We went away for a short holiday during the last few days of May and into the first few days of June and so there was no weekly reflection. On our return, I was suitably refreshed and raring to go again at the allotment. I realised that often my plans do not survive contact with reality and as someone who loves a goal- it’s a painful realisation. However, this is very much the nature of gardening for food, oftentimes our wits are pitted against a large number of variables and this means plans have to be adapted. Nonetheless I still got alot of sowing, transplanting and some hearty harvests to enjoy.
What did I sow?
I sowed one new bed of parsnips as a previous attempt has failed to germinate. This was because this bed has had corn salad and calendula sown in previous years which then overcrowded the new parsnip seeds. This was my main sowing for the week as it took a while to clear the new bed.
What did I transplant?
I focussed on clearing down two beds with overgrown parsnips and purple sprouting broccoli. This was hard but very enjoyable. At the end of it, I was able to transplant some red onions, beetroot and spinach into the two beds as well as producing a lot of green matter for the compost heaps. A useful tip that I learned from a fellow allotmenteer was to ‘saw’ the large broccoli stems so as to help them compost faster.
What harvests did I enjoy?
We had more broad beans, one or two small punnets of sugar snap peas, lettuce leaves for salad and a few more new potatoes. A smaller harvest, which I did not photograph but still very tasty to eat during the weekend. I would estimate the value of the harvest to be rather small, around the £5.00 mark. To make up for this, I harvested some food on Monday 10th June which I estimated to be closer to £10.00 (as it was a more substantial harvest of broad beans, peas, potatoes, garlic, spinach, broccoli leaves and a small bunch of calendula flowers).
What were the moments of joy?
As I was clearing a number of overgrown beds, I found I had unexpected company in the form of two robins. These brightly coloured creatures flew in when they thought I wasn’t looking and picked the worms I’d unearthed. They made me smile so much and kept me entertained as I toiled away.
What were the tough moments?
Unfortunately, as with many other gardeners we have experienced an influx in allium leaf miner- a pest that is affecting lots of onions family plants. They distort the leaves of the onions, and burrow their brown pupae into the onion bulb- stunting growth and rotting the edible stem. As with my leeks earlier this spring, a large bed of onions I had have succumbed. I used the few stems and leaves that I could but have had to change my plans for this bed. It is now sown with parsnips.
What’s my main challenge for this coming week?
Last week, I talked about the pest pressure I’ve had from slugs and snails. I suspected that a neighbouring pathway with overgrown grass was to blame and my suspicions were confirmed. I managed to cut back half the path and in doing so, uncovered many slugs. With a fair wind, I hope to complete this job in the coming week and cover it with wood chips. Alongside this, I will continue clearing and weeding beds on the allotment ready for more transplants.
Summary:
A busy but highly productive week with more good progress made. It’s been interesting to reflect on how my plans have been affected by pest damage this year. I’ve been sowing and transplanting quite regularly but oftentimes seedlings are failing to make it. As a result my harvests are much smaller than expected but I still really enjoy the process of growing food.