What To Grow In August

 

Rain today so looking at what can be sown into the beds that are now clear in August 

Square Foot Gardening Bed 2

My sister dropped off the grass cuttings from her back garden and I took them down to the allotment today along with kitchen scraps for the hot bin. The kitchen scraps were added to the Hotbin and then covered with grass cuttings. 

The rest of the grass cuttings were spread over the bed to help bring the level of the ground back up to the top of the raised bed framework. The grass will rot down and feed the raised bed. 

I was also clearing the workbench in the potting shed and harvesting Rhubarb, Plums & Raspberries today but managed to water the bed and emptied the contents of one of the bags of compost onto the bed.

Time beat me and it was time to go home for my evening meal, so I covered the hoops with netting and will finish filling this bed next visit. 

Weeding, Topping Up & Covering Raised Beds

Raised Bed 15 with the tray removed and the excavation by the fox filled in at the bottom corner in the photo above. 

I weeded the bed and then used the compost and coir mix that I had in the bucket of Jacky potatoes that I harvested today and filled the excavated areas and brought the two watering gullies back up to the surface, and watered the bed.

Good crop from four seed potatoes in a 30 Litre Pot with handles, I may leave the next couple of Buckets a little longer to give then time to fatten up a little more. 

Bed 15 covered back up to stop Basil and his mate from digging my raised bed out again. I need to make some longitudinal binders for the hoops as Basil flattened the last hoop & netting I put on this bed. 

Tomatoes watered and trimmed a little. 

Square Foot Garden Bed 1 (SFG Bed 1) weeded and covered with netting, and yes Basil has been in that one as well. The level of the soil and compost has dropped during the last six months whilst the onions were growing, and this bed needs topping up and re sowing with vegetables.  

Ash Tree Cut Back

Two operatives arrived one with a cherry picker and the other with a lorry and chipper, I asked then were they there to also look at the fallen tree on plot 13 and they said they were only there to undertake trimming of the dead wood on the large Ash next to the gate, It was at this point that I called Jane at idvrde and she telephoned and spoke to Adam Bind from the council

They did cut up the fallen tree on plot 13 further and removed the trunk from the plot after I Jane spoke to Adam and Adam to the contractor.

However they gave me a cock and ball story about the 3ft tree trunk and roots on plot 3 could not be undertaken as there was metal in the root system and when I asked if they would at least cut the 3 ft  trunk as low to the ground as possible so we could build a bonfire around the stump to burn it out come November. I was informed by them that there was metal inside the tree trunk!. 

This is completer and utter bulls...t. so I have emailed Adam as Jane cant get an answer from him directly to advise me what he has been informed and when and if the trunks and the roots will be removed as we have been waiting over a year for these works to be completed? The last push to get thsi done was four months ago. 

The group of trees that were originally cut down to approx. 3 ft around the water tank on plot 3 should also have been reduced to ground level during the original works as they were accessible, I understand the reluctance to grind the roots in that location because of the possible water mains to the tanks system on the allotment.
 
One operative, trespassed onto plot 14 and helped himself to an apple off the tree, I gave him at stare and shook my head in disapproval, as his attitude was not the best when I tried to engage with them on their arrival, there was no point engaging regarding my disapproval at trespass and stealing. 

They have made a particularly un-professional job of picking up the debris caused by their work and have left a small pile of debris near to the main timber gate. Larger branches were kicked into the timber fence between the allotment and car park inside the allotment and along the wall to the boiler house to the property behind the allotment.

I did say to the tree surgeons that we would be happy for them to leave the chippings on our woodchip pile, they ignored this request and what they did clear went into their lorry. Clearly they appeared uninterested when I initially spoke to them and had not listened to anything I was saying to them. Had they done this, we may not have been so upset about the poor clear up job they made before leaving.   

Whilst the site is ONLY an allotment, we have worked hard to keep it clean and tidy and undertake remedial works ourselves following contractors works that destroyed the car park surface and the main path last year. 

