Wed 1 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : Did some more weed clearance, this time around the Parsley on plot 1. Cleared away the Radishes adjacent as they had gone to seed. Cleared the weeds around the Radishes and Carrots on plot 2a. Went round removing all the Knapweeds before they go to seed. Went back later with some sacks of fresh horse dung to top up the compost by plot 3.

Thu 2 Aug 2007
Weather : Cloudy start. rain through the middle of the day, sunny spells to finish.
Progress : Managed to get to the allotment before the rain started. Did some general hoeing then weeded the row of Lettuce on plot 2b. Tied up the remainder of the Raspberry canes.

Fri 3 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Re-erected the compost frame by plot 1 and started it off with a bag full of shrub cuttings that I brought from home. Did some general weeding on plot 3a. Sowed a row of Spinach (Spinnaker) next to the existing row on plot 2b. Picked some fat Blackberries from the bank next to the entrance gate. My son came and took a good helping of Rhubarb to make Rhubarb and Ginger jam. All Rhubarb on the allotments is enormous this year.

Sat 4 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Took some more bags of shrub cuttings for the compost on plot 1. Sowed a row of Radish (French Breakfast) and a row of Beetroot (Boltardy) on plot 2b. Weeded around the Asparagus. Watered the Spinnaker seed row.

Sun 5 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Weeded around the second sowing of Turnips on plot 1 and thinned them out. Sprayed the weeds on the central path between plots 1 and 2. Hoed a few areas. Used the cultivator to loosen weeds on plot 2c and 3a, Dismantled the coldframe ready to build up the levels.

Mon 6 Aug 2007
Weather : Overnight rain. Bright start then showers.
Progress : Weeded around the Sweetcorn. Cleared the Mangetout and Peas from plot 2c, rolled up the netting, cleared the worst of the weeds then used the cultivator to loosen the soil. Found a Cucumber plant which had self-seeded in amongst the Peas and was starting to produce fruit, so I tied it up for safety as the new seeds I am growing for this year are very slow in getting going. My sister called in for a helping of veg. There is a bit of a difference of opinion growing on the allotment regarding the disposal of weeds. Some, like myself, favour building up the bank as protection from floods and also wind and frost. Others insist it should all be composted, including diseased material. The latter should really be burned but that is frowned upon nowadays.

Tue 7 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny start, showers later.
Progress : Took up a barrowload of earth for plot 1 compost area. Broke up the weed clods which I had created with the cultivator recently. Weeded the Brussels Sprouts and Savoy Cabbage in plot 3d, thinned and transplanted where necessary, then covered with pea netting to keep the pigeons off. Weeded the latest sowing of Carrots in plot 3c. Bought the current edition of Hampshire Life today but there is nothing about my allotment in it - next month perhaps.

Wed 8 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : Brought in some bags of fresh horse dung for the compost by plot 1. Cleared out the weeds from the areas I had loosened recently. Left a pair of kneepads in my shed as I seem to kneel to weed more these days - something to do with age I suspect. Back at home I sowed some Cabbage (April) and Spring Onion (Guardsman) seeds in pots.

Thu 9 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : Just did the picking for this evenings dinner.

Fri 10 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : Went up late today, taking a sackful of fallen apples from my garden. Also took a container of tea dregs which we are saving now for the compost. Mowed the grass for my allotments and that of my neighbour. The mower ran out of petrol so I had to pop back home to fetch the can. Trimmed the edges of my allotments - my neighbour treats his edges with weedkiller as he is restricted in his activities. Noticed that the portable toilet has been delivered. The arrangement is that it is available for keyholders who subscribe. How long before it gets vandalised I wonder.

Sat 11 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : Took a barrowload of fill for the paths then collected the daily veg. Noticed that the Radish, Lettuce and Spinach seeds are germinating nicely despite the ground starting to crack again with the dry weather. (I have been watering them!).

Sun 12 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny spells with the occasional shower.
Progress : Took a few more barrowloads of earth to make up plot 1.

Mon 13 Aug 2007
Weather : Mostly sunny.
Progress : Took another couple of barrowloads of earth to make up plot 1. Weeded through the Salsify, using my old gerdeners pocket knife to cut off the weeds just below the ground a the soil is hard and dry and I don't want to disturb the roots of the vegetables. Did a major pick for my son who is visiting today. He is the one who is a professionally trained amateur chef. According to the telly this morning, it is National Allotment Weeks this week. I will have to try to see what is going on.

Tue 14 Aug 2007
Weather : Wet and windy
Progress : No work today.

Wed 15 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny spells and showers.
Progress : A quick picking of French Beans for dinner. Noticed that the wind yesterday has knocked the Artichokes and Sweetcorn about a bit.

