Allotment Vegetable Growing in August 2004

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The August Monsoons

The August Monsoons
06/08/2004

The monsoon season! It seemed to rain nearly every day. I did manage to snap these one fine break.

Although the wet weather doesn't make cultivating attractive, it does mean the plants grow well having plenty of water and warm weather

Plot 5 - from the middle towards the compost heaps

Plot 5 - from the middle towards the compost heaps
21/08/2004

Leeks to the fore behind which the onions have been harvested. Notice my drying frame, constructed from spare wood and chicken wire.

Behind there you can see the sweetcorn. The plants on the left came from 2½" pots, those on the right from toilet roll inners.

In the background the blue barrel contains comfrey liquid manure.

Plot 5 Comfrey Plants

Plot 5 Comfrey Plants
21/08/2004

My love and care with the comfrey bed has paid off - strong growth swamping any weed that dares to germinate below.

Really is a compost mine.

See All about Comfrey

Plot 29 Runner Bean Teepees

Plot 29 Runner Bean Teepees
21/08/2004

The runner beans are in flush now. Teepees covered and the French beans are making a show. Their germination was pretty spotty but still have beans coming

Next year we will only have 2 teepees of runner beans but we will grow climbing French beans as well

Plot 29 - view to the top

Plot 29 - view to the top
21/08/2004

On the right the sweetcorn is trying, although my neighbour's sweetcorn dwarfs mine! Interspersed with squash and pumpkins we will see how they go on.

The blue plastic barrel is now around the back of the heaps and a pile of chippings awaits being spread.

Plot 29 - The Pumpkin

Plot 29 - The Pumpkin
21/08/2004

What a shame I didn't get a better picture. This ended up as a halloween gift to my nieces and nephew. It weighed about 30KG.

I could hardly lift it.

Growing Giant Pumpkins

Plot 29 Horse or Mares Tail

Plot 29 Horse or Mares Tail
21/08/2004

The salad deep bed did not get sprayed and you can see how bad the horse or mares tail has become on the neighbouring plot.

I will spray this bed at the end of the season and then move it in the spring.

Plot 29 - Runner Bean Teepees

Plot 29 - Runner Bean Teepees
21/08/2004

You can see how the prevailing wind is pushing the teepees over.

In the end they were taken down a little early as strong winds were forecast. We have more beans than is reasonable for 2 of us anyway. About 25lbs. Seemed to be doing nothing but blanch and freeze every night.

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