John Burton
@jab-1958.bsky.social
Mad keen (but lazy) gardener and allotmenteer, based in Bolton, zone 7, northern UK
Back by popular demand!
Rawlyn Road Allotment Society (Bolton UK) are holding their annual firework show on Sat 8 November 5-8pm
Tickets and details are available on-line
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
#allotmentlife #fireworks
Rawlyn Road Allotment Society (Bolton UK) are holding their annual firework show on Sat 8 November 5-8pm
Tickets and details are available on-line
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
#allotmentlife #fireworks
An evening of fireworks, food & drink at Rawlyn Road Allotments in Bolton
Back by popular demand our famous fireworks display. Not just one display but two!
www.eventbrite.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Back by popular demand!
Rawlyn Road Allotment Society (Bolton UK) are holding their annual firework show on Sat 8 November 5-8pm
Tickets and details are available on-line
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
#allotmentlife #fireworks
Rawlyn Road Allotment Society (Bolton UK) are holding their annual firework show on Sat 8 November 5-8pm
Tickets and details are available on-line
www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening...
#allotmentlife #fireworks
I reckon like a lot of you I've got a mega crop of apples this year. Running out of things to do with them. Thought I'd try an apple cake. Has anybody got a good recipe they'd recommend and share. Ta
#allotmentlife #allotments
#allotmentlife #allotments
October 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I reckon like a lot of you I've got a mega crop of apples this year. Running out of things to do with them. Thought I'd try an apple cake. Has anybody got a good recipe they'd recommend and share. Ta
#allotmentlife #allotments
#allotmentlife #allotments
October 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
September 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Bit of a magical moment in the rain today. Could actually see both ends of it. 😀
#allotmentlife #allotment
#allotmentlife #allotment
September 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Bit of a magical moment in the rain today. Could actually see both ends of it. 😀
#allotmentlife #allotment
#allotmentlife #allotment
Really didn't enjoy spending a baking hot day helping my daughter build five tall Ikea Billy bookcases with doors. Mind you the huge sheets of cardboard packaging were perfect to mulch round my Blueberries.
Thankyou Ikea 👍
#allotmentlife #allotments
Thankyou Ikea 👍
#allotmentlife #allotments
August 26, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Really didn't enjoy spending a baking hot day helping my daughter build five tall Ikea Billy bookcases with doors. Mind you the huge sheets of cardboard packaging were perfect to mulch round my Blueberries.
Thankyou Ikea 👍
#allotmentlife #allotments
Thankyou Ikea 👍
#allotmentlife #allotments
Not watered this cut flower bed for a month, but the calendulas and lavatera don't seem to care. Cutting them, the Cosmos and Cornflowers every couple of days. Gladioli and sweet peas were really good, but finished now.
#allotmentlife #allotment
#allotmentlife #allotment
August 26, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Not watered this cut flower bed for a month, but the calendulas and lavatera don't seem to care. Cutting them, the Cosmos and Cornflowers every couple of days. Gladioli and sweet peas were really good, but finished now.
#allotmentlife #allotment
#allotmentlife #allotment
Happy Days!
Last of allotment jam bottled. 15 jars in the larder (blackberry, plum and mixed fruit). Plus some more to give away.
#allotmentlife #allotments
Last of allotment jam bottled. 15 jars in the larder (blackberry, plum and mixed fruit). Plus some more to give away.
#allotmentlife #allotments
August 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Happy Days!
Last of allotment jam bottled. 15 jars in the larder (blackberry, plum and mixed fruit). Plus some more to give away.
#allotmentlife #allotments
Last of allotment jam bottled. 15 jars in the larder (blackberry, plum and mixed fruit). Plus some more to give away.
#allotmentlife #allotments
Happy allotment cat spent most of today snoozing under a shady rhubarb leaf.
#allotmentlife #allotments
#allotmentlife #allotments
August 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Happy allotment cat spent most of today snoozing under a shady rhubarb leaf.
#allotmentlife #allotments
#allotmentlife #allotments
Bit worried my obsession with growing cut flowers on the allotment is getting out of hand. Mrs B says you can never have too many flowers in the house. But 12 vases in the house today. Think some therapy may be needed.
#allotmentlife
#allotmentlife
August 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Bit worried my obsession with growing cut flowers on the allotment is getting out of hand. Mrs B says you can never have too many flowers in the house. But 12 vases in the house today. Think some therapy may be needed.
