Excuses

Excuses...
The older you get the quicker time flies - it is June already! I haven't posted much recently because there have been Exams, and when I haven't been revising I've been on the allotment. I've popped down at least once a week, watering the seedlings, doing a spot of weeding and planting new seeds. Now that the exams are over and the bank holiday is here, I'm hoping to spend a lot more time on the plot!

Update...
The plot has really benefited from plenty of rain and a few good warm days recently - the beans are all up, the beetroot is going well, and the sugar snap peas are almost ready to pick. The thyme plants have really enjoyed the good weather - the citrus and woolly thymes are a mass of delicate pink flowers, and are attracting a variety of bee species.

We've had a few casualties in the rain though - the two clematis that were added to the new arch didn't cope with the sudden onset of cold weather, and so were dug up and temporarily rehomed in the greenhouse tent, where they are now both recovering. They've been replaced by two much sturdier specimens, who seem to be making the most of the arch and sending out a lot of tendrils. The arch has also had a couple of climbing strawberries planted close by - they're looking healthy, but so far showing no inclination to climb.

The two garlic plantations are also showing distinct differences - those planted in the shadow of the damson trees are looking beautiful. At two feet tall, their leaves are a strong healthy green, and are showing the promise of good bulbs. Those planted in the unshaded strip at the front of the plot look entirely different - thin stalks and yellowing leaves are a clear indication they are not finding it easy to grow. Next year, I'll be planting that area quite differently!

The transplanted asparagus and artichokes have taken well to their new raised beds, and are looking healthy. I haven't picked any asparagus this year - it seemed a good idea to give it twelve months to get established.

Something unexpected...
I've had quite a bit of company on the plot recently, and not just from the wildlife (shed eviction day for the mouse family was very sad, but it had to be done). The allotments are built on, or with, the contents of a Victorian rubbish dump - a perfect hunting ground for unfussy or amateur archaeologists! Giles and Lisa have uncovered a variety of antique domestic refuse, from the quite dreadful Asiatic Pheasant dinner service (we easily understood why that had been discarded) to a range of poison bottles and other chemist's products. It's great that the stuff is out of my soil, and quite astonishing to see so much come up whole out of the ground.