01-03T18:16:39Z

We need to just outright ban grouse moors. Game keepers killing protected birds like these hen harriers, plus the mismanaged land of grouse moors leads to moorland being unable to hold water on hills leading to flooding below and risks later drought and wildfires up on the hills.

Just bin them off. Grouse shooting is the preserve of the wealthy, it’s not necessary for food security or anything else and its fall out creates a wake of destruction.

https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/01/03/this-has-to-stop-north-pennines-national-landscape-director-denounces-ongoing-hen-harrier-persecution/

This is what I’ve done in terms of bean protection for upcoming ...

2024-12-31T15:08:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…ae3j
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This is what I’ve done in terms of bean protection for upcoming frosts overnight this week.

Field beans are staying unprotected, I’m very sure they’ll be fine, they’re mostly for green manure anyway.

Broad beans have got pegged down wire mesh as a tunnel with fleece on top. They’ve been erratic in their germination so some protection might help that 🤷🏻‍♀️

First pic is yesterday, second pic today. I’m off to find more bricks to weigh the fleece down. It’s hella windy.

#allotment #growyourown

Brought back yellow beetroot, spinach, chard and parsley to make ...

2024-12-30T16:23:08Z

Brought back yellow beetroot, spinach, chard and parsley to make a golden butterbean pie #allotment

Question for #allotment #gardening #growyourown - my field beans ...

2024-12-30T14:52:14Z

Question for #allotment #gardening #growyourown - my field beans and broad beans (fava beans) are 4cm / 1.5 inch high, should I protect them at this point? This is my first attempt at an autumn sowing. Field beans are mostly green manure but I was hoping to keep a few for crop too (W Midlands, UK)

Happy Winter Solstice! In the darkest days of winter I find ...

2024-12-21T16:37:23Z

Happy Winter Solstice! In the darkest days of winter I find myself yearning for spring and window shopping for seeds and plants. I've pulled together a list of 11 UK independent seed producers and plant nurseries that I've been looking at recently incase anyone else is a window shopper like me:

https://notes.laurenheywood.com/for-idle-green-thumbs/

#allotment #gardening

I made a wreath with greenery from the #allotment ...

2024-12-20T13:42:00Z

I made a wreath with greenery from the #allotment

Brought back Charlotte christmas tatties from the allotment, ...

2024-12-10T16:16:37Z

Brought back Charlotte christmas tatties from the allotment, grown in pots and stored in the greenhouse. There’s some very tiny ones in there #allotment

tumbler composters work well. Most people I know that use them ...

2024-12-01T00:14:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…xl05
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tumbler composters work well. Most people I know that use them tend to have some sort of mobility issues that prevent them from hand turning a heap, but they’re a simple compact way to organise composting too. Turning compost speeds up the decomposition process so in ideal conditions you can get ready to use compost in 2-3 months with daily turning (slower if weekly etc).

“The area, which has about 5,000 residents and a growing ...

2024-11-28T15:42:10Z

“The area, which has about 5,000 residents and a growing waiting list, is completely self-sufficient. Residents can build houses however they like, and must collaborate with others to figure out things such as street names, waste management, roads, and even schools. But the local government has included one extremely unusual requirement: about half of each plot must be devoted to urban agriculture.” #gardening #allotment

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/28/oosterwold-dutch-suburb-where-residents-must-grow-food-on-at-least-half-of-their-property

I've smushed a roundup of my year at the #allotment into one ...

2024-11-21T12:53:19Z

I've smushed a roundup of my year at the #allotment into one blog post. Feel free to scroll for pretty pictures: https://notes.laurenheywood.com/alotment-life-2024-third-season/

I finished the front bed I was extending on Sunday. The first pic ...

2024-11-20T14:05:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…9u7l
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I finished the front bed I was extending on Sunday. The first pic is of how it looks today. The second pic is of me planting lavender out in the rain at the weekend. The leaves were my hurried attempt to mulch dahlias while losing light, I don’t have anywhere to store tubers so it’s the ground or nothing.

Jobs for the weekend: prune back the mature lavender and sage plants, and to do a proper job mulching using compost and wood chippings.

#allotment #gardening

I popped out at lunchtime to the #allotment plot to drop off ...

