The past couple of weeks have brought a feeling of tranquillity on the plot that can only be experienced on a hot summer’s day and my sunhat has finally seen the light of day having spent the last few years in a cupboard in my shed.
Partial shade can be found next to my leafy vine and the fruit trees at one end of the plot, as well as the beans which are now reaching the tops of their poles and it has been a pleasure to rest between jobs beneath the foliage, watching the butterflies flit amongst the flowers.
At last I think that this might be a good season for tomatoes to fully ripen without attracting blight and I am keeping a watchful eye on the fattening green fruit, as well as giving the plants a feed made from comfrey.
Although the surface of the soil is hard and dry there is plenty of moisture below for the crops to get enough water to drink and the potatoes, courgette, beetroot and cabbages have done especially well this season.
This is the first year that I have managed to grow such a good crop of redcurrants and I enjoyed seeing their rich red colour against a backdrop of vibrant green leaves. Most of the currants I made into jelly but the rest I ate just as they were on top of cereal.
The peas however, although looking very promising, were riddled with pea moth caterpillars and it was quite a task sorting out those that were affected from the ones that were still edible. Adult moths emerge from the ground in June and lay their eggs on the plants, so the best deterrent is to grow the peas under fleece to prevent the moths from reaching them, which I will try to do next year.
