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![]() Just filled up the water-butts and picked a few odds and ends like the rest of the onions. ![]() One of the tomato plants had fallen across the path due to the weight of the fruit. ![]() Picked some red potatoes and then just odd soft fruit and the odd veg. ![]() Picked what plums there were even though they weren't fully ripe before squirrels, or anything else, got to them.
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![]() Went down for a couple of hours this morning mainly to prune the grape that's become a bit overgrown. ![]() Hopefully this will make the vine put it's energy into the grapes rather than extra growth. ![]() Still a few onions to pick and the ones that are left are pretty big now. ![]() Picked a couple of sweetcorn. Look very nice. ![]() Also bought a new cover for the bench and seats as the previous one was almost ripped to shreds. ![]() Spent pretty much all day down the allotment doing the paths, as there's a new supply of chippings and also cleaning out and re-doing the lid of the storage area next to the shed. It's now got a roofing felt lid - but I forgot to take a picture. ![]() Tidied up a few of the beds, including the strawberry bed, and netted the leeks. ![]() Planted the Goji berry in a tub in the top fruit cage ![]() Pumpkins a nice colour, if a little small. ![]() Sweetcorn is nearly ready to pick, I think. ![]() Tomatoes are as good as we've ever had; just hope nothing happens before they ripen. ![]() The trusses on the smaller variety are the longest we've ever seen. ![]() The "open" celery doesn't look any different at this stage to the "enclosed" celery. Wonder if they'll taste any different. ![]() Went down the allotment yesterday and again today. This weather is making everything very high maintenance. Crops are ripening all the time, things can't get enough water as everywhere is so hot and dry. In this picture loads of pine needles were in a pile under the trees near the green water butt. No idea how they got there; possibly a squirrel sharpening his teeth? ![]() We were joined in the heat by a cat who is the spitting image of Annie - except we think it's a he. He even meows like Annie and is so friendly. He's exceptionally thin but we don't think he could possibly be a stray. ![]() We put some fresh chippings down on some of the paths. ![]() We cleared and prepared the bed that the cabbages were in, ready for 92 leeks. The bed was just a pile of hard lumpy clay/soil but the dry weather made it a bit easier to break up. ![]() ...and then we planted the leeks. ![]() One thing that's happened, and it's happened in previous years so I don't think it's weather related, is that the grapes are shrivelling up. Looked it up on the internet but can't find anything like this! ![]() .... and finally, the sweetcorn is definitely this years success story - so far. They're easily twice the size they were this time last year. We are getting very nice potatoes too this year, but not a huge amount unfortunately: still, there's enough for the odd meal. ![]() It's been an absolute heatwave for the last five days and looks like continuing for another week or more so we've been and watered twice in the last three days. Everything seems to be thriving in the sunshine. The following pictures tell their own story. ![]() The old water butt with a tap had fallen over (again) and acquired a strange new shape. ![]() The redcurrants are ready for picking; so pick them we did, along with some potatoes, cabbage, beetroot, french beans, other soft-fruit and a courgette ![]() Decided to have a go at the compost as it needs turning and sorting. Unfortunately there was a wasps nest inside the fourth bin. ![]() Compost definitely needed some attention. ![]() Sweetcorn coming on nicely....... ![]() ......... as is the beetroot. ![]() Earthed up the potatoes. ![]() ![]() Potatoes in the bottom corner bed are looking good - once we got the nettles out that had migrated from Barry's plot. ![]() Talking of which, we cleared his rubbish off the path. ![]() Fruit cage is filling up a bit. ![]() Onions coming on as well. ![]() Tomatoes too are picking up and as can be seen below most of the stuff is doing alright at the moment. ![]() Went down the plot on Saturday 15th June and also today, 18th June. Total of about six or seven hours. Lots of weeding done but also prepared beds and planted various crops; like the celery, left and below. Also filled all the water butts. ![]() Picked the garlic and then prepared the bed. ![]() Left and below are photos of how the other beds are doing. Some seem to be more advanced than others but overall, considering the atrocious spring we had, things aren't too bad. ![]() Artichoke is coming on nicely again this year. Shame it's almost impossible to eat. ![]() Cut back the comfrey (left and below) and filled up the comfrey-juice bucket. Remainder went on the compost heap (below). ![]() Beetroot is doing very well. ![]() Onions look a little scrawny but I guess they're doing OK. ![]() Blueberries in the bathtub are doing alright too. ![]() A few general pictures just to finish off. ![]() The shed definitely needs tidying up! ![]() At last, two red tomatoes......... and the sun's shining and it's warm. We even have a "Woolly bear" caterpillar. ![]() Unfortunately something has eaten all the sprouts! ![]() The celery, on the other hand, is getting even better. ![]() ...... and so is the sweetcorn. ![]() Beans have been a bit of a failure. ![]() We trimmed the grapevine back today. Amazing how quickly it's covered the shed and the seating area. ![]() Tidied the back wall up today as well. ![]() Did a bit of weeding as well. ![]() Still a few roses left by the seating area. ![]() In fact the seating area's looking pretty good for mid-September. ![]() ..... and finally, after over three hours tidying up, the compost heap was the highest it's ever been. ![]() Middle of August and a lot of the produce is now doing OK; not brilliant, but OK. The sweetcorn, however, is going great guns, especially as it's our first attempt. ![]() Beans have finally started to take off. ![]() Grapevine too is going beserk. Pruned some of the new growth off today so more of it's energy can go into the actual fruit. ![]() The boysenberries are fruiting like there's no tomorrow. Unfortunately they seem to prefer it outside of the fruit cage. ![]() Courgettes are doing OK. But then they always do. It's been over a week since our last visit and some were now marrows; and big marrows at that. ![]() Strawberries seem to have taken to their new home (next to their old home). ![]() The celery, as mentioned several times in previous postings, is exceeding itself and everything else. Shame you can't actually do that much with it. Still, it is very low in calories. ![]() Cabbages, too, are coming along nicely. ![]() Leeks too.................... ![]() Following on from the failure of the pumpkin in the compost bins, at least we have one starting in the courgette bed. It might just about be the size of a grapefruit by Halloween so it won't be scaring anybody. ![]() We planted some brussels sprouts today. Soil was a bit claggy but hopefully we should some nice ones for Christmas. ![]() Onions!! Picked them all. The tops had gone on all of them so had no choice really. Still looked edible but they won't win any prizes. ![]() Potatoes are a bit of a mixed bunch. Some are alright but many are having to be thrown away - and none of them are excellent. ![]() We did manage to pick a bit more fruit and veg. Blueberries have definitely been this years success story and the soft-fruit as a whole has been very good. ![]() As you can see from this and the following pictures, after three months rain we've had a couple of weeks decent weather and nearly everything has picked up. The sweetcorn is looking good....... ![]() ........ and the tomatoes are finally doing something. ![]() Celery as well.................. ![]() .............. and the leeks. ![]() Even the grapes are trying to make an impression. They may have left it a bit late but depends how long a summer we now have. ![]() Plums too have suddenly appeared from nowhere. unfortunately, if the squirrels have their way, they'll disappear just as quickly. ![]() Another decent crop picked too. |
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