Sunday 1 June
Despite a fall the previous day, I managed a trip to the plot with Sylvi who did a great job cleaning out the wormeries and providing a lot of compost for the bed I was preparing for the broccoli. Unfortunately, due to yesterday’s fall, I wasn’t able to do much physical work but did manage to plant out some Cavolo Nero and Kalettes that had been grown from seed at home. I also planted a double row of purple dwarf French beans, Teepee, in the bed where I had lifted the garlic the previous day.
Sylvi also harvested more broad beans.
Later, the pain from yesterday’s fall intensified, prompting a visit to A&E where I spent the afternoon. Rather badly bruised ribs, thankfully no sign of fracture, a badly sprained wrist and a minor fracture to the little finger. The consultant said the pain would probably intensify over the next few days, and the only treatment was painkillers and rest. So little chance of any allotment activity for a week or two!
Monday/Wednesday 2- 4 June
I had little sleep, spending most of the early hours sitting in my armchair. I tried to move about a bit, but spent most of the day on Monday in my chair dosed up on codeine, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen and managed an afternoon nap of about an hour. A scheduled evening session on the allotment with Luke & Nicole was cancelled. I had an early night and did get a few hours sleep but got up around 4am for more painkillers and took to my chair again.
On Tuesday I was due to attend an event in Westminster in the afternoon for Medical Aid for Palestine and an evening with Suzie Ruffles and Masie Adam at The Dome in Brighton in aid of Friends of Brighton & Hove Hospitals - I pulled out of both as not sure if I could have managed the journey to London and laughing was not an option as any cough, sneeze, hiccough or laugh caused sharp pain to the rib cage. Wednesday’s social gathering for Friends of Hove Lagoon also went by the board.
The garlic that had been picked at the weekend was drying in the sunshine on the garden table but Sylvi had to bring it indoors on Monday evening as rain was forecast. I was very pleased with the Elephant garlic and will definitely grow again.
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| Elephant garlic |
It was actually quite a chilly start to the month with blustery winds on Tuesday and heavy rain on Wednesday so little would have been done on the plot anyway.
Thursday 5 June
Sadly, I had to pull out of a big event in Devon organised for the weekend for my daughter’s 50th birthday. We had planned to go down in the campervan on Thursday, calling in to see Sylvi’s brother en route. I was having difficulty getting in an out of bed unaided - getting in and out of the campervan was out of the question, as was the 4/5 hour drive.
With reduced mobility, I wasn't able to do much actively, but did manage to sow some Teepee French beans, perpetual spinach, Swiss chard and silver beet in trays at home.
Saturday 7 June
My old packet of tromboncino seeds brought back from Spain several years ago failed to germinate so I had ordered 3 plants online from a garden supplier. These arrived today and I potted them up. When up and about I will need to construct a frame for them to climb.
Sunday 8 June
I managed to visit the plot, where the chillies in the greenhouse had survived our absence, but were in desperate need of water.
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| Purple jalapeño |
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| Purple jalapeño |
The 3 sisters bed was progressing slowly and the "surprise squash" given to me by Luke had fruited and turned out to be a courgette.
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3 Sisters
Sweetcorn, squashes and climbing beans |
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| Surprise squash is a green courgette |
Monday 9 June
At home I sowed borlotti and cobra beans, boltardy and mixed rainbow beetroot.
In the evening Luke and Sylvi cleared the cage where I would plant out purple sprouting broccoli and Nicole weeded the peas. I managed to sow a short row of boltardy beetroot. We harvested a few peas and mangetout
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| 9 June - peas |
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| 9 June Mangetout |
Tuesday 10 JuneThe Serbian Quince had produced a lot of fruits and none appeared to have been lost yet with the "June drop".
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| 10 June - Quince (Serbian Gold) |
Wednesday 11 June
Sylvi carried on clearing weeds from the cage where I then planted out 4 purple sprouting broccoli and 1 Kalette that I had grown from seed. I lifted the Electric red onions and planted out two butternut squash plants (given to me by my near neighbour, Steve), in the 3 Sisters bed.
I laid the red onions out in the sun to harden
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| 11 June Electric Red Onions |
Friday 13 June
I lifted the shallots, cleared the bed with the Solent Wight garlic and planted 3 butternut squash plants that had been given to me by Sophie, a near neighbour on the Weald site. I had also been offered an unidentified squash by our Chair, Kate. I then planted a Sweet potato that I had bought when visiting a garden centre.
Saturday 14 June
Strolling past a neighbour's plot I spotted a number of Cream pincushions -also known as cream scabious (Scabiosa ochroleuca). These are usually grown as a garden ornamental and, although not considered invasive, they can outcompete some native species. Nevertheless they are attractive to pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, and very attractive to look at. If they become a problem it is best to remove the flower heads before they go to seed.
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| 14 June - Cream scabious |
In the bed where I had directly sown a double row of Teepee purple dwarf French beans, I planted out another double row with the plants that I had grown from seed at home.
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| 14 June - Teepee purple dwarf beans |
That evening, we enjoyed some of our red Duke of York potatoes, roasted in their skins, dusted with Parmesan
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