Aridity

There has been no substantial rain for weeks, so most of my allotment visits lately have been to water everything.  The lack of rain is not helping the various seeds I sowed at midsummer; the seedlings are a bit pathetic.  However, the cavolo nero are doing better for being transplanted, especially since I picked off all the things that were eating them - tiny snails, well-camouflaged caterpillars - and I've now mulched them with coffee grounds to keep off the gastropods.

The courgettes have started to produce - the round ones are very pleasing indeed - as have the French beans, which are a lovely green and purple colour until cooked.  I dug up a Pink Fir Apple potato plant today and they are now getting big enough to be worth eating.  There are three rows of these, so we should be able to enjoy them into September.  The fridge is satisfyingly full of produce.

I've done lots of weeding lately and better order still obtains at the plot, although the nettles are getting big again.  The endive has bolted, but the seeds sown last month are still tiny seedlings, so I'm trying to keep this batch alive until I get some more.  I sowed even more today, to accompany some Radicchio di Treviso which I hope will give winter crops.