TESCO were selling these two way splitters off at a £1, so I bought a couple as the one on my nearest tank on the corner of plot 13 is getting a little battered by plot holders who don't understand you need to pull the fitting back on the end of the hose and just ease the hose of the fitting and tear the end off damaging the fitting. 

Path between plot 1 and Plot 2 trimmed with my Ryobi trimmer as was the path from the potting shed to the Climbing Frame Greenhouse (CFG) and the path within the CFG. Mares-tail and weeds along the bed parallel to the path was cleared of weeds and as can be seen the plants along this bed are now dying off. I've left the beans in the photo to collect as seeds for next years sowing. I will plant some more seeds and get them growing to try and get another harvest from that section of the CFG. 

All Gold Raspberries looking better for tying back to the framework on the boundary beds,  
 .    

Solar Powered Fountain

At the allotment today working on tying back the raspberries and attacking the Bindweed and installed the floating solar powered fountain I got off Freecycle into the base of the pebble pool that I now have standing in a cut down blue barrel,

Video made when it was overcast and the pebble pool was not in direct sunlight, goes consistently when in direct sunlight.  

Removing The Bindweed From Paths

With the recent rain and sunny weather the bindweed has taken over a large area of plot 1A as I have been concentrating in attacking it and keeping it back on plot 1. 

As it was not too hot and sunny and there was a bit of cloud cover I took the Ryobi trimmer to the paths and pulled up as much bindweed as possible, isolating the beds so I can go back and clear the weeds in each bed and get them ready for, if not this year at least for next year. 

Secondary path from Plot 1 to Plot 1A 

Photo after the cuttings were removed and the dross blown off the paving slabs with my Ryobi blower

Plastic planting tray placed on the top of raised bed 15 to prevent the fox from keep digging the compost out. Temporary measure until I can get hoops and netting back on the bed and sow some carrots in the bed. 

Mares tail and bindweed trimmed off the spoil heap next to raised bed 16 that needs the remaining scaffold boards made into the framework for the rest of bed 16 

The Crimson range of tomatoes are growing but I'm yet to see anything turning red. 

Crimson range of blight resistant tomatoes that had to go into the two fabricated raised beds and I had not extended the traditional narrow beds where I plant tomatoes out in the open on the allotment

Lazy Housewife French Climbing Beans.

 

Because of the heatwave we have been having in June & July, the battle to get back on top of the allotment, during the blazing hot days now more difficult as, I have to keep out of the sun when the UV is very high and use factor 50+ sun block on my arms and wear my silly Winnie- the-Poo hat due to my cancer. I tend to visit really early or really late in the day and limit my exposure.

Today I harvested another batch of Lazy Housewife French Climbing Beans.  

Raspberries Ready For Harvesting

 

Lots of All Gold Raspberries ready for harvesting, so many fruits this year.  

Polka (late) - A multi-award winner at the National Fruit Show, Polka has exceptional fruit quality, and the large/ medium red berries are full of fragrant zesty flavour. Bred in Poland with Autumn Bliss as one of its parents, the virtually spine-free raspberry canes will yield double the crop of Autumn Bliss and Polka crops up to 2 weeks earlier, from late July to October. Polka even grows well on less desirable soils. 

Grandad Gets A Digby Visit

 

Digby, Emma & Kelly came to the allotment this morning for a visit, as I had All Gold Raspberries, French Climbing Beans and my first Cucumber of the year to harvest. I didn't get a photo of the cucumber before it went home with Digby so Emma took a photo of it with Digby for scale and sent it too me.  

The All Gold Raspberries are a hit with Diggers 

Guess What It's Summer

 

The papers and the internet news feeds are full of photos of Britain this green and pleasant land turning brown due to the lack of rain that we have had. Yes its been the driest spring in 132 years and very dry over the last few months, The warning of hose pipe bans and photos of dry reservoirs up north abound  

Mean while in Mitcham and Sutton there have been massive water main leaks that have flooded surrounding roads. If the CEO's of water companies didn't keep giving themselves huge pay increases and their shareholders all the profits and actually were pre active in looking after the infrastructure there would not be as much loss of water resources. 