Thu 16 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny spells and showers.
Progress : Brought some leaf clippings to start off the compost barrel by plot 1. Did a major picking of French and Runner Beans (Forgot the Kenya Beans). Weeded the Winter Cabbage in plot 2c. Cut down and composted some of the Artichoke stems which had collapsed. Tipped the climbing bean shoots. Found and squashed some small caterpillars on the Spring Greens. Heard that some children had been seen on the allotment and that a watering can was missing. On the way home I found a cabbage that had been taken and thrown in the hedge. Such things seem trivial but they are irritating to the allotment holders and one never knows how far such behaviour will go.

Fri 17 Aug 2007
Weather : Mostly sunny..
Progress : Barrowed some more dirt for plot 1. Did some general weeding and hoeing and tried to remove all large weeds that were about to seed. Topped up some of the snail traps. Found a few more caterpillars. Removed the netting from the greens on plot 3c. Harvested the first of the Turnips.

Sat 18 Aug 2007
Weather : Wet and windy
Progress : Staked and tied up the Sweetcorn. Tied up the Cucumber runners. Started to weed the area where the Carrots have been cropped in plot 1a but got rained off. Went back later and finished the weedimg. Sowed some Spinach (Spinnaker) in the spaces of the last sowing. Got rained off again. Got back for a third time to do the picking. Noticed that the Runner Bean sticks were yeilding under the recent strong wind so I tied in some additional braces.

Sun 19 Aug 2007
Weather : Overcast with some light rain.
Progress : Popped down early evening to pick a selection to take to relatives on the Isle of Wight tomorrow.

Mon 20 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny but strong cooling wind.
Progress : No work today. Delivered the produce picked yesterday to family on the Isle of Wight.

Tue 21 Aug 2007
Weather : Overcast and cold wind.
Progress : Did some general weeding, hoeing and cultivating then had a major picking of beans. Removed some more caterpillars.

Wed 22 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and windy.
Progress : Had another heavy picking session. Took a lot of surplus veg to my neice who lives nearby. She had an allotment last year but has done nothing this year.

Thu 23 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny.
Progress : Did some general weeding, hoeing and cultivating. Started to weed through fruit area 2. Noticed that the ground around the Runner Beans was dry which surprised me as they were mulched and there has been so much wet weather. I watered them and shall continue to do so to keep them tender.

Fri 24 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Mowed the grass and cut back the growth on the bank. Did some general weeding, hoeing and cultivating. Continued to weed through fruit area 2. Did the daily pick of Beans so that they do not get old and stringy. Sowed another row of Radish (French Breakfast) in plot 2b.

Sat 25 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Brought down one last barrowload of fill for plot 1. Completed the weeding in fruit area 2. Tied up the remainder of the Raspberries and cut off the stray shoots. Pruned the Blackcurrants into shape. I had to abandon as I found it too hot so went back later to do the picking. Whilst I was there I pulled the tangled weeds from around the Beetroot so that they do not rot.

Sun 26 Aug 2007
Weather : Mostly sunny.
Progress : Weeded around the Carrots on plot 1 then the usual daily picking session. Watered the Peas and Beans.

Mon 27 Aug 2007
Weather : Mostly sunny but cooler.
Progress : Weeded the top of plot 1 and levelled the fill that I have brought from home then did the usual watering and picking. Took another load of veg to my neice.

Tue 28 Aug 2007
Weather : Mostly sunny but cool like yesterday.
Progress : Another day of picking, this time to donate some to my elder son and consequently went home with a barrowload of veg. I will start making chutney and soups with some of the surplus. Did the usual watering and topped up the tanks. Hoed the open areas. Amongst the veg I harvested was a couple of cuddling carrots. Bought a copy of Hampshire Life today and found a full page picture of myself in a article about allotments. Received a letter from the Town Council calling for the annual rent of £15 to be paid.

Wed 29 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny spells.
Progress : Busy doing other things today. Delivered some bags of fresh horse dung to make up the compost by plot 1.

Thu 30 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny spells.
Progress : Watered the Peas and Beans before doing the regular daily picking. Started to crop the Raddish and Spring Onions from plot 2b. Planted some Spring Onions (Guardsman) in plot 2b. I had grown these from seed at home.

Fri 31 Aug 2007
Weather : Sunny spells.
Progress : Took a Buddleia seedling down from home to plant in the bank to attract the butterflies. Watered the Peas and Beans before doing the regular daily picking. Levelled some of the soil I had moved. Did a bit of weeding and hoeing. Popped back later to pick some Spinach for dinner.