1 July 2007
On endless rain
It’s tempting to tell you that I’ve not posted in so long because of the non-stop rain which has scuppered all plans of green-fingered activity. But that would be a lie. And while I feel no requirement to be totally honest with you, readers-o-mine, I do think it would be a bit cheap of me to lie outright.
Never let it be said that I am cheap.
No, the weather’s been wet and miserable, and I don’t like it very much, but here it’s hardly been the stuff of bible stories so there’s been no excuse for our continued abandonment of our plot. Or rather, the weather cannot be used as an excuse. I think that we have both simply severed our attachment to the allotment. I certainly feel no sense of ownership of it anymore and don’t even feel that I care much that we have potatoes and other veg currently in the ground there. I just don’t think of myself as an allotmenter any more.
I no longer have the wellies for it.
In fairness, we have had a lot on our plates of late. For a few days we had no internet access and spent endless hours on the phone to BT trying to get their customer service people to listen to us and do something constructive. Nightmare!
There has also been a lot of work to get done, with more still on its way, including another big deadline for me in just under a fortnight. By rights I should be finding this stressful, but I’m holding it together so far. Mind you, I chose to do some work yesterday, for fun! Perhaps it’s affecting me more than I care to admit.
The plans for the Pumpkin Potager (our vegetable patch at home) are coming along nicely – I hope to update you about that very soon. There will be pictures and everything.
In the meantime, you will simply have to bear with me as I have something of a washout year as far as vegetable growing is concerned. The weather is only partially responsible.
Filed under: Harvest, Mulch, Seasons - summer — Clare @ 2:26 pm
I felt the same way about my allotment in the end, once I had decided to give it up I just didn’t have the engery or desire to fight the weeds and elements and make much of it.
Do make sure you go back a few times and pick or dig up whatever there is though, there’s no point in loosing all the money you paid for the seeds and seed potatoes, at least get the ‘free’ food if nothing else!
Best of luck with your back garden, when we move I will be attempting to grow veg at home as well, until then my gardening had completely stopped which is a little sad really…
(04.07.07 @ 4:20 pm)
The rain’s driven me off my plot this year. When I do go, it’s with dread. Either things aren’t growing, or they’re dying of fungus diseases. Or being eaten by slugs, which have reached plague level this year.
For the first time, I understand what the history books mean when they mention harvest failure in mediaeval Britain. Another few weeks of this and we will genuinely have total harvest failure. I assume for farmers as well as amateur growers.
(05.07.07 @ 8:33 am)
Anna – You’re right. We must go back and get our stuff. I don’t know how much of anything there will be, but we should take what is ours.
Soilman – It’s all a bit miserable, isn’t it? And I know what you mean about the monstrous army of slugs. It’s like some kind of B-movie round here: Slug Attack! This time they’re organised!
And I think you’re right about concerns for the harvest across the board. I heared on Farming Today that blackcurrant growers were very concerned and I feel sure that I also heard that pea growers are expecting to lose at least one third of their crop.
I get up far too early.
(07.07.07 @ 3:27 pm)
I’m looking forward to the results on your pumpkin potager! I am growing a few new varieties of pumpkin and squash that I picked up in the USA. So far I am impressed with the strong green growth on my Bush Acorn ‘Table Queen’.
(08.07.07 @ 7:11 am)
Hi Matron – me too! Progress is slow, but we’re gradually moving on. I hope to post the plans very soon and really crack on with the hard work in the next couple of months. Weather permitting!
(08.07.07 @ 10:49 am)