2024-11-20T13:45:37Z

I popped out at lunchtime to the #allotment plot to drop off compostable kitchen waste and pick up some greenhouse lettuce and parsley. The world was much crunchier underfoot this morning but the frost is still clinging to shady ground. -3C overnight atm but back up to 10C overnight at the weekend.

Honey from the beehives at the #allotment - their home is behind ...

2024-11-15T15:59:07Z

Honey from the beehives at the #allotment - their home is behind and one plot over from me :)

Today’s view at the plot, I had two jays hanging out when I ...

2024-11-15T15:07:44Z

Today’s view at the plot, I had two jays hanging out when I first arrived. I’m extending the front side of this large bed to put a row of lavender and and row of perennial herbs. I’ve got various things grown from cuttings and seed that are waiting in pots, so need to give them a home.

#allotment #gardening

Finally planted out field beans today, ended up with six rows of ...

2024-11-11T17:56:54Z

Finally planted out field beans today, ended up with six rows of 4m. Already got a 4m row of broad beans in the ground last week. Chucked down some spare chicken wire before leaving as a quick attempt to deter the squirrels and foxes until I get back to the plot. #allotment #gardening

I’ve given them a follow, thanks!

2024-11-02T12:25:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…3fna
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I’ve given them a follow, thanks!

Still some colour out at the plot #allotment #gardening ...

2024-11-01T15:24:49Z

Still some colour out at the plot #allotment #gardening

Exciting to absolutely no one but me BUT I finally managed to ...

2024-10-31T14:01:45Z

Exciting to absolutely no one but me BUT I finally managed to build a proper composting area yesterday. With bays I’ll be able to turn my compost regularly which will speed up decomposition. I’ve been tight for space with the one half but already enjoying the wiggle room that comes with a full plot #allotment

I’m taking on the other half of the plot to have a full plot to ...

2024-10-23T19:40:14Z

I’m taking on the other half of the plot to have a full plot to myself, so celebrated this evening by having a fire to start clearing debris. Yesterday I found chanterelle mushrooms growing at the back by the trees on top of an ancient compost heap. So tonight’s tea was tagliatelle with allotment garlic, parsley and mushrooms as an autumnal treat 🍁 #allotment #gardening

Cleared the two greenhouses of the last tomato, aubergine and ...

2024-10-07T12:15:41Z

Cleared the two greenhouses of the last tomato, aubergine and chilli plants. Got one chilli plant still going in a pot but the rest I’ve harvested and processed the last of the fruit. The polycarbonate greenhouse is now home to snowball cauliflowers and spinach with left over parsley and marigolds, and the glass one has purple curley kale, Sutherland kale and chard.

#allotment #gardening

#StandingStoneSunday These are three stones found at St Tanwyg ...

2024-09-29T10:47:47Z

#StandingStoneSunday These are three stones found at St Tanwyg Church, Llandanwg, Wales. The oldest stone has the name Engennus / Ingennus inscribed, is made from stone from Ireland and dates to the C5th. Another stone dated C6th has the name Equestrinomine inscribed which is otherwise only found in Italy and Gaul - Tanwyg is also recorded as being from Gaul (Armorica).

The tiny medieval church is one of the oldest sites of continuous Christian worship in Britain.

https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-tanwg-llandanwg

It’s my first time growing amaranth for grain this year, it’s ...

2024-09-16T17:18:02Z

It’s my first time growing amaranth for grain this year, it’s starting to mature which is exciting to see. It’s an early flowering variety from Real Seeds intended to work in the shorter growing season we have in the UK. Here’s their instruction set on harvesting https://www.realseeds.co.uk/amaranthprocessing.html

#allotment #gardening

Stumbled across the Winslade Estate’s Bridgehouse Gardens in ...

2024-09-16T09:27:38Z

Stumbled across the Winslade Estate’s Bridgehouse Gardens in Lewisham, London. Gorgeous greenhouse and container growing, as well as flowers planted out on nearby scrubland. Inspiring community action! #gardening

Currently sorting through my plants grown from seed ready for ...

2024-09-14T13:58:03Z

Currently sorting through my plants grown from seed ready for autumn through to spring cropping. Weighing up how many of each to keep and how many to give away to neighbours. Snowball cauliflowers, Sutherland kale, purple curly kale, wong bok cabbage, kohlrabi (prob too late to plant out), chard and giant winter spinach #allotment #gardening