Gardening Blog
Allotment Diary
June 11, 2008: good weather for gardeners
This week Terry Walton is in seventh heaven, as the sunshine and rain combination continues to send his fruit and veg soaring upwards
June has started in a perfect fashion, making very many happy gardeners. The periods of rain and sunny interludes are making the growing plants flourish. Their roots are going deep into the soil looking for the nourishment that lingers there, anchoring the plants firmly in place. There is heat in that there sun at this time of year and its warmth brings about a flurry of growth in the ever-lengthening days.
The plants seem to be making hay while the sun shines and the extended hours of daylight provide the light needed for photosynthesis to occur. That is a very technical term for a mere gardener. This is the process by which a plant, using the green of its leaves, produces food. It also the way the plant behaves differently from us mortals in taking in carbon dioxide and using the sunlight to convert it to sugars, the by-product of which is life-giving oxygen. What a clever system of co-existence between man and plant for mutual benefits.
So you see we are more dependent on plants than you thought, not only to they provide us with food we eat they provide the pure air we breathe. As more of this polluting carbon dioxide is pumped into the atmosphere, we need to cultivate more plants to redress the balance.
But enough of this scientific pontificating. Let's get back to the simplicity of the allotment itself.
I normally co-exist with the bird population quite amicably. But at this time of year we can have a falling out. What causes this breakdown in our relationship? The battle of the strawberries. These are filling out nicely into quite plump berries and with this increased sunlight and warmth they will soon be ripening. These tasty fruits are loved by the birds that inhabit the hedgerows surrounding my plot. The blackbird in particular has a special liking for these juicy red berries.
So it's out with the net! I form a frame of plastic hoops over the precious crop and then drape a fine mesh net over these hoops, fastening it securely to the ground. Leave no gaps, though, as the adventurous blackbird will not hesitate to enter this cage just to feast on these irresistible fruits.
As the berries ripen, peel back the net, pick your crop, but make sure you re-secure it firmly. It is the bane of my life but believe me it is worth it if your want those tasty afternoon teas of strawberries and cream on a sunny afternoon on the patio. A glass of chilled white wine makes a perfect accompaniment and is my perfect end to a pleasurable day.
Who says there is no competition in the plant world? This competition is most evident in those vegetables that grow up towards the heavens and it is very obvious with the runner bean or climbing French bean. They seem to shoot upwards at a fantastic pace in their hurried quest to reach the top of their cane. On every visit to the plot they seem to be many feet higher than they were on your last visit. However some of them in their haste to go skywards lose their grip and their lead tendril is left flapping in the breeze, frantically trying to regain its hold.
This is where you come in. Twirl it back around the stick but take note! The runner bean twirls anti-clockwise and any attempt to make it do otherwise sends it into confusion and it will soon be back flapping in the breeze again, but having grown a few inches longer.
So you see everything in nature has little quirks like ourselves and like ourselves too can be easily confused by the simplest of bad actions.
More from Terry Walton
More on growing your own
- The window box allotment
- How to grow vegetables
- When to start growing vegetables
- How to grow your own salad leaves
- Chat to other gardeners at Saga Zone
My Life on a Hillside Allotment
Terry Walton is a regular contributor to The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 and has written a book called, My Life on a Hillside Allotment, published by Bantam Press. The book is available from Amazon