The phrase "Save water, bath with a friend!" was a popular slogan during the 1976 drought in the UK, used to encourage water conservation. Perhaps they should re-laugh the campaign? 

Square Foot Garden Beds 1 & 2

With the high UV values and the high temperatures I have been going to allotment much later in the day to water and attack the unrelenting bindweed that has been gradually taking a foot hold on the allotment. SFG beds 1 and 2 now cleared of onions and weeds and ready for re-use, The soul levels in these two beds has greatly reduced of the last six months and needs topping up. 

The promised pallet collars are never going to become a reality, so I will concentrate on using the rescued decking to make raised beds on the rest of plot 1. The company I bought the scaffold boards from no longer sources or sells them. 

  

Climbing French Bean Harvest

The first harvest of Climbing French Beans from the allotment picked today and taken home and trimmed and cut up and bagged up and frozen. Second wave should be ready for harvesting in another 7-10 days and the recently planted plants in the climbing frame greenhouse will hopefully climb the walls quickly.  

French Climbing Beans

The French Climbing Bans have really grown over the last week and its time to get them in around the inside of the climbing frame greenhouse and I have been getting the beds weed free over the last few visits 

Left overs after planting out around the inside of the climbing frame greenhouse 

Climbing Frame Greenhouse after planting out 

Climbing Frame Greenhouse after planting out 

Climbing Frame Greenhouse after planting out 

Climbing Frame Greenhouse after planting out 

Basil Brush has been excavating in Square Foot Garden Bed 1, uncovering one watering pipe and burying the other! 

 

Climbing French Beans and Harvesting Onions

The overwintered onions in SFG Bed 2 Harvested 
 

Climbing French Beans Germinating 

Onions from SFG Beds 1 & 2 harvested trimmed and hung in drying rack 

Bed 15 watered in and topped up 

SFG Beds 1 & 2 following the harvesting of the onions 

Planning and Reviewing June In Previous Years

Reviewing the diary over the last Twelve years for June

2013 - Potting up tomatoes & peppers, potatoes, cabbages, sprouts and sweet corn, dug beds 7 & 8  

 

2014 - Watering system installed on Mill Green plot 1A, Potted up Tomatoes into buckets, installed bed 12, Marrows in manure covered in cardboard. Beetroots, Harvested the first bunch of Spring onions. Harvested first early potatoes from buckets. End of the month bed 13 completed, second bed of runner beans sown.         

2015 -  Not many posts in the blog for this month in this year, it was however my first Vlog from the plot. first year trying French beans the family didn't like them and it they have not been grown again since. Potted tomatoes from vending machine cups into pots that were taken to the grow house on the plot. First year growing Marketmore cucumbers. Sweetcorn planted on Fathers day, First year for successfully growing a whole bed of Parsnips. First year for peas. Cherries on the cherry trees. Sent two Crimson Crush tomato plants.   

2016 - Very cold June. Grow House heaving with plants, Burpless Cucumber transplanted into pots, Tomatoes potted on from vending machine cups, Sprouts failed and I had to buy some. Third sowing of beetroots, First year for celery. Flooding at Wallington Railway Bridge

Second sowing of sweetcorn due to slow germination then the first sowing germinated after the first ! Drying Coffee Grounds

Mill Green - Runner beans planted out, sweetcorn planted out into beds mulched with cut comfrey, Sprouts planted out,    

Spencer Road - Onions, Potatoes, Beetroots and infrastructure works. 

Home - Tomatoes finally get transplanted into flower buckets.  

