Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Summer Showers
Anyone who’s a gardener actually breathes a sigh of relief when the heavens open to relinquish a scattering of rain during hot summer spells. We pray for rain to refresh our crops, to fill our water-butts, to soften the earth, and whilst sun worshippers grab their towels and sun tan cream in a dash for cover, we look happily at the sky as the rain comes down. The grey, sometimes black clouds billowing in, the cracks of metal grating thunder, the deafening roar of lashing droplets. Bliss. Rain.
It has certainly done wonders at the allotment. Weeds were growing furiously, but amongst them, hidden away in a cocoon of fat hen, veggies were curling upwards. The soil was soft and dragging an army in tow….actually I was far from dragging, they were very happy to come along…the weeding extravaganza soon began! First the pea net was staked high and the spiralling peas rescued. They’ve done extremely well since their initial pigeon onslaught. Pea pods are appearing, cream white flowers poking through, and within minutes the entire thing was weeded to perfection.
The peas are rescued from the weeded cocoon
Perhaps the main purpose of the visit to the allotment was in fact to harvest the drooping onions. I wasn’t entirely sure they were ready, though many of the fleshy stems have dropped to lay on the ground, they didn’t seem bloated enough, too small. They sat in their cracked and dry holes, looking sorry for themselves, looking as if they wanted to be harvested, but upon removal of the first few I still wasn’t sure. When is the correct time to harvest? We left most of the crop in the ground, for a few further weeks whilst their leaves dry and frizzle, allowing extra time for growth of the bulb, and whilst I moved onto free the French Beans from their bindweed companion, Leone set about creating Onion Plaits.
Onions harvested and ready for hanging to dry
With the weeds practically falling out of the moist earth due to our thundery weather, the allotment was quickly freed from a vast quantity of villainous greens. The Comfrey went into the fertiliser bins….where I continue to produce rich, thick organic liquid feed, and the fat hen went into bunches for the hens. With the tomatoes putting on a growth spurt I quickly taught Leone how to stake and pinch out, before planting out our beautifully electric blue Brassica’s. They look stunning for a little cabbage, I can’t wait to see them develop and they have it lucky….they’re under a pigeon net.
Stunning electric blue Brassica’s, hell I’d even put them in my flower garden
We’re planning a meal of pea and onion soup, followd by home produced Frittata, as for pudding, well,….I really need to start planning how I can sneak a cow into South Woodford!
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Warning: Use of undefined constant powered_by - assumed 'powered_by' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/thegui11/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wp-followme/followme.php on line 58
Leave a Reply