What a Lovely Spot To Hang Out

 20th July 2022 - What a lovely spot to hang out

In this first picture, maybe our first courgette? The Echinacea has flowered and what a beautiful flower it is too, I (Chris) really hadn’t been paying much attention to flowers until Desi mentioned she wanted the allotment to have those too…

The tomatoes are progressing well and we’re hoping the wonderful dry weather continues so we can harvest plenty of tomatoes this year. The whole planter area, with the decorative fence and the grass backdrop has turned out so pretty… a lovely place to chill out in these warm, long, summer days.

Another beautiful picture of the herb box and the corner of the raised bed. Unfortunately the Coriander and the Dill have moved quickly into seed mode, which means we’ll have to sow some more elsewhere, but it is sooo good having herbs on tap… I’ve noticed that we use herbs way more now they are available on tap and they are full of vitamins. We will be drying and also freezing some of them this year, and maybe next year grow more of them.

Behind the polytunnel, construction of the second box shelf is now nearly completed. Still the strawberry bed to complete up top, but I think that will then be it for this section behind the polytunnel. The boxes will need lining to keep them from rotting, and we must also find a way for them to drain otherwise we’ll have floating plants in here.

This next one is a narrow view (portrait picture) of what we can see from one part of the terrace. The cucumbers growing up the side of the polytunnel are doing nicely too… 

In the last but one picture is another small corner of the allotment, very picturesque. We are really appreciating how nature is supporting us in creating this natural work of art on the allotment.

The artwork continues in the last picture. The Lobelia are doing amazing and together with the lush green of the 3 lettuce varieties, just amazing. 

It’s Looking a Lot Like Summer

 17th/19th July 2022 - It’s looking a lot like summer...

In the 1st picture just check out the green shiny leaves of the Passiflora! When we looked at the Passiflora back in February / March it seemed as if it was going to struggle in 2022. Now there are hundreds of flowers in the making and so many new out every day. The whole of the side panel of the trellis is now thoroughly covered and the one around the corner is also almost covered. I think this Passiflora might need some additional growth control next year, as we have some other creeping vines coming on as well.

As the summer progresses the flower beds seem to be getting smaller and smaller. What we thought was quite a wide bed with plenty of flower potential, these days looks woefully small and crowded. On this very warm day, we have the sun umbrella up, a cold box, looks like Desi is also up for some drawing too. I think there might be a promise of a BBQ in the offing as well with some plates and salad bits.

In the last picture the decorative fence and the planters along with the grass are now very nice to look at. Job done here so to speak, very pleased with the outcome. The Echinacea are now doing well, they have managed to beat off the slugs and perhaps now, with age, are a little less tasty. A small Dahlia seems to have joined the merry throng in the planters, we’re hoping for a couple of months of lovely blooms, the purple one you can see there is a real treat.

A Bit More Construction, Onions And Crop Rotation

 16th July 2022 - A Bit More Construction, Onions And Crop Rotation

In the 1st picture we are once again working behind the polytunnel. Chris has made some additional supports between the horizontal pot holders and so the shelf up at the top (which used to have the guttering on) has been extended and this now means we have the capability to increase what we are growing here.

The shelf, which was first of all built to support some light additional growing such as lettuce, can now be filled with soil (additional work required to permit this) and we are going to put the strawberries up there, out of the way. Hopefully they will grow well there and be out of reach of slugs and other bugs.

In the additional wooden trays (there is only one shown on this picture, the second one isn’t built yet but will arrive in due course) we are planning to kickstart the second / third crop lettuce, radish, spring onions, maybe even herbs. There is a slight shortage of light here, but during the summer months they should provide a sheltered start. We’ll have to see, a bit late for this year.

On the sweetcorn plot we have now erected some additional supports for the Runner beans. The race between the runner beans and the corn is very much on with the corn in front at the moment, but the runner beans are catching up fast.

A bit of spare soil for the moment on the corn patch has meant some lettuce has found their way there. It’s starting to look a lot like "7 Sisters" rather than 3.

These are not the biggest onions in the world, but they are grown by us and very welcome indeed. Here Desi has platted them together and they are drying out on this rather warm black plastic covering.

Around the cold frame now. A pile of wood which is for the construction of the second box at the back of the polytunnel that I spoke of before. The broad beans have been harvested and now in their stead are some lettuce. Well, we had plenty of lettuce and they needed to go somewhere. On top of the cold frame some onions for “growing on” next year. Check out the leeks which have also been planted in between the lettuce if you look carefully (they are not weeds). These two grow well in the same proximity, well worth checking out companion planting to help with good cropping. If plants work well together and support each other well it's worth planting them together. 

Here is an article on this subject

The Herb box is looking really good. First time growing Dill, Marjoram, and Holy Basil. The Holy Basil is amazing, such a different taste to normal regular basil (we love that too) but so refreshing and delicious in the al fresco wraps we’re having on the terrace. So nice to be able to grab a few herbs to have with the lunches. 

Next year I think we’ll have a whole herb strategy because this year these herbs thus far have been a real winner… and saving so much money too!

The last picture Desi proudly displaying the string of onions… now to hang them in the polytunnel so they can dry out.

