Wood Chips

 Coarse wood chips, ideal for topping up paths. 

Having most of the beds the same size works well. At approximately 1m wide they can be straddled for working, are easily hopped over when moving round the plot, no strain on the lower back when leaning in to reach the middle and hoops and nets for crop protection are interchangeable between beds. 

It might seem like a lot of path area but summer foliage from beds either side can soon start to obscure them and because the chippings lie direct on the soil (no weed-proof membrane) the paths in effect become composters, constantly feeding fungi and soil microbes, supplying nutrients for the beds.

Winter salad

 Winter Density lettuce, American land cress and rocket Astra to provide salad in the colder months.

Edit update :- Winter Density turned out to be less hardy to the cold than it's name suggests

Fungi

 There's plenty of fungal activity at the moment. These are possibly a type of Cortinarius, not edible but they look good and are breaking down woody material into nutrients for the soil.

Competition Winners

 For a bit of fun our local council organises a borough allotment competition. This year judging took place on July 8th and apart from the traditional criteria of tidiness, variety and condition of crops etc. also takes in harvesting of rain water, use of or recycling items/materials and consideration for biodiversity and the environment.

Out of approximately 800 plots ours was awarded first place.

Curry Night

 Red lentil dhal, shredded cabbage, tomatoes and coriander wrapped in home made chapattis.

 Magpies started to peck at the butternuts so we harvested early and they'll finish ripening under cover.

Stable Manure

We had the opportunity to collect some well rotted stable muck. A couple of days before going we were fortunate to be given a pair of heavy duty wooden gates, perfect for making a storage bay.

Our own compost in the foreground doesn't look much different to the stable muck behind.

More Flowers

 

Spuds 2020

Growing potatoes under part rotted woodchips is working well. Finely cut chippings (including a fair amount of green content) are stored from the previous year and used to mound up the rows.

Lesser Stag Beetle

Since changing to no-dig we're noticing an increase in beetles. This lesser stag is a type of dung beetle.

Sourdough

 Made a loaf to go with tonight's meal. 

Fennel & Flowers

Garlic tied up

This years harvest tied together with fishing line so they can hang in the garage.

 

First Beetroot of the season

These Boltardy were multi-sown in modules March 2nd and germinated indoors before moving out to the unheated greenhouse.

Sadly a few cold nights have polished off the outdoor cukes (next row behind the beetroot) so they'll need to be re-sown.

Autumn Champion Onions

Overwintering onions are almost ready, leaves are starting to die back and one or two are folding over at the neck. White rot as usual is making an appearance so with heavy rain forecast for the next few weeks we thought it best to harvest.

Update on peas

Kelvedon Wonder sown Feb 14th, planted out March 23rd, first harvest May 31st

Broad beans out, Sweetcorn in

Quick turn round.

Garlic

 Although it's about three weeks early, probably brought forward by the prolonged hot weather, the garlic (now 4th generation of self saved) was yellowing and cloves well formed so ready to harvest.

Flowers

Some for cutting, some for the bees

Night time temps are staying closer to 10 Celsius so most of this lot can be planted out.

The Ice Nights of May

The nights of May 10th - 13th are sometimes referred to in folklore as The Ice Nights. Certainly seems to be the case this year. Recent hot weather has brought potatoes forward so with frost forecast we covered up best we could, not easy in 20mph winds. Didn't have enough fleece so improvised with a poly tent.

Potatoes under fleece sections fared better but were still caught by the frost.

Aquilegia (possibly Black Barlow)

Overwintered broad beans need to be harvested and out to make room for sweetcorn. Should be about the first week in June so they have a little while yet.

Fox

Captured on the wildlife camera

Allium Miner

First signs the Allium Miner is active. The rows of dots on this garlic leaf are made by a female as she feeds before laying her eggs.

                                      Aerating. This batch has been on the go for seven days



We're able to keep the hot compost drier at the moment so after 14 days when the temperature drops it's moved into the 12x6 tin bay to finish and condition. It's still very toothy but usable. 

Asparagus, spring onion, falafel (made using the last of our own frozen broad beans), garlic mushrooms cooked with fresh parsley, leaf salad, home made flatbreads and minty yog dressing. 

The food cost of this lot came well under £2.00

Asparagus

Fresh from the plot and cooked on the plot in a little olive oil and sea salt