August

Our August update will have to follow in several installments as this was a very busy month on the allotment. However, here is a synopsis:

• We started digging out onions.
  
• We had zucchini, parsley, raspberries in abundance.
  
• Out of a whole row of beetroot, we harvested 2 and have 3 more in the ground. A little disappointing on the quantities there, but the flavor makes up for it.
• In addition, we invented many recipes for all the potatoes and zucchinis. Every recipe that could do with a spoonful of parsley - got several cups of it.
• It was a bit hard to work out what can be planted in August. We have planted more potatoes, which by now are close to flowering. Our runner beans were planted in early August and now are close to harvest. (In fact, collected a handful tonight - shall steam them for dinner tomorrow.) We planted more coriander, rosemary and three rows of lettuce.

Sweltering June & Stormy July

After blazing sun and high temperatures in June, it is now a wet and windy July. We were fearing that our allotment would die in the hot sun, but it survived and quite on contrary was thriving in high temperatures. Pumpkin and zucchini plants grew very fast and potatoes doubled in size. Flowers survived, although did require a bit of attention and extra watering.

Fast forward in July and we have reasonable size carrots and onions looking almost ready to pick and runner-beans, beetroot and late-harvest carrots (Autumn-King) appearing. With all the rain we are getting in the last week, we might have to check that there is adequate drainage to direct water away fro the plants and maybe add some hay under zucchinis.