Both our allotment plots are growing madly at the moment. Both plots are quite different.
The first plot is more functional but T wanted the second plot to be more of a relaxing space. He had seeded a large wild flower bed and put in a seating area and barbeque. He also planted two passion plants to climb the back of the seating area and a grape vine to climb the outside, side, of the seating area.
The second plot has the advantage of a row of mature raspberry canes. We have a row of raspberry canes on the first plot but we only planted them last year so they are not producing yet. We have already, all of us, picked loads from the second plot and have some in the freezer. They have slowed down now but I still managed to pick a small ice cream container full a few days ago.
T also wants to win the giant pumpkin competition. Last year his pumpkin plant was huge but had no pumpkins on it and he was disappointed. This year he has been feeding his pumpkin plant with seaweed twice a week and he has huge pumpkins.
As for the produce I am not needing to buy any salad items or veg. We have lettuce, cucumber, gherkins and tomatoes for salads. We have onions, garlic and chillies for cooking and potatoes.
For veg we have courgettes and runner beans by the bucket full. We have had some broad beans although they didn’t do so well as the black fly effected them. We have some broccoli but that isn’t as fast growing. We have kale and chard which comes back as fast as we pick it. I have been giving the chooks chard every day for their daily greens.
Still to come are sweetcorn, carrots, parsnips, cabbages, beetroot and by winter brussel sprouts and leeks. There is also rhubarb which unfortunately I don’t like and of course the raspberries still coming.
I don’t think we will be buying any veg for the rest of the year. We are also supplying all our neighbours. It is lovely, but picking and watering, in this heat is the difficult part. We could do with some respite from the weather at the moment.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
your allotment is truely wonderful, to have all that veg and fruit, and so much colour.
There is nothing like home grown veg, and how much money it must save you all.
It is amazing not to have to buy any fruit, veg, salad or greens for the chooks. The difficulty is picking it quick enough. We have so many gherkins that we going to pickle some for the first time, a new experience.
You must feel delighted and proud – as well as drained, having to work in the heat of recent days (dismal up in the north east today, however – only 16 degrees!)
We had mid to high 30’s which was absolutely draining but much cooler today and only 18 degrees here now. We have had two evenings/nights of storms. Last night was constant lightening which was like strobe lighting. We have never seen lightening flashes so close together and lasting so long. Plenty of thunder too and downpours. Cool and drizzly today. At least we longer have to water.
I put some raspberries in the freezer and we had some for dessert at lunch time today with the last of the ice cream. They were so good. I will buy more ice cream next time I go shopping. I actually think the raspberries are my favourite thing of all from the allotment.