July 2024 Video Diary
31 July 2024
Has it really been a wet July? We’ve had one wet day and some weather charts
The weather forecaster I heard seemed to suggest that we’d had a wet July. I’m not at all sure we have. July has had one wet day although it was the wettest July day in the 15 years I’ve been keeping records. Other than that one wet day it’s been very dry.
30 July 2024
A video of our trip to Lyme Park in Cheshire.
28 July 2024
I managed to finally finish lifting this bed of Elfe potatoes
I started lifting a small bed of Elfe potatoes a couple of weeks ago. I’d only just started when it started to rain and had to stop. I don’t think it’s rained since. I’ve been busy getting on with other jobs since but decided to lift the remaining potatoes. The results were very good. A few potatoes have been damaged by slugs but the crop is generally very good and has produced some nice sized potatoes.
27 July 2024
Ruby goes to pick gladioli, dahlias and sweet peas at the allotment
We took Ruby to the allotment to help us pick some flowers. Our spring sown sweet peas are now beginning to flower as our autumn ones begin to fade. Our dahlias are in full bloom and we had some gladioli to pick as well. The tomatoes in the greenhouse got a watering while we were at the plot. We also had a look at our annual flower bed which has turned out to be a big disappointment.
24 July 2024
Early brassica bed cleared – cutting and using hazel pea stick
Our last row of peas has been left uncovered and we are hoping the wood pigeons leave them alone. The peas needed some support and I had to cut the hazel supports from the hazels coppiced in winter.
21 July 2024
Ruby ignores the spectacular view for a game of chase
We had a day out to Lyme Park in Cheshire. After a walk around the gardens we took Ruby on a walk in the parkland. Despite the spectacular views Ruby just wanted to play a game of chase.
14 July 2024
Lifting our first early potatoes – Ulster Prince & International Kidney
On a dull dreary afternoon at the allotment, our early potatoes were lifted. We harvested blueberries, tayberries, jostaberries, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet peas and dahlias making it a productive afternoon at the allotment.
13 July 2024
A tranquil few minutes at Nostell Priory
We videoed the swans, cygnets and ducks at Nostell Priory for a few minutes.
07 July 2024
Gale force winds in July?
Gale force winds on Thursday when we took Ruby for her walk at Nostell Priory. We thought it best to avoid walking through the woods and stuck to walking through the meadow. The gale demolished one of our cardoons at the allotment. Fortunately, we managed to avoid any major damage.
03 July 2024
International Kidney early potato reveal – will they be as big as Ulster Prince?
I thought I’d dig a root of International Kidney and see how they compared with Ulster Prince dug last week.
02 July 2024
They’re poised to attack – will our peas survive until our next visit?
This year wood pigeons have taken a liking to peas. Peas aren’t the easiest of crops to cover. However,having lost our first two rows of peas to wood pigeons this year we have kept our peas covered for as long as possible. Two rows have had their protection removed and we’re hoping that the wood pigeons will leave them alone. We will find out on our next visit to the plot.