Sun 1 Jul 2007
Weather : Overnight rain and windy. Sunny spells.
Progress : No work today apart from the usual picking session. Rust is spreading into the Broad Beans as usual each year but the pods are still producing well.

Mon 2 Jul 2007
Weather : Heavy showers. Warm.
Progress : Put up the sticks for the Climbing Beans on plot 1. Hoed through the Sweetcorn and Marrows in plot 1. Also hoed a few rows elsewhere as necessary.

Tue 3 Jul 2007
Weather : Heavy showers. Sunny in between.
Progress : Quick trip in the wet to pick veg for dinner and fruit for desert.

Wed 4 Jul 2007
Weather : Heavy showers. Sunny intervals.
Progress : Another wet visit to pick for dinner. The amounts of Raspberries and Loganberries are diminishing slightly but still plenty enough to eat now and surplus to freeze. A neighbour who also enjoys gardening gave me a cutting from The Daily Mail regarding Public Liability insurance. Seemingy, the council in a village in Somerset are requiring allotment holders to take insurance to cover claims up to £5 million. The premium runs out at £375. Lets hope this stupidity does not spread.

Thu 5 Jul 2007
Weather : Fair start but rain all afternoon.
Progress : A short fruit picking session late in the afternoon. I have been approached by a journalist from Hampshire Magazine to be interviewed about my allotment.

Fri 6 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny day with one light shower.
Progress : Mowed the grass around my allotment and that of my neighbour and trimmed the edges of my plots. Weeded, cultivated and hoed through plot 2. The Lettuce I sowed in plot 2a has not germinated so I dug it over. Picked the usual vegetables and fruit but forgot the carrots so had to go back later. Shouldn't have bothered because my wife cooked them then forgot to serve them!

Sat 7 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : Weeded, cultivated and hoed plots 3b, 3c and 3d also part of plot 1 whilst the sun is out to wizen up the weeds. Went back later in the day to do the picking - extra portions today as we have family visiting for dinner. Came home with two carrier bags full of Spinach (two different varieties), large Carrots (best I have ever grown), Raddishes (far bigger than they should be), Beetroot, Broad Beans and Mangetout, plus the usual crop of Raspberries and Loganberries. Our younger son called in later and left with plenty of fresh provisions.

Sun 8 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny start clouding up with a shower later.
Progress : Did some more weeding and hoeing on plot 1. Our elder son and his wife called in to get stocked up. I got my son to take some photographs of me (here is one) at work for the forthcoming magazine interview. I felt like a right poser.

Mon 9 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny with a spell of rain in the afternoon.
Progress : Cut off the foliage from the maincrop Potatoes in plot 3b and disposed off site as Potatoe Blight had set in. The danger is that it may have spread to the Tomatoes. Cut the first Courgette (Venus). Harvested the last of the Cauliflowers, none of which had grown to any size. The Rust is now setting into the Broad Beans hard and has also badly affected the Garlic which is not swelling as it should.

Tue 10 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny spells, shower later.
Progress : Weeded some of the edges of plot 3. Planted out the Lettuce (Little Gem) in plot 2b and Spring Onion (White Lisbon) in plot 2c. These were plants that I had reared from seed at home. I noticed today that there seems to be an increase in garden rubbish from outside being dumped at the allotments. From what I have seen, it is mostly left by allotment holders.

Wed 11 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny all day.
Progress : Removed the pigeon netting and string and weeded through the brassicas in plot 2d. Weeded through the root crops in plot 3c. Put up a net for the Peas on plot 3a. Sowed a row of Carrot (Autumn King) in plot 2b. My sister called in whilst I was there so I loaded her up with veg. Picked extra Broad Beans for freezing today as the plants are rapidly going off due to the Rust. Found another flint which has been worked by Neolithic people. Probably picked the last of the Raspberries today as they are virtually finished.

