Back to the allotment this morning; I knew things must be looking gloomy when, earlier in the week my other half offered to help me with it – gardening is not really his thing, but that said, now that I’m helping him with the replanting of his, I’m hoping that perhaps a little seed or two of interest will be sown.

The beans are still clinging to the poles, which is a positive, I even have one set of flowers open, so it proves they know what needs to be done.  However, they are still looking very feeble; if they were a character in a 19th century novel they would be the consumptive relative reclining on the chaise longue rather than our huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ heroine if you get the picture?  Anyway, they have two chances; I’ve fed them, applied a suitably organic slug and snail repellent and now it’s up to them (and the weather of course).

As for the rest of the plot, well I’m still fighting the weeds.  The areas so far reclaimed have been planted up with green manure seeds, and at the moment I’m not sure which seedlings belong to the green manure, but the dandelions are doing a good job of trying to re-establish themselves, in fact of everything sown to date it seems to only be the dandelions that are doing any growing!  Dandelion wine anyone?  Anyway, I keep weeding  and hoping that I am seeing some of my invited plants establishing themselves too.

What I have decided is how I will lay the plot out in the autumn/next year.  It is a triangular shape and as there is already rhubarb in the top pointy bit of the triangle, that will be where I plant some more soft fruit once the beans are finished.  I want to grow gooseberries, as shop bought ones never have any flavour, not sure of variety yet, recommendations most welcome.  Then in the centre of the triangle is a square area, sectioned off by the previous tenant, and this is where I’m working now.  This is going to be my cutting garden and I will grow mostly annuals, sourced from Higgledy Garden (do see the website, it is fabulous – higgledygarden.com) and Sarah Raven.  The remaining area, which has had the least work done to it, will be for veg once I get around to deciding what veg I want to grow.   I also plan to grow wildflowers on the two boundaries that border the footpaths through the allotments.  Here’s hoping to better weather next year!