#allotmentlife
#allotmentlife
Mrs B was blobbed on the sofa watching the Lionesses winning the Euros. Meanwhile I was locked in the kitchen flower arranging and baking. Doesn't seem right somehow. Anyway here's the result. Allotment gladioli, phlox, lavatera and oregano.
July 27, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Mrs B was blobbed on the sofa watching the Lionesses winning the Euros. Meanwhile I was locked in the kitchen flower arranging and baking. Doesn't seem right somehow. Anyway here's the result. Allotment gladioli, phlox, lavatera and oregano.
I'm thinking of getting a couple of Honeyberry bushes. Anybody tried growing them, if so would you recommend them. Any advice on how to grow and care for them very welcome
My plot is in Bolton, north west UK, at the foot of the Pennines. so coolish & high rainfall.
#allotment #allotmentlife
My plot is in Bolton, north west UK, at the foot of the Pennines. so coolish & high rainfall.
#allotment #allotmentlife
July 13, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I'm thinking of getting a couple of Honeyberry bushes. Anybody tried growing them, if so would you recommend them. Any advice on how to grow and care for them very welcome
My plot is in Bolton, north west UK, at the foot of the Pennines. so coolish & high rainfall.
#allotment #allotmentlife
My plot is in Bolton, north west UK, at the foot of the Pennines. so coolish & high rainfall.
#allotment #allotmentlife
13 tons of free horse manure delivered to our site 10am this morning. Here it is at 4pm when quite a bit had already gone.
We get regular deliveries, probably about 50 tons a year. With only 35 plots it's no wonder we have glow in the dark marrows!
#allotment #allotmentlife
We get regular deliveries, probably about 50 tons a year. With only 35 plots it's no wonder we have glow in the dark marrows!
#allotment #allotmentlife
July 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
13 tons of free horse manure delivered to our site 10am this morning. Here it is at 4pm when quite a bit had already gone.
We get regular deliveries, probably about 50 tons a year. With only 35 plots it's no wonder we have glow in the dark marrows!
#allotment #allotmentlife
We get regular deliveries, probably about 50 tons a year. With only 35 plots it's no wonder we have glow in the dark marrows!
#allotment #allotmentlife
Fellow plot holder told me about Hügelkultur. Done a bit of research and I'm going to give it a go. Basically any method where I can just bury my rubbish is definitely one for this lazy allotmenteer.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%BC...
Anybody else tried it?
#allotment #allotmentlife
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%BC...
Anybody else tried it?
#allotment #allotmentlife
Hügelkultur - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
June 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Fellow plot holder told me about Hügelkultur. Done a bit of research and I'm going to give it a go. Basically any method where I can just bury my rubbish is definitely one for this lazy allotmenteer.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%BC...
Anybody else tried it?
#allotment #allotmentlife
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%BC...
Anybody else tried it?
#allotment #allotmentlife
So much terrible stuff going on in the world at the moment. But at least us allotment folks can have some joy. Today's harvest 😀
#allotment #allotmentlife
#allotment #allotmentlife
June 19, 2025 at 9:17 PM
So much terrible stuff going on in the world at the moment. But at least us allotment folks can have some joy. Today's harvest 😀
#allotment #allotmentlife
#allotment #allotmentlife
After a bit of advice please.
Getting a good crop of strawberry plants gifted by a fellow plotholder. Big fruit, but sadly quite mushy and poorish flavour.
Any advice on good varieties to grow. Don't care if they are smaller, want great flavour and firm texture.
#allotmentlife #strawberries
Getting a good crop of strawberry plants gifted by a fellow plotholder. Big fruit, but sadly quite mushy and poorish flavour.
Any advice on good varieties to grow. Don't care if they are smaller, want great flavour and firm texture.
#allotmentlife #strawberries
June 3, 2025 at 5:50 PM
After a bit of advice please.
Getting a good crop of strawberry plants gifted by a fellow plotholder. Big fruit, but sadly quite mushy and poorish flavour.
Any advice on good varieties to grow. Don't care if they are smaller, want great flavour and firm texture.
#allotmentlife #strawberries
Getting a good crop of strawberry plants gifted by a fellow plotholder. Big fruit, but sadly quite mushy and poorish flavour.
Any advice on good varieties to grow. Don't care if they are smaller, want great flavour and firm texture.
