A ray of sunshine

Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work (usually weeding) that needs my immediate attention, there's always something wonderful that pops up and reminds me to take a few minutes to actually enjoy the garden rather than just work in it. This lovely sunflower (above) was one such timely reminder, one of about half a dozen planted by the Greenfingers Club way back in early summer.

I say 'early summer' but I'm still waiting for it to arrive....

The potatoes have succumbed to the awful damp/humid weather and are turning up their toes and showing signs of blight. I've dug up some of the worst looking specimens and the spuds beneath seem to be fine, although there are a few dodgy looking white spots on them.

Today's bumblebee survey was a bit of a disappointment due to a lack of both bees and willing volunteers ( very windy/overcast). I might just keep the survey in the shed and whip it out when the sun comes out next, enlisting whoever happens to be around at the time (although it will probably be the chickens and they're a little young to master writing yet).

During the past week, Maria and I managed to cut down the raspberry canes and tie in the new growth, as well as weeding the leek bed. I feel it's a turning point moment for the allotment over the next month or so, so let's hope we can get ahead soon and get this off the ground (that's a very unsubtle hint in your direction, Gateshead Council Property Services).....

Free flowering

I'm not feeling very talkative today so I'll wait for another time when the muse takes me and leave pictures to speak for me instead. The lovely blue flower above shows that sometimes it's actually beneficial to be a little tardy and leave your lettuces to go to seed if this is the result.


I'm growing heritage varieties against non-heritage yellow tomatoes as part of a Garden Organic trial this year, and they seem to be doing pretty well - these are Yellow Submarine.


These more traditional red tomatoes are Diplom F1s.


I've never had much luck with aubergines before, but these are looking promising - they're big, healthy plants and have a fair amount of flowers, so fingers crossed I'll actually get some fruit this time.

Just by way of update, Maria and I finally made up the hot bed for the squashes (long overdue, so not expecting any wonders from those plants) - I think she thought I was joking when I said we were off to the nearby field to collect manure....and Peter and I cleared one of the high raised beds this morning, filled it with some extra compost, and sowed cauliflowers, cabbages, corn salad and chard for overwinter.

Chickens into composting

I came out of the polytunnel today to find the chickens had disappeared (if I'm around they tend to roam around the allotment as well, picking off the bugs and nibbling the odd plant). It only took a few minutes to track them down - in the compost bin, happily scratching around and balancing on the edges rather precariously.

They seemed a bit subdued yesterday night and off their food (I still maintain they knew one of the cockerel's had left their number and is now destined for Sunday roast) so it was nice to see them happily munching.

A brief thunderstorm gave me the chance to get some tidying done in the polytunnel, as the tomatoes had run away with me a bit and I'm bound to get told off sooner or later by one of the more diligent (and retired, which helps with that approach) allotment holders because I haven't snipped off all the side shoots.

Earlier in the week Maria and I transferred some compost from the bins onto the brassicas and also weaved in the willow dome, so that's looking much more under control.

We've still got strawberries, but the raspberries are just about over now, which is a shame. I think the heavy rains pretty much finished them off as they've all turned a bit mouldy all at once.

The strawberry bed is being extended, so I've dug up the nearby garlic so the runners can find their way across. We've got some good healthy bulbs, and I'm drying them a bit in the sun inbetween the showers, but I think they'll do most of their drying under cover at this rate.