June 2026 Video Diary
08 June 2026
Avoiding the cows and a swan at Nostell Priory
We have had two visits to Nostell Priory this week. Now that the cows are back in the fields, we prefer to avoid whichever field they are grazing in. We don’t see the point of taking any unnecessary risks when walking Ruby, especially as there are plenty of other routes that still provide a good, lengthy walk.
We had been told about a way of bypassing the field with the cattle, so on our second visit, we decided to give it a try. It worked well and allowed us to avoid entering the main field in front of the house. The only hazard was negotiating a few fresh cow pats along the way—something that Ruby finds particularly attractive!
As we approached the lake, we could see the swans resting on the grassy bank with their cygnets. It was the first time this year that we had seen the young birds out of the water. However, one of the adult swans was clearly not happy about our presence. It kept approaching us, prompting us to back away a little each time. Whether it was wary of Ruby, hoping for food, or simply encouraging us to move on, I’m not entirely sure. Whatever the reason, we decided it was best to respect its wishes and give the swan family plenty of space.
16 June 2026
Too windy to plant leeks? We gave it a go anyway!
It was a proper battle against the elements at the allotment this weekend! Saturday morning brought near-gale-force winds that stayed with us all day, but we braved the weather to get some essential mid-June jobs done.
After checking the plot for wind damage, we found one of our cardoons took a real battering. It’s a shame to lose some of the branches because the bees love the flowers, but we’ll prune the damaged parts out and let the rest grow on for the summer.
Our runner bean wigwam also took on a distinct “westerly lean,” but thankfully, the beans themselves look fine! Despite the wind, we went ahead and dibbed in the leeks. They’re looking a bit floppy right now, but they should straighten up in a few days.
We also started lifting our overwintered “Radar” onions, harvested a brilliant crop of slug-free strawberries, and checked in on our Ulster Prince early potatoes. Plus, we’re making the big decision on exactly when to pinch out the growing tips on our broad beans to keep the blackfly at bay!
What’s the weather been doing to your plot this week? Let me know in the comments below!👇 If you enjoyed the video, please give it a Like and Subscribe to follow along with our allotment journey! 🌿
21 June 2026
Were our early potatoes ready, or were we a bit too optimistic?
We decided to see if our early potatoes were ready to harvest.
24 June 2026
A bit of a parsnip conundrum
This week, I’m taking a look at this year’s parsnip bed and explaining a problem I’ve encountered while growing parsnips from pre-germinated seed.
The plan this year was to grow two rows of Gladiator parsnips and one row of Javelin as a trial comparison. The first two rows were pre-germinated on damp kitchen paper and are now beginning to emerge, but the final row has proved a little more challenging.
The remaining Javelin seeds have produced much longer roots than I would normally like before sowing. Ideally, I prefer to plant seeds with only a tiny root showing, so in this video, I’m putting that theory to the test and seeing whether these over-germinated seeds will still establish successfully.
I also take a look at the current state of the bed, discuss weed control, and consider the challenges of keeping young parsnips growing during what looks to be a prolonged spell of hot, dry weather.
Have you tried chitting parsnip seeds before? How long do you let the roots grow before sowing? Let me know in the comments below.