Potato pulling and mud

We all got up there today after a family conference. We all named one thing we wanted to do today. Mine, of course, was go up the allotment and all boys duly followed before spending the afternoon doing want they wanted to do, football natch.

It is beautiful and lush up there at the mo and claggy mud stuck to our boots as if it were November time. Our favourite Robin came to see us as Neil and Sammy dug over the soil and planted cabbages from Dad (thanks Dad). I cut the grass whilst Lou played his birthday game of Quoits amongst asking when we could go or if he was allowed the chocolate biscuits yet. Once Lou is up there he gets into it and happily pulled up our first early potatoes, of which there were many. Some had white spots on and one of the tyres had an ants nest in so we didn't get as many as we thought.

The boys were happy finding worms and centipedes. I cut some grass and found a sloe worm I called Lou over to see it. "Mummy it's lost a bit off it's tail" said Lou, "Oh" said Mummy holding the shears......Whoops.

We picked a few Broad Beans and one measly Courgette, sure it will be delicious!

Sammy enjoyed raking where I had cut the grass and Neil was happy pottering about.

We planted a poor old Squash which has been hanging on after many nibblings from the slugs. I put straw all around it and Neil put it under a cloche. Hope it survives.

Lovely to be up and for it not to be raining. A welcome break in what has been rain, rain, rain.

finally

Ok so things have been a bit quiet on the allotment front lately and it's fair to say it hasn't been a great year for growers. I finally got up there this morning and it is looking really lush and some things are taller than me. There are some lovely 6 foot weeds in my wild area with beautiful yellow flowers. Sad to think we would normally chop these out as I have done over the rest of the plot but great to see them thriving in my wild bit. I think they are really pretty.

I weeded and chopped back springboard weeds which help the snails to slime from weeds to plants. Only one Pumpkin left standing and 2 Courgettes that are trying hard. The Squashes have been munched to stalks and the Broad beans too. I managed to find some Veg which is a small miracle! The potatoes - first earlies - bit late if you ask me - have given us some actual food so I am pretty pleased about that.

The climbing beans are doing quite well, I think as they managed to twirl themselves up the canes they have avoided being eaten. They have enjoyed the rain.

Time to go as the rain came AGAIN but happy with some yummy pots for tea.

blog update

The blog update is it's bloody raining! and has been for what seems like forever. The wettest June on record and if we're not careful July as well. I did pop up to put straw around the courgettes to stop the slugs but it would appear I just made it easier for them by providing them with a (now wet) straw platform to reach the leaves with!

Swearing will not help me now but I might do it anyway.

Watch this space........