" Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence"
Ovid I have been told that the average tenancy at Manor Allotments is three years; if it is, then it would not be a surprise to me Farmers and growers have a reputation for calling out the weather. Too dry. To hot. Too windy. Too wet. They might be forgiven for what Mother Nature has provided so far this year in a ( not so) Sunny Sussex. A very wet turn of the Year became from mid February until April a drought against a set of generally much colder than average temperature days and the high winds and named storms of April and May. A four day " heatwave", actually about 23 Celsius here, against a very sunless, moist and generally cheerless summer! You will have noted that I am indeed calling out the weather! So the ideal circumstances for bumper numbers of slugs, snails, damping off and blight. Which were delivered! Plot 106 has not been as productive as last year. I am delighted to have had potato, broad bean, runner bean, sweetcorn, courgettes and marrow crops plus the settling in of grape vines, raspberries, strawberries and blackberry. There will be winter crops of sprouts, leeks, cabbage and broccoli to enjoy. The top fruit trees have put on growth too, some with a very light crop Compared to last year I have done much smaller amounts of writing down on 106 and that is the bigger loss to me. I had more work than was anticipated and I am full on with the Home Garden. That said it is now September, my favourite month of the year so I will top up with the wellbeing. My autumn work schedule is going to be rammed and there are signs of an exciting 2022 on the horizon. More reason then to sit back to look at the Red Admirals , the swelling fennel plants and the now very apparent chip chip of Robin redbreast. Much to savour....e to edit.
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AuthorI launched this website on 16th August 2020 to bring together my thoughts on gardening,, its importance for health and wellbeing and two projects running concurrently, a renovation of my own garden on the West Sussex coast at Lancing and a nearby allotment. But also to learn from other gardeners about the inspirations for their plots, about their gardening projects and enjoyment of beautiful plants and gardens Archives
February 2024
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