Harvesting is in full swing and the usual “Summer Glut” is upon us. These days meals are almost completely vegetarian and even then we have a surplus of courgettes (Defender), calabrese (Chevalier) and cauliflower (Candid Charm) for which neighbours are thankful. These crops soon deteriorate if they are not harvested promptly. The rain earlier in the month has been very welcome particularly for calabrese and courgettes. I use successional sowing but even then lots of things mature at the same time.

At last, the plot is fully planted up and payback has started. Not much so far, the dry weather has slowed down growth but we have had a few courgettes (Defender) and a head of calabrese (Chevalier). With the promise of some much needed rain in July there will soon be peas (Hurst Green Shaft and Onward), early potatoes (Pentland Javelin, Concorde and Winston) and possibly a summer cabbage (Minicole). Transplanting in dry weather can lead to some losses. So far only one summer cabbage and one calabrese have failed. The gaps have been filled with winter cabbage (Celtic).

Midmar Allotments have received the following helpful communication from the Health and Safety Executive that may be of interest to allotment holders:

While it is likely that the abnormal leaf development has been caused by aminopyralid residues in the manure, you should also consider that other factors might also cause leaf damage such as lack of water and frost.

Last year the Scottish Government relaxed its ban on Aminopryalid, a hormone-based herbicide and this summer the stories of contamination in manure have returned with reports of shrivelled vegetables coming from Midmar and Redhall allotments. This clearly demonstrates that merely advising farmers to use it only where there is no chance of the chemical contaminating manure is ineffective. You may wish to consider lobbying your MSP and calling for a reinstatement of the outright ban.

At the end of March the plot was completely bare. Now it is almost completely planted up. The weather has been reasonably kind and, although there have been a few dry spells, the soil moisture level is good. By the middle of June, apart from transplanting the leeks in the space left when the first early potatoes have been lifted, the planting will be complete. Most years this is the time for a short break. That didn’t happen this year, it was replaced by a ten day family break in the middle of May. That meant a busy time just before the break and an even busier one on our return.

At last, spring has arrived. At the beginning of the month the weather was cold and the plot was bare. The only signs of life were swelling of the buds on the red currants and black currants. Now the signs of new life are all around. Spring came late but April was a good month for gardening.

The Edinburgh In Bloom Garden Competition 2010 has been launched. You can enter online here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Council/Council_Business/Council_fo...
The deadline for entries is the 18th of June and the competition will be judged in July. The results of the allotment categories will be announced at the FEDAGA Allotment Show in September where the winners will receive their awards. They will also be invited to the Edinburgh In Bloom awards ceremony in December.

FEDAGA had an input to the Open Space Audit last year, and now the Draft Open Space Strategy paper has been published and is up for public consultation until the 21st of May. Click here http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Environment/Planning_buildings_i_i_...

It was a bit of a "Hurry-up" at the end, but the plot is now completely clear of last season's crops. All the winter digging is complete and the ground ready for this season's planting and seed sowing. The dry weather towards the end of the month made the digging a bit easier. And with all the preparation complete, we did manage a weekend away.

Plotholders generally spend less time on their plots during the winter months than in the summer. The obvious reasons are that little or no planting has to be done, Christmas and New Year activities take up a lot of time, most of the harvesting is over and the weather is poor.