Thu 12 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny with cloudy intervals.
Progress : Brought some gritty fill from home to make up the path in the centre of plot 3. Dug up the remainder of the Onions from plot 2c. Had the first picking of Dwarf French Beans from plot 1. Removed some of the diseased Broad Bean stems after picking the pods.

Fri 13 Jul 2007
Weather : Early rain then sunny intervals. More rain after dark.
Progress : Lifted the Onions in plot 3d. Where the Onions had been cropped from plot 2c, I planted three spare Courgette (Venus) plants which I had left in the coldframe. Back-hoed part of the central path between plots 1 and 2 and made up the level in a bit more on the path in plot 3 with sandy soil. Pulled out the Tomatoe (Minibell) plants as they were becoming badly affected by Potatoe Blight. Removed more Broad Bean plants from plot 3a where all the pods had been picked. Harvesting today included Mangetout which has suddenly come on. Was expecting to meet the journalist from Hampshire Magazine on site today but she got caught in a traffic jam and was unable to make it.

Sat 14 Jul 2007
Weather : Overnight rain then sunny with cloudy intervals.
Progress : Completed the hoeing of the path between plots 1 and 2. Picked out the Broad Beans in plot 3a and removed the stems. Did some hand weeding in plot 3a. My neighbouring allomenteer gave me some gardening magazines which were surplus to him. Pickings of the Loganberries are slowing up now.

Sun 15 Jul 2007
Weather : Overnight rain then cloudy with sunny intervals and light showers.
Progress : Did a major picking of veg. Took down the cane supports where the Broad Beans had been on plot 3a. Cut down the bolted Spinach in plot 2b and composted the bits. Short chat with a newcomer asking advice about harvesting Broad Beans for seed.

Mon 16 Jul 2007
Weather : Cloudy with sunny intervals.
Progress : Dug the entire crop of Maincrop Potatoes (Desiree) to hopefully prevent the Potatoe Blight getting to the tubers. I had already cut off the foliage but the remaining stems seemed to still be carrying the blight down. I had a crop of exactly ½ cwt of good sized tubers from 30 plants but had to throw away about a dozen tubers which were showing signs of rot. There are plenty of toads moving around on the allotment and today the Buddlea bush is attracting a variety of butterflies. Unfortunately, some of these are Cabbage Whites.

Tue 17 Jul 2007
Weather : Heavy showers overnight and most of the day.
Progress : Managed to pop up to the allotment between showers for the daily picking. Hand weeded a row of Beetroot seedlings in plot 3c. Found another flint which has been worked by Neolithic man.

Wed 18 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny and warm with a couple of showers.
Progress : Weeded the second row of Beetroot on plot 3c. Picked extra veg today to give to my sister.

Thu 19 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny spells and warm.
Progress : Mowed the grass and trimmed the edges. Weeded the Curly Kale seedlings on plot 3d then covered them with netting to keep the pigeons off. Also weeded the second planting of Leeks in plot 2c. Dug the entire crop of Salad Potatoe (Picasso) in case the blighted stems pass it down to the tubers. Had a crop of 80 lbs from 30 plants which I handwashed when I got them home. Many of the tubers were split which Had not happened to the other varieties.

Fri 20 Jul 2007
Weather : Heavy rain overnight and up to 4pm. Sunny finish to the day.
Progress : Too wet to work today so just the daily picking session. Picked the few green Tomatoes that there were as the plants are blighted.

Sat 21 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny with intermittent heavy showers.
Progress : Removed the Tomatoe plants as they were blighted and cleared the weeds. Brought a barrowload of spare soil to make up the levels in that area of plot 3b. Removed more Broad Bean stems on plot 2c as they were picked clean. Got rained off.

Sun 22 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny day.
Progress : Brought a barrowload of gritty fill to put down in the gateway where it has become worn. Also I brought a Hedgehog which I had found in our garden and considered it to be at risk from next-doors four cats and also the busy road. Hopefully it will help to keep the slugs at bay. Weeded along the Aquilegia seedlings and replanted where necessary. Weeded the Climbing Beans in plot 1. Cut out the old stems of the Raspberries. Picked extra veg for our younger son who is visiting today. He has trained as a chef for his own pleasure so should appreciate the fresh produce. According to other allotment holders, the vandalism anticipated at the start of the school holidays has started already.

