Allotment Vegetable Growing in June 2007

Click on the photos to pop-up a larger image

Allotment Plot 34

Allotment Plot 34
01/06/2007

It's getting very posh on the site nowadays. Must be something to do with them allowing the wimminfolk onto the site! One of the sheds even has net curtains.

It's actually great to see people taking such pride in their plots. People who invest time and effort in their plot. You know someone who does that is not going to give up because the weeds grow,

Brassicas Safe from the Pigeons

Brassicas Safe from the Pigeons
01/06/2007

I've got my brassicas safely netted to keep the pigeons off. The ravenous flying rats would strip the leaves to skeletons in a day without protection.

It's actually quite simple to set up, the frames to either side support bamboo canes over which the net hangs. Bit tricky to get the net up on your own but very secure.

Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Onions and Potatoes.

Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Onions and Potatoes.
01/06/2007

On the left are my San Marzano plum tomatoes with partial barn cloches giving them some extra protection to get them away although they're a fair size already in 8" pots.

To the right of them the sweetcorn are now out of cloche. In the foreground, the broad beans and behind the cloches you can make out the onions and behind them the potatoes. If the crop is as good as the top we'll be selling them!

Plots 32 33

Plots 32 33
03/06/2007

One of the most attractive plots on our site (actually 2 plots but worked as one) with deep beds, a pond etc.

If they enter the competition this year I think they would be favourite. Shows what you can do when you don't mess about on a computer all day.

Deep Bed Coldframe Potatoes

Deep Bed Coldframe Potatoes
03/06/2007

The Arran Pilot planted in the black deep bed under the coldframe appear to be doing really well. Planted on 26th March I think there should be a crop underneath by now.

Behind you can see the tomatoes in the greenhouse. Please ignore the weeds!

Attracting Dragonflies

Attracting Dragonflies
15/06/2007

 Our friend in the Limousin wanted to attract wildlife to her pond and for the dragonflies she has just inserted some bamboo poles into the islands and borders.
They certainly seem to work as there always seemed to be a dragonfly or two on a pole.
I did see a couple of dragonflies mating but couldn't get the camera in time.

Close Up of the Dragonfly

Close Up of the Dragonfly
15/06/2007

This beauty was about 4 inches (10 cm) long and you can make out his (or her?) double wing set in this shot. Unfortunately the sunlight has bleached out the beautiful blue colour of his body.
I'm not sure if they do any good in the garden like eating pests but they certainly justify themselves by their beauty

Relaxing by the pond

Relaxing by the pond
15/06/2007

Here's Val sitting in the shade by the pond with the fountain tinkling on the left.
The pond was only constructed last year and the plants are still establishing.
The islands provide a safe haven for wildlife and the stones going into the water at the edges provide a path in and out of the pond for the wildlife.

Cascade and Small Ponds

Cascade and Small Ponds
15/06/2007

On the other side of the pond there is a path to a terrace covered with bark chippings from an upper tiled terraced.

The cascade arrangement provides drainage if rain over-fills the pond and seems to be the favourite haunt for the frogs.

The fish in the main pond would probably eat any frogspawn and tadpoles so the series of small ponds provides a breeding area for them.

Deep Bed Vegetable Garden

Deep Bed Vegetable Garden
15/06/2007

Our good friend Annie doing a spot of weeding in her vegetable plot.

The rear garden was demolished when mains drainage reached the village and the drains were laid across it. She'll be able to move the vegetables out from under the trees and increase the size for next year.

Slug and Lettuce

Slug and Lettuce
15/06/2007

Her biggest problem in the vegetable garden is the slug. These large brown slugs were munching a lettuce.

After some searching we discovered the safe pellets in the Champion supermarket, but not in the 3 garden centres we tried! and were able to bring the problem under control.

The first night we thinly scattered the pellets and in the morning they were all gone and no slugs to be found. We repeated twice until there were pellets left and we knew most of the slugs had gone.

French Vegetable Garden

French Vegetable Garden
15/06/2007

On the corner of the road into the village there's a nice old couple, he's in his nineties, who have their vegetable patch in the front garden

It's really quite amazing and I'd be proud to have an allotment half as good. I did not even spot a weed, although he did - stick in one hand and hoe in the other!

