Hard Labour

No photos at the moment, but bank holiday Monday involved extreme physical work from 8.30am to 2.00pm.

Two more old bushes from the old gooseberry hedge were removed (4 done and not yet 1/4 of the way), then the rest of the time was spent digging the original spoil heap, creating a new compost, turning the old compost into the new one, creating space next to the shed, and finally making another compost at the far end where the gooseberry bushes were. This one of for the soil from the spoil heap, mixed with grass cuttings.... it's a long story why this is needed.

Very tired and very pleased with ourselves.

Something's been eating the sweetcorn!

And it was me, yesterday!


Very tasty it was too, our first ever sweetcorn.



We also pulled lots more carrots and loads of other stuff including beans and courgettes (!).


There was also a feast of blackberries from the hedgerows and later in the day we scrumped 2 carriers full of apples from a friend's garden. Yum.

These seeds were also sown:

Little Gem lettuce
Offenham 2 cabbage
Lollo Rosso lettuce
Mixed salad leaf
Beetroot (Detroit)
Spring Onion
Carrots Nantes Frubund
Chard

Rain

It's been quite wet over the last few days, and after a few days away from the plot, the change was very evident, especially the weeds. Everything seems fine overall. No sign of blight anywhere (shouldn't have said that!). Tons more courgettes and beans and potatoes, and carrots and chard and cabbage...

It's the potatoes I'm really pleased with. Two sackfuls in the garage, and plenty more to come.

The ankle is still sore. so I only spent 2 hours digging!

The sweetcorn will soon be ready.

Sitting with my feet up.

This is the life!

Sitting outside the allotment shed in the sunshine whilst wife and son are busy labouring.

Unfortunately it is because I sprained my ankle on Saturday and cannot walk or stand for too long.

So, what is going on here?

The last of the early potatoes have been removed and some second crops will go in.

There is a general clean-up going on, especially removing brambles.

Shouts of "look at these carrots!" are to be heard.

Yet more courgettes!

Best of all my Hollyhocks are starting to flower. It's the first time in 27 years I've managed this. I assume it's the soil here.

Cabbage Whitefly invasion

On inspection today I found that all the brassicas are infested with cabbage whitefly. Reading around suggests that there isn't much that can be done about it, but that it's not a major problem.

The nasturtiums are now covered with blackly, but the beans are clear, so it looks as if they've done their job.

We're still harvesting tons of courgettes and beans.

The garlic was also lifted and is drying in the sun. More spring onions were sown and some more lettuce was planted out.

At home great schemes are being discussed about a new shed and greenhouse.