Here we are, over halfway through the year and the summer solstice has been and gone!
According to the Met Office it has been the driest spring for over a century and after such a very dry start to the season the weather finally broke a bit recently and we have had some very welcome rain. However, the ground is still dry underneath the top few centimetres and some plants are struggling to establish themselves.
The outlook for the rest of the month into