2017 - Due to wife being very ill and in hospital a couple of times, everything was late and many things just didn't happen. Sweetcorn was sown about a month later than usual, so were Beetroots, and the first early spud in buckets experiment for SoilFixer was also a month late. Very large double size Dalek picked up off Freecycle for Mill Green

2018 - Community work, clearing weeds from plot 4 for Sarah who has burn injuries and can't work her plot.  Crimson Crush & Rapunzel tomatoes planted on the plot.  Lark Sweetcorn planted, Moving slabs and kerb stones from Spencer Road to Mill Green, Sold my Handy Tiller & Generator that I had bought and had never used, Trimming tomatoes and giving a Comfrey feed, Butternut Squash in the bottom of Plot 1. Clearing Spencer Road Allotment and bringing items to Mill Green. Sowed more carrots, Spring Onions in cut down flower buckets, 24th June Cucumbers transplanted, Fixing the chairs, Comfrey pipe from Spencer Road plot set up on Mill Green, Shed maintenance replacing feather edge board, Trees from Jersey Plants Direct, 

2019 - Lots of potting up and growing in the Space Saver Greenhouse, Purchased CMH Heavy Duty Plastic Trays,  Lots of rain and flooding in the early part of the month. The contractor working on the property behind the wall cut down the trees and left branches on my shed. Lots of plums on the tree and the some bastard picked them all!  Beetroots disappointing this year wiped out by the intense heat and slugs. 24th June Butternut squash planted out, cucumbers starting to climb their framework, Trial of Nemaslug sent but they had to be stored in the fridge!, Weekend Heatwave with temperatures in 40C .Watering visits as a very dry and sunny June, Potatoes in buckets drying out very quickly, must consider toeing into the bed next year.  

2020 - Due to Covid and the lockdown I  didn't visit the allotment during June as I was shielding my wife. My daughter and son in law visited and tried to keep the allotment tidy and undertook weed management. All of my growing was done in the back garden.

2021 - First week potting on tomatoes into vending machine cups. Met Jane from idverde and she undertook the plot inspections and served no cult letters on two of the plot holders. Planting Sweetcorn into the beds. Gherkins and cucumbers potted on. Second week of June really hot and dry, mid week watering visit required. 300mm x300mm paving slabs off Freecycle used to make the path between SFG Beds 1 & 2. Making tomato planting membrane for the new narrow beds on the plot. Buying 3" spring clamps to hold the debris netting to the tube was a game changer . Lined the inside of the plot 1 Greenhouse with blue Debris netting and made it look like a TARDIS. Beetroot bed a third sown and growing. Tomato Bed 2 weeded, compost added and plants planted. Path between Rhubarb Beds 1 & 2 weeded and formed. Quadgrows finally set up in the plot 1 greenhouse.

2022 - Lots of Raspberries harvested this year, Onions harvested before they go to seed, First trial of Postiplugs from Suttons, Planting Membrane production, Kelly and Emma cleared Mares Tail, Poor sweetcorn germination so late starting off on kitchen towel in a take a way container, Sowing Cucumbers and Courgettes.

2023 - Trying to get everything up to date because of the proposed reconstruction of my jaw. I have cut back on sowing new vegetables as my girls will want to come and see me in hospital and not be down the allotment planting out watering and weeding. Setting up the Hotbin worm farm, Harvesting Raspberries , Karmen (Red), Pink Panther (Pink) and Snowball (white) Onions and Lazy Housewife French Climbing Beans, Crystal Lemon & Crystal Apple cucumbers.

2024 - Only 12 posts in this month as I was still finding my feet again following the cancer treatment and the Autoimmune Arthritis in my joints. Just managed to start driving myself around and applied for a disabled badge as walking using the wheeled frame. Working on Raising the Square Foot Garden beds. Pruning the grapevine. Picked up 20 decking boards off Freecycle to make  raised beds and dropped off to the allotment. Picked up a set of plastic drawers off Freecycle for the potting shed. Let the tree surgeon in to drop off woodchips.  Picked up three paving slabs off Freecycle, guy loaded them for me and I managed to get them into the wheelbarrow and onto the plot.  

To Do List