#allotmentlife #strawberries
First allotment strawberries of the year. Three for us, one for the slugs, pretty good ratio I reckon. Fingers crossed looking like a good crop this year 🤞
#strawberries #allotmentlife #allotments
#strawberries #allotmentlife #allotments
May 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
First allotment strawberries of the year. Three for us, one for the slugs, pretty good ratio I reckon. Fingers crossed looking like a good crop this year 🤞
#strawberries #allotmentlife #allotments
#strawberries #allotmentlife #allotments
May 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I plant my broad bean plants in sections of downpipe (skip salvage). Protects them when they are small & tender and helps keep them upright. Fantastic for watering when it is so dry. I just fill each section of pipe with water about once a week. Saves water and easy 😀
#allotment #allotmentlife
#allotment #allotmentlife
May 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I plant my broad bean plants in sections of downpipe (skip salvage). Protects them when they are small & tender and helps keep them upright. Fantastic for watering when it is so dry. I just fill each section of pipe with water about once a week. Saves water and easy 😀
#allotment #allotmentlife
#allotment #allotmentlife
Feeling very Monty Don on the allotment today. Clock my rustic artisan bean poles. Although of course his would be posh hazel and mine are only sycamore.😪
#allotment
#allotment
April 26, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Feeling very Monty Don on the allotment today. Clock my rustic artisan bean poles. Although of course his would be posh hazel and mine are only sycamore.😪
#allotment
#allotment
We've a boundary on our site the council can no longer afford to maintain. So we've been planting native hedging. The Woodland Trust are giving away masses of hedging saplings this year and I've just managed to get 120.
If you're interested
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/...
#allotments
If you're interested
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/...
#allotments
Free Trees for Schools and Communities
We’re giving away hundreds of thousands of trees
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
April 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
We've a boundary on our site the council can no longer afford to maintain. So we've been planting native hedging. The Woodland Trust are giving away masses of hedging saplings this year and I've just managed to get 120.
If you're interested
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/...
#allotments
If you're interested
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/...
#allotments
Loads of rain here in Bolton this week. You can almost hear the allotment ground soaking it up and the plants growing 😀
#allotment #allotmentlife
#allotment #allotmentlife
April 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Loads of rain here in Bolton this week. You can almost hear the allotment ground soaking it up and the plants growing 😀
#allotment #allotmentlife
#allotment #allotmentlife
Spring is definitely here, you can almost hear everything growing. On the allotment tomorrow. First Charlotte spuds going in and planting out the broad beans and sweet peas.
Life suddenly feels good, forget all the madness going on elsewhere.
#allotment #allotmentlife
Life suddenly feels good, forget all the madness going on elsewhere.
#allotment #allotmentlife
March 27, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Spring is definitely here, you can almost hear everything growing. On the allotment tomorrow. First Charlotte spuds going in and planting out the broad beans and sweet peas.
Life suddenly feels good, forget all the madness going on elsewhere.
#allotment #allotmentlife
Life suddenly feels good, forget all the madness going on elsewhere.
#allotment #allotmentlife
Veg growing tiny scale compared to summer on allotment. But I grow mustard & cress at home all year.
40p in supermarket. This cost me c. 5p for the same amount.
22K seeds from ebay £5. Kitchen roll, thin layer of compost, lots of water, plenty of seeds, sunny windowsill. JOB DONE!
#Allotment
40p in supermarket. This cost me c. 5p for the same amount.
22K seeds from ebay £5. Kitchen roll, thin layer of compost, lots of water, plenty of seeds, sunny windowsill. JOB DONE!
#Allotment
December 16, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Veg growing tiny scale compared to summer on allotment. But I grow mustard & cress at home all year.
40p in supermarket. This cost me c. 5p for the same amount.
22K seeds from ebay £5. Kitchen roll, thin layer of compost, lots of water, plenty of seeds, sunny windowsill. JOB DONE!
#Allotment
40p in supermarket. This cost me c. 5p for the same amount.
22K seeds from ebay £5. Kitchen roll, thin layer of compost, lots of water, plenty of seeds, sunny windowsill. JOB DONE!
#Allotment
Miserable day to day .... lashing down with rain, getting dark at 3.30. Here's some to remind all us garden lovers of the summer. RHS Bridgewater Garden, Manchester, UK.
December 5, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Miserable day to day .... lashing down with rain, getting dark at 3.30. Here's some to remind all us garden lovers of the summer. RHS Bridgewater Garden, Manchester, UK.