A picture For The Home Screen

 14th July 2022 - A picture for the Home Screen

A very pretty picture of the terrace raised bed. Everything flowering nicely, the Passiflora making its way steadily across the second trellis, growing very quickly. Just a great colourful picture taken in portrait orientation. This has become a background for the phone these days, to remind us of the wonders of summer.

Summer Progresses, The Garden Progresses

 12th July 2022 - Summer Progresses, The Garden Progresses

A quick look around the plot as summer progresses. It is amazing how seemingly slowly the plants grow and yet when you look back at the photos they are galloping along really.

Here in the 1st picture the lawn is beginning to mature although there are some signs of wear as we walk on this quite often. The tomatoes are doing well, leaves are curling, we hope that is just because of the hot summer sun.

Black cherry tomatoes in this second picture along with the two most established courgettes, almost ready to produce their first fruit.

Things are progressing well down on the sweetcorn plot. Still a long way to go for everything down there, but the soil is very good… plenty of thistles, just as we were told, but early extraction is keeping things under control. Desi has planted a spare Mallow here, which is doing well and filled the empty space (current) with some radish seeds, which have germinated into small plants already. These were sown directly into the soil.

The plot below ours is still unallocated and a bit of a wilderness. We appear to have a lot of this kind of thing around our allotment.

The spare tomato plants and peppers seem to be doing more than just surviving in the new plot. The soil is a bit low, but that is because we stole it for the potatoes… it will be returned when we have dug them all up.

Just across the path, lettuce and peas are ready to pick and eat. The whole “Haven” has finally come alive. A bit further up, the compost heaps are being disguised nicely by the sweet peas, and check out the Jerusalem Artichokes growing ever taller.

Around the front, on the road, what a picture! The Horseradish is acting as an excellent bush hiding / shielding the fence from the road and now the sweet peas are reaching their maturity the scent down on the allotment is wonderful. Moving along a bit, it is a wonderful place to sit and have a cup of tea these days. Check out the Clematis now galloping up the trellis, this won’t flower this year, but maybe next year will provide a nice show.

On the terrace, “Haven” not just for us but for the bees too… Check out the Passiflora flowers! In the sun these flowers get absolutely covered by the bees. The flowers themselves have a very interesting scent, a little bit like the doTERRA Deep Blue blend. Look where the 3 dark purple strands on the flower meet, just below that you can see a green ball… this ball is the fruit! (it never did anything like this last year.) Maybe having just planted the shrub, last year was a little early for fruiting.

In the last picture everything is filling up and flowering nicely now… plenty of winged action with the pollen.

Big Guns, Umbrellas and Gooseberries

 9th-11th July 2022 - Big Guns, Umbrellas and Gooseberries

It has been hot! No… it has been very, very hot! In the first couple of pictures we have brought in the “big guns”. Meet Tom, one of the grandsons. He asked if he could come down and take a look at the allotment. Of course we immediately said yes, and then got him working on the tough gigs.

This piece of land is part of the land that the previous neighbour dug over right at the start of the year, or might have been at the end of last year. Anyway, it is hard, weedy, and some brambles thrown in for good measure. Tom got stuck in and dug a fair amount of the roughest stuff! Not really the best tool (small spade) for the job and it was the first time Tom had done anything remotely like this, so it was a good learning experience… not sure if he’ll come back though!

In the next picture Desi is wading through the tomatoes, making sure as they grow that they are well supported by the bamboo canes. Tomatoes need the side shoots taking out, the lower leaves removed, tying up to the canes and watering. So they aren’t just plant-and-forget - there is some care and attention required.

Well, after the hard work of the day, time to relax under our new umbrella. Chris’s sister has installed a new awning, and consequently this umbrella became available. Perfect that it is rectangle and just the right size, shape, and height to provide a very “needed” shade. The temperature is said to be getting just south of 40C this summer, and boy does it feel like it. Many of our co-plot owners are coming early in the morning to water and then not returning till the next day, so there isn’t much company down here these long summer days. Time for tea with Desi!

Gooseberries…

Desi found these and then brought a few for us to eat. I first of all said, "It’s ok, no thanks", remembering how sour they were from my Dad’s garden. But no… these were really sweet. I just worked it out: our dog ate all the sweet ones, and we just had the sour ones left! We have a renewed interest in restoring these gooseberry bushes for next year.

The cucumber plants are starting to grow well, and it looks like the swedes Desi laboured to plant are doing well also. The potatoes and the Purple Sprouting have now screened off the bottom blot from view. We must sort them both out at some point: the Purple Sprouting needs harvesting and trimming back (it has produced purple florets) as the white netting is totally full now.

A Quintessential English Garden Scene

 7th/8th July 2022 - 2nd month of summer and everything is going well

The terrace and trellis are beginning to look very beautiful. Although much of the “Haven” is reserved for growing food, we need pollinators for the vegetables (most of them). So we provisioned for flowers on the allotment to attract the bees and other insects. 

In the first picture you can see the Marigolds beginning to flower and the pink Mallows are following suit. The Begonias are becoming a bit lost, but the Alyssum are filling up the space at the front near the wooden wall.

From the front roadside the trellis and cut grass are displaying a quintessential English garden scene. A lovely combination of flowers, shrubs, some structural components and freshly cut grass, all with a nice hazy sun. Anyway… we like it!

Back around the other side of the trellis, the corner is filling up with the Marigolds and Mallows bushing out. The Begonias have more space here, but we wonder how long that will last.