Summer finally arrived last week. It was often too hot to spend too much time working on the allotment. Trips were mainly to harvest or water.
Courgettes are stepping up a gear so I am visiting neighbours with armfuls to share. So far they are answering the doors rather than hiding as I approach.
There were more bees about. Some were taking advantage of cardoon flowers which are usually a firm favourite. They were also rather late to the party searching the faded lavender. Normally the lavender would have been abuzz when the flowers were at their peak.
At the weekend the cooler temperatures meant we could spend a little more time working at the plot.
I lifted one batch of shallots that had been grown from sets. The second lot of garlic that I planted seems to have completely disappeared. Garlic is one crop that will be marked down as a failure this year as the bulbs that I harvested earlier were tiny.
Martyn dug more potatoes. This was difficult as the ground is now very hard and dry.
A video of July’s weather is posted here.
We also covered the autumn raspberries with netting so that we have a chance of beating the birds to them.
4 August: Courgette – Defender, Raspberries – Sugana, blackberries – Loch Ness & wild, cabbage – Caraflex. tomato – Bloody Butcher & Sungold, plum – Victoria, greengage, dahlias, sweet peas
Our regular walk around Temple Newsam was moved to the morning when the temperature was lower. Another advantage was that it was less crowded. We stuck mainly to the shady areas of the park where we spotted a burdock plant. I haven’t seen one for ages. When we were children we called the seed pods sticky buds and threw them at each other. No doubt this assisted seed dispersal but it was a problem if a sticky bud ended up tangled in hair.
It also made me think of a favourite childhood drink – dandelion and burdock made from the roots of burdock and dandelion.
One day, when the high temperature abated, we spent an afternoon at Fountains Abbey.
Ruby is a very curious little dog. She likes to fully investigate anything new. She will peer into any gaps, open doorways and over walls. She also managed to disrupt a group of children who thought that she was so much more interesting than the adult who was trying to organise them.
We explored an area that was new to us in the Studly deer park area and found somewhere for Ruby to enjoy a game of chase.
As we walked along the grass paths we were treated to a glimpse of Ripon Cathedral in the distance.
Courgettes continue to feature in our meals.
One meal was a turkey stir fry. It was based on this recipe.
Another was a Mediterranean vegetable casserole which also used one of our onions.
That’s all my news for this week so, as always, stay safe and well.
As usual, I am joining Dave for his Harvest Monday post on his Our Happy Acres blog.
Wow, your harvests have really picked up; ours have just started…
Mmm, dandelion and burdock! I can taste it now just saying the words.
We are still waiting for a tomato harvest Belinda
Oh it must be years since I’ve downed a glass of dandelion and burdock! It’s been lovely to have a glimpse of summer and to see the bees and butterflies about. I lifted my few shallots this week too. I would welcome you with open arms if you came knocking on my door with armfuls of courgettes Sue 😂
Apparently they still make dandelion and burdock, Anna but I am told that they are not the same.
Yes, it finally feels like summer has arrived.
Shame about your garlic. For some reason I haven’t grown garlic for years (not sure why) but I’ve already pre ordered some ready to overwinter.
I see a lot of people covering their raspberries due to birds, but for some reason the birds don’t touch mine and I’ve never had to net them.
On our site the birds will eat everything, Steve.
It’s too bad about the garlic, but the shallots look good to me. I never had much luck with them. The cardoon flowers are lovely. That is something we don’t see around here.
I usually do OK with garlic, Dave. Hopefully next year will be better.
I used to love dandelion and burdock, a treat when the ‘pop man’ came round.
Yes we had the pop man call, Jo and we had cream soda too
An interesting drink–dandelion and burdock. We noted that dandelions seem to be tolerated as something like a wildflower. Here in the US they are usually treated as weeds. Left to their seedy devices they will take over a nice grassy lawn. Very nice harvests and glad you have some warm weather to up the harvests and bring out the bees.
They are only tolerated in the wild not in gardens, Sue. The ones on our gardens are there becaise we can’t stop them
When you are British, it is a foregone conclusion that the weather is never like Goldilock’s porridge, for it will always be too hot or too cold, never be Just Right. At least you’ve seen summer. Here in the westernmost part of west Wales we’ve skipped through to Autumn.
I hope that you managed a glimpse of summer Debbie