Frost Fallout

Earlier this week, we unfortunately had an unexpected frost on Monday and Tuesday, and so sadly the courgettes, dahlias and French climbing beans are no more …

So they have now all become compost, and we have added in a bed for Brussels sprouts instead, Sensibly, K put a net off to keep the butterflies away – there are still some around, in spite of the weather:

Frost survivors are the lilies, the last of the sunflowers and the sweet williams, so that’s good news.

The asters are also doing very well:

Here is the harvest of sunflowers and asters, plus the courgettes we could still salvage, potatoes and beetroot:

And here are the flowers at home:

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Anne Brooke Books

Sunflower City

Good news this week, as we passed the allotment inspection (phew!). Back on the plot, there was I, thinking there weren’t many more sunflowers to come, and yet here they are out in force, hurrah!

The alstroemerias are just gorgeous and the dahlias are also still going strong, which is good news.

There are even one or two gladioli in the raised beds:

The asters are starting to bloom and even the sweet williams we planted a couple of weeks ago have the odd flower here and there.

The lilies now have buds, so I’m hoping they’ll give us a show soon – before any frost turns up anyway …

We’ve given the plot a good spray today, as sadly the French climbing beans had a bit of a black fly infestation, groan …

Here is the harvest, which is potatoes, courgettes, beans and a variety of late summer flowers:

And here is the vase at home:

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Anne Brooke Books

 

Getting There on the Plot

The alstroemerias and the dahlias are still doing well down on the allotment this week:

We’re also pleased with how the lilies and the sweet williams are coming along. The sweet williams have some flower buds forming, which we didn’t expect till next year – but they’d best get a move on …

We also have the first of the asters coming into bloom:

And there are a few gladioli dotted about here and there:

No sunflowers this week as Pauline on the Allotment Committee made a display for the Elstead URC Flower Festival, and she needed some sunflowers. The asparagus fronds at the back are just brilliant. Here’s the display in situ, and I think she did an amazing job!

Just three courgettes for the harvest today, but they make a very pretty group!

Have a lovely weekend!

Anne Brooke Books

September Allotment

The flowers are going over now so we’re definitely in autumn. Still there should be autumn flowers such as chrysanthemums in bloom soon, amongst others, so it’s not all over yet.

Here are the alstroemerias, dahlias and gladioli – with the latter two, the show is definitely on the way out …

However, the lilies look as if they might still get a bloom or two before the year is done, and we have more sunflowers to come:

The sweet williams we planted last week haven’t done much, but hey at least they’re still there, LOL! We gave them a good water so they can continue to establish themselves.

We’ve now taken down the sweet peas as they’re definitely over, so that tidies up that part of the plot. This week, we have a harvest of one beetroot, courgettes, a scattering of French climbing beans and the flowers:

Only two vases today, but they do look pretty.

Have a lovely weekend!

Anne Brooke Books