Augsut update

Before the month is out, it is time for an update. I must admit that it hasn't been the best year for veg growing (unless you live in Kent) as it was too dry, then it was too wet, then blight hit and now it thinks winter is on the way.

At least there is signs of green on the allotment. This year I went for companion planting in a big way on the basis that flowers attract the beneficial insects. Unfortunately the companions seem to have done better than the veg so we have wonderful sweet peas, dahlias and nasturtiums but hardly a carrot in sight. We do have good beans, in many varieties.





One great success at last is squash - corgettes, pumpkins and squash that I don't know the names of seem to be filling out nicely so we should have a good winter store.





The giant pumpkin is mainly due to the big blue tub of comfrey mix. I hope you appreciate the artistic sacrifice made as I had to hold my breath to get this photo. You will remember from year 1 on the allotment, that the smell of comfrey tea isn't one that you would share with friends.





The wet weather is working wonders on the late raspberries. This is one days picking after being away for two days. We are getting at least one box per day at the moment so the freezer is filling up with raspberries if nothing else.

We also have some apples to go with them. These are ready early this year so we have picked a few and I might make some apple and raspberry crumbles and pies to go in the freezer as well as some Hampshire Apple Cake (recipe to follow once I have made it up).



In preparation for next year, Nick and Matt have been building. The cage for the brassicas is up at the top of 51/52 and is ready to be netted (pictured here without netting) and the big top is built at the bottom of 53. Len is giving up his allotment and has a load of netting that he is giving us. There is a mixture of blue and green so I am tempted to make a fruit cage to be proud of with blue on the roof and green around the sides. I will make some red and white bunting to go around as this aparently these are the colours that pidgeons particularly don't like. You might ask why there is no picture ofthe big top but that will follow once complete so that you can see it in its full glory.


Another building project that they started was the composting centre. We have been provided with a wooded compost bin by the council. As they have allowed one per plot we have three. Cunning people that we are, we have built one and then added a back and side to make two more, without fronts, on the side of it. The third bin is used to form an entrance to the plots and we will add a gate between the two bins. Update to follow once complete.