Visiting the Garden Museum

Visiting the Garden Museum
15/06/2007

We dropped over to see a couple, he's an antique dealer and she gardens as well as collecting old gardening tools and implements. A huge collection of apple picking tools is her pride as well as various spades, forks, hoes etc.

Here I am in their garden accompanied by four lovely ladies. It's a hard life!

Fish Guano Fertiliser

Fish Guano Fertiliser
15/06/2007

They collect old signs as well and this caught my eye- Fish Guano! I've probably translated it wrongly. I can make grown Frenchmen cry by my mangling of their language. 

Fertiliser for Sale Sign

Fertiliser for Sale Sign
15/06/2007

This sign from the turn of last century was outside a gardener's supply shop. Quite a historical piece

Mixed Herb and Flower Border

Mixed Herb and Flower Border
15/06/2007

Back in the garden I noticed this island border. A rosemary bush provides an architectural feature and the sage and oregano surround the central pot moving round to flowers.

I thought it was both practical and attractive.

Antique Watering Cans

Antique Watering Cans
15/06/2007

This collection of watering cans date from the late 1800s to mid 1900s. Some are copper and the later ones galvanised.

I didn't ask what they were worth - that can be a dangerous thing to do with an antique dealer!

Marie Antoinette Watering Can

Marie Antoinette Watering Can
15/06/2007

This 18th century copper can is exquisitely hand decorated. On the top there are clouds and rain is falling from them and below peasants labour in the garden.

On the other side is a royal crest.

Other Side of the Watering Can

Other Side of the Watering Can
15/06/2007

This is the other side of the can but you can't make out the peasants very well.

Yes, photographed on a bed.

My New French Watering Can and Tomatoes in Small Greenhouse

My New French Watering Can and Tomatoes in Small Greenhouse
15/06/2007

In pride of place on the bench my new French watering can. It was quite expensive at 9 euro, about £6.00 especially considering they had watering cans shaped more like the ones here for just over 3 euros but I loved the milkjug shape.

The spout is far thicker than we have so I won't be able to use any of my other roses with it but it came with one.

You can see the topsy turvy tomato holder on the right. I'm not at all sure about it since the plant seems determined to just curve around and grow upwards.

Potatoes and Greenhouse

Potatoes and Greenhouse
15/06/2007

On the left you can see the potatoes in the deep bed coldframe are well away. They'll be harvested over the weekend if the weather stays dry for a bit.

On the right you can tell the tomatoes have gone wild in the last ten days in the greenhouse.

Please ignore the weeds, I didn't have chance to airbrush them out of the photo!

Comfrey Bed on Plot 5

Comfrey Bed on Plot 5
15/06/2007

The comfrey was cut back just before we left so this is how much it has grown in just ten days. I suppose the effect of sunshine along with a water retaining soil doesn't hold it back much.

In the blue barrels (rear left) it is fermenting nicely, ask the flies who manage to get in despite lids on the barrels.

View over the Potatoes up Plot 5

View over the Potatoes up Plot 5
15/06/2007

The early potatoes are flowering and ready to start harvesting. Up towards the top of the plot you can make out the sweetcorn. That's trebled in size while we have been away.

Weeds Growing Well

Weeds Growing Well
15/06/2007

Back on plot 29 the weeds are doing as well as on plot 5. Considering this had been hoed and was absolutely clean before we went away, it's incredible how they have all appeared and got so large.

The Sarpo Mira behind are doing well, they were earthed up just prior to our departure as well.

Climbing and French Bean Teepees on Plot 5

Climbing and French Bean Teepees on Plot 5
27/06/2007

Despite the rain making the ground sodden  - just look at the relief trench full of water - I managed to get these up and the beans planted.

It was either plant the beans or chuck them on the compost heap time.

Glastonbury Pete Flies the Flag

Glastonbury Pete Flies the Flag
27/06/2007

 One of the most interesting plots on our site has to be Glastonbury Pete's. The 'tents' are actually large cloches. He's got an artistic flair with garden design that I really envy and his plot is becoming a great place to just sit and relax as well as growing veggies.

Love his flag - took three shots to catch it properly.

Prev >> May 2007: | Next >> July 2007

Check out the Allotment & Garden Diary to see what we're doing now and our Monthly Growing Guides

Monthly Free Newsletter

Now Read the Book!

Our Growing Books

Our bestselling books for growing success!
More Information
FREE SEEDS SPECIAL OFFER