Anyone with an allotment?

I’ve had one courgette make it to the plate from four plants which is unheard of. In years gone by, courgettes used to appear overnight.

Same on our plot, they’re just getting munched. Never had that before

Strangely all of my brassicas look great, I suppose they're leaving them till last

Btw if anyone is near a coffee roastery they may well be able to give you coffee chaff for free. Makes a nice, if slightly bulky, compost ingredient. Local roaster here is kindly giving me theirs and their hessian bags

I'm close to mothballing my plot until next year. Nothing is progressing. More than 20% of my Potato crop hasn't appeared above ground, the remainder appear to be on pause.

Beans & Squash doing nowt, tho I have 4 squash in pots indoors that are growing on & flowering but to plant them out feels too big a risk still.

Im starting to think there's something in the compost, it's that bad.

First picture - squash in an old pot of compost, potted out two weeks ago and doing great. The squash in the small pot hasn't grown at all in these two weeks and is just withering away. Wouldn't say its far too big for it's pot?

Second pic, squash in the background planted out 3 weeks ago in a bed of new compost, done fuck all. The leeks were planted out over 2 months ago as well 😂

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Also Im a bit gutted to learn Charles Dowding is a bit of a conspiracy nut

You what?

Was just watching his latest vid and he mentioned 'man made clouds
'

(5:59)

So that took me down a rabbit hole and yeah he's posted about it previously and has an 'energy' course

I’ve had the same thing growing in fresh bag compost. I’ve planted it out now so will see what happens

Ah man. Disappointing, but he’s always given off slight space cadet vibes. What are man made clouds anyway?

I’ll head up the plot tomorrow for a bit. Mate is lending me a battery strimmer to get things under control. Got the email off the council. I knew it was coming and it is deserved. Almost convinced myself to buy a Dewalt strimmer so I can use my other batteries but not got a spare £140 right now.

Caged Peas
('Hurst's Greenshaft')

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Very pro set up, totally pigeon proof!

Strong argument to divest my plot with more flowers… less heartache with the slug attacks!

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friend of mine went to a talk from him and he sheepishly admitted he doesn't believe in climate change

Climbing Courgettes

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Baby Corn ('Mini Pops')

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Went up the plot yesterday. All 3 squash I’d planted in the ground had been “disappeared” by slugs. Had one self-seeded one in some homemade compost in a big pot that has survived but not sure what variety.

Harvested all the rest of my garlic and the better onions. Sweetcorn looking good, but everything else a bit meh.

How do I pickle garlic, is it easy? I have a load of garlic I won’t using any time soon and would like to preserve it. Once I done with my gherkins, can I put them in the same jar

Dunno about pickling but I confit garlic by the ton and use it in loads of stuff. Sometimes I just eat it out of the jar when my wife's away and she can't judge (or smell) me.

https://youtu.be/uMMbDujMd2E?si=bQhEx46uHq8EbfSA

It will keep for a long time as long as it stays dry and without sunlight. Will eventually try to regrow but even then you can eat it.

Making a big batch of garlic butter and then freezing is another option.

is it easy?

Yes. Find a recepe that appeals. The main thing is being diligent about sterilisation.

Once I done with my gherkins, can I put them in the same jar

Yes. But it'll fill up quick.

I’d confit over pickling personally. Vinegar/garlic is not a combo I find much use for.

I can’t have that. Way too unhealthy.

Do you cook with oil? Just use the confit oil.