Mon 23 Jul 2007
Weather : Rain most of the day.
Progress : Brought a barrowload of gravelly soil to make up the central path in plot 3. The gate was open when I arrived which usually indicates that there have been unwelcome visitors. Surely enough my shed had been entered but no visible damage or loss this time there or anywhere adjacent. Picked the last of the Broad Beans. Got rained off again.

Tue 24 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny day.
Progress : Brought a barrowload of soil to make up the levels on plot 3b and brought over all the remaining compost from area 2. Picked the first Blueberries from plot 1. The other variety of Blueberry on Fruit Area 1 have totally failed again this year, having produced virtually no growth. I am told the gate was open again this morning but there is no obvious sign of disturbance. Brought more soil up during the day to make up levels in the compost area by plot 1. Also brought more fill for the central path in plot 3. Planted the two spare Cucumber (Marketmore) plants I had grown from seed in case of failure of the first ones as the snails had one of the originals a couple of days ago. Went up in the late evening to check for intruders but no sign of anyone having been in.

Wed 25 Jul 2007
Weather : Fair start but rain by lunchtime.
Progress : Brought a barrowload of soil to make up levels on plot 1. (I am renewing the paving at home which is what is producing all this soil and gravel). Tied up some of the Raspberry canes.

Thu 26 Jul 2007
Weather : Clear night, overcast morning, wet afternoon, sunny evening.
Progress : No work today. We are told on TV that the early summer has been the wettest for over 200 years with double the average rainfall in places. The weeds have grown on the allotment as a consequence as it has not been suitable to hoe. Also the wet allowed blight to prosper and destroy onion and potatoe crops nationally. My son rang in the evening to say that he had come across the kids stealing carrots on the allotment. He was about to take a photograph of them but they ran off.

Fri 27 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny morning with rain developing later in the afternoon.
Progress : Made a late visit as that is the time when the kids seem to like to get on to the allotment. The kids under suspicion were hanging around in the field adjacenmt as there were allotment holders on site. Repaired the Artichoke wires which had been damaged by the recent strong winds.

Sat 28 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny spells most of the day.
Progress : Took a barrowload of earth for plot 1. Took down the compost enclosurte and cleared the weeds around that area. Tied up some more of the Raspberry canes. Took another barrowload of earth at lunchtime as I had seen the kids under suspicion heading towards the allotments. Made a late visit again today but no kids on the site. Weeded the Carrots on plot 3c. My neighbouring allotmenteer had left me a pile of grass cuttings which I put along the Climbing French Bean trenches as mulch.

Sun 29 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny with a few drops of rain in the afternoon.
Progress : Took up another barrowload of earth for plot 1. Cleared the tops of the weedy areas. Weeded the Spinach in plot 2b. Made the first picking of Kenya Bean - something I have never grown before.

Mon 30 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny after a cold night.
Progress : Cleared the rest of the longest weeds then hoed the cleared areas. Dug the Pentland Crown Potatoes that were left over from last year, having suffered from the drought and not been lifted. Weeded the Spring Onions in plot 2c. Went back later to cut the grass paths and hook down the nettles on the bank.

Tue 31 Jul 2007
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Took up another barrowload of soil for plot 1. Cleared some more weeds then rough-hoed the ground to dislodge the roots. Hoed the unplanted areas. Sprayed systemic weedkiller on the central path in plot 3. Cleared the last of the Broad Bean stems from plot 2c and removed the support canes. Tied up the new Asparagus stems. Picked the first Runner Beans (White Lady). Went back later and sowed a few seeds of Lettuce (Little Gem) at the end of the existing row in plot 2b. Surveyed for a location for my winter sowings (new policy) and plot 3b looks ideal.