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Our summer has begun and we can bathe in a luxurious 17 degrees here in the Highlands! But, with the extended cool and damp weather, we have all had to deal with a delayed growing season and the Hawthorn Allotments are no different.  Many plot holders are just putting plants out now that would normally have been in the ground a month ago although I’m sure some have used this weather to have an extended hibernation (people that is).  I, however, am not easily put off and, as in previous years, have managed to get most of my veg planted out on schedule, protected with cloches. My cloches are simple and easy; I use 5 litre water bottles (yes folks, I do drink water sometimes) with the bottoms cut off and a cane through the neck to stop them blowing away. I can water the plants through the neck of the bottles whilst the plants get protection from birds and have a miniature greenhouse around them to give them what warmth any sun brings.  It is satisfying to see so much of the allotment doing well as a result. Despite the cloches, the ground still took some time to begin warming up and some plants have not responded well; my dwarf beans are still small but are showing signs of picking up. 

Over the coming weeks, I will be going over some of the things I have been doing at the allotments and things I will be planning for the upcoming days. This last weekend, I have been planting some Brussels sprouts and purple sprouting broccoli. I’ve already got both in the ground, but this will allow me to extend my harvest as I look to have year round crops. My squashes are now outside along with pumpkins and courgettes. It is a shame that I lost my first sowings of courgettes and cucumbers due to getting damped off in the cold, but my second batches are doing well, apologies to all those I promised plants to! 

My plans for the coming days will involve a second sowing of savoy cabbage and cauliflowers, along with some Brussels and cabbages for the winter. I have celeriac to plant out and I am hoping this warm spell will hold to allow them a chance to get established. The tomatoes are growing well in the greenhouse so I’ll devote some time to ensuring they are tied up properly and that I’ve nipped out the shoots between the main stem and the branches and, now that flowers have started to appear, I’ll be starting to feed them gently. Salad crops should do well outside as things warm up and I do enjoy radishes as part of any salad. I’ve delayed planting parsley, dill, basil and other herbs so these are on the list too. 

Right, back off to the allotments to carry on with the job I love best. Not. Weeding – I have committed the usual cardinal sin by putting off my war on weeds and now the little blighters are big blighters. Anyone got any good recipes for cooking weeds?