A succession of warm wet days since early June worked wonders on the allotment – no more filling of watering cans and significant pleasure in seeing one’s efforts produce results, even if it is taking longer than expected due to the dry spring to start tasting them! The logistics of watering, given the water pressure available and the distance from the tap, has resulted in allotment holders storing water in large containers and often transferring it to water butts on site. My neighbour Gerry very kindly gave me a spare container which reduced the number of journeys to the tap quite considerably, and his technique for keeping rabbits at bay with used beer and Coke cans dangling from the surrounding fence seems to work brilliantly too. Thanks Gerry!
A swap of plants day on 31 May organised by the Association’s committee coupled with the sale of excellent cakes and sausage rolls enabled the acquisition of some nice tomato and cucumber plants in exchange for some surplus lettuce plants (Saladin) from seeds sown at the end of March. In addition, a bike chum presented me with a large pot of beetroot plants a week ago and all the new plants have transferred well to either the allotment or the small veggie patch at home.
It won’t be long now before the taste buds get tasting!
The main crop potatoes, Carolus, are in flower and the so-called earlies, Swift, planted after the Carolus look as if they might be another 3 weeks away before being harvested. The carrots and onions seem to be doing well and likewise the Shiraz purple podded mangetout peas. In between are the transplanted beetroot mixed with a few sown in situ from seed, where the germination was disappointing. The broad beans (Bunyard Exhibition) should be ready for first picking in a few days time and evidence of blackfly is currently low – lots of ants seem to be getting fat on them.
Monty’s bean pole structure is giving support at last to climbing French beans (Hunter) whilst the Purple Tepee dwarf French beans at the bottom of the allotment seem to be doing well too. A row of The Prince dwarf French beans has just started to come through next to the broad beans and the plants from seeds sown at the end of March of Fillbasket Brussels sprouts, purple sprouting broccoli, Snow March spring cauliflower and Greyhound cabbage have all benefited from the recent rain, likewise the Prizetaker leeks. Will there be room to transplant them all when the time comes I ask? Luckily, the gaps left between the Carolus potatoes look wide enough to take some of the brassicas.
It’s been good to see what my neighbours have been up to in recent weeks. Andy has produced a palace of a shed from recycled materials, complete with covered porch, whilst my immediate neighbour Zoe has also painted her fine shed, had a large deck constructed and is now filling some smart looking raised beds with plants. It looks as if we all have lots of summer treats in store, but a heatwave this coming week might well result in more carting of water……………
Martin's Allotment 