August update

Time to write an update on what's been happening at the allotment over the past few weeks. The 'new' plot is completely over-run by the squash plants (see above). I've removed a few trailing off-shoots to try and keep it under control, but it's still a jungle. We are going to end up with so many squashes! A few weeks back I sowed Winter Cabbages (Regency) in seed trays at home in the plastic-greenhouse and this weekend I planted them out at the allotment. I've planted about 20 of them and then used hoops and netting to protect them from the birds (see below).


I also this weekend planted a Rhubarb plant (Champagne) on the 'new' plot (see below left). I've put it in one corner of the plot, which required me to dig over the area and add a load of manure.


The Butternut squashes (above right) are starting to ripen now and the Sweet Dumpling squashes (below left) of which there are hundreds are also either ripe or ripening. I have over 10 pumpkins (from 4 plants) with some being completely orange and others still green (see below right).


The Asparagus bed on the 'new' plot is doing really well, with about 3 shoots from each crown. Another job I've done this month is to start training the runners from the Strawberry plants into pots of compost (see below right) - ready for transplanting them. I plan to start a new Strawberry bed on the 'new' plot once the tomato plants have finished.


I recently pulled the fleece tunnels off the carrots to weed them (see below left) - they're doing exceptionally well and the thinings we've had so far have been very good quality. The leeks (below right) are also starting to grow quite well, although I must try and sow them earlier next year.


After thinking that the Parsnips had been a complete disaster, I now have about 10 of them (below left) - poor compared to the normal quantity but better than I expected a couple of months back. They've been incredibly slow, with just a few germinating long after I'd given up hope. The second-cropping potatoes that I planted out 3 weeks ago have now started showing through the surface (see below right) which is encouraging. So overall, it's looking good and been a busy few weeks.


I managed to pick up some black weed matts (1.5m x 10m) from Tesco at the weekend, reduced to just £1.22 each - so I bought 8 of them! That, combined with my existing ones, should allow me to cover all unused parts of both plots over the winter, stopping any weeds growing and saving time next Spring.