Late Summer bits and bobs.

[Monika]

Our leeks have been affected by rust the last two or three years (never had any problems before), but I just leave them. It doesn't seem to do the edible inside any harm.

[Monika]

What gorgeous weather we are still having! It rained last evening and overnight (15mm altogether) but the ground was still very diggable today and the air was so clear that we could see for miles from the allotment.

We have nearly cleared all our wood store (stakes, treading boards etc ) from the allotment half which we are giving up and have emptied half the compost heap which has been "stewing" for about 5 years. Luckily, our second large compost bin is on the half which we are keeping. Most of the plot is dug now, too, and I have planted the overwintering onions (Radar), shallots (Jermor) and garlic (Solent Provence and Vallador).

All this afternoon was spent planting dozens of spring bulbs in containers for our garden and the family. I do love autumn, my favourite time of the year!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Monika, will anyone be taking on your half plot? If so, i would imagine it will feel quite strange seeing someone else working the soil.

My allotment really does look quite odd at the moment, with all the late sowings of crops looking very healthy and productive. I normally sow lots of things at the end of july, begining of august, and normally get a few meals of these, but this year they are cropping as well as early summer crops.These late sowings consist of, runner beans, french beans, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, radish and rocket, and this is without all the earlier crops still going strong, marrow, courgette, celeriac, leeks, tomatoes and florrence fennel.
All the winter greens are growing at a nice steady rate too, but the thng i am very excited by is, four rows of chryanthemums that are blooming just perfectly with this weather and hopefully there should be lots of bunches for the harvest festival.

And the very late parsnips that i sowed are making good growth now, so hoping for some parsnip that should be between 2 or 3 inches across the shoulder.

This year has been a real exception for the late sowings, so if anyone tries it next year, don't coming knocking on my door if things aren't as good.

Moving on to one of Clives previous posts about his apples not keeping very well. Well round here lots of apples this year have brown rot and rotting on the trees before they are ready for picking, and this always seems to make it a bad year for storing them.

[Ricard with an H]

This year has been a real exception for the late sowings, so if anyone tries it next year, don't coming knocking on my door if things aren't as good. .

This year has been very encouraging though adds balance to the difficulties of my previous two years, forcing things to grow when the weather isn't quite right is an art. I'm still considering a greenhouse and whilst I've had all the advise I need and done lots of research in my case it'll be doing nothing between late spring and January/February so I have to sit on this for another year.

[Monika]

Yes, OH, our 'abandoned' half is already taken. We met the new allotmenteer tonight and showed her around. She and her husband have already been growing vegetables in their garden in the village but they would like to have a larger plot. We still have our winter greens and quite a few leeks on that half but will be clearing it gradually over winter.

You are right, it will be strange to see somebody else on this plot which we have been using for almost 30 years! But we thought it best to give it up whilst gardening is still a pleasure rather than a chore! And there is plenty of space on our reduced area.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Monika, at least your plot sounds as if it's going to be in good hands, that must be far better then if it was just left to get all over-grown. They certainly have a good start, with all the work you have put into the soil over the many years.

[Ricard with an H]

Monika, your reason for giving up the other allotment is the same reason I'm building yet another raised bed. Next year I might be too creaky for building things, I even bought another hose-reel so I don't need to drag and thread the watering hose to different parts. Whilst I share most of the other difficulties of gardening I've been pleasantly surprised how much easier raised beds are once you have the soil right.

Weeds come out much easier, seedlings seem to germinate more quickly and establish and cutting down on potting is a target for next season.

I'm still not sure what to grow in the latest raised bed, I would have left it for the worms to do the mixing of the cow-poo and organic material. Then I decided to sow grazing rye but I have so many kale seedlings that need a home that I'll have to plant them even though the soil structure isn't quite what I want.

[Clive.]

At last this morning I completed the planting of the 64 lavenders in the formal front garden. It all started last year when we took cuttings of the old ones, potted on, then planted out in kitchen garden. Old plants dug out, ground double dug and new Lavender lifted with good root ball intact and planted with water underneath and then watered into centre of the plant to complete. Hopefully all sorted for another 5 years...with a few spare plants left in stock.

Then it was down to the Church where, with the accompaniment of the organ practice, including the Teddy Bears Picnic , we decorated for Harvest Thanksgiving.

Clive.

[Clive.]

Spotted these 2 yesterday feeding on some missed Damsons.

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Clive, lovely photos as normal, but i can't believe it's harvest festival time again!....where has this year gone!!!

I know this is mad but, i'm just going over the allotment to heavily water everything, as it's all starting to show signs of drought. There can't be many years i have had to do that at this time of the year.

[Monika]

Good morning Clive and OH. And what a lovely morning it is, too. Just off to the allotment to take down the runner beans which look rather sorry for themselves, not least because of the lack of water (just like you said, OH).

Clive, I once spend a very happy hour or so listening to an organist in that lovely small church where you will be having your harvest festival. Have a wonderful time!

[Elaine]

Morning all...not as early as you all are/ were!
We're off to the allotment too...amongst other things, Ken needs my help to put up the pergola he has built to go around our plot gate. I've been wanting one for a few years but he has never had the time to make one until now. He has been on sick leave since April and the allotment has been a boon...I think he would have been climbing the walls if he hadn't had the plot to see to. He retires next April, so ....more of the same! We might even stand a chance of winning the "Best Allotment" at our next show, at this rate!

We need to take the Runner Beans down too, dig out the mildewed courgettes, get rid of the cucumber plants in the small greenhouse, pick yet more tomatoes (my workmates will be chuffed) and dig up the last of the Desiree...which are very poor this year, due to blight....our whole site was hit by it and Downy Mildew on onions.

If I've any energy left after that, the compost heap needs sorting and the new one starting....

[oldherbaceous]

In another topic, "gardening word game" does this achieve something, or is it just for fun? I suppose you now all think i'm Mister Boring....

[Elaine]

Dear OH boring??? Never.

It's just for fun! I quite like it....my grey matter needs a bit of exercise...

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Elaine, thank you for the answer, i would hate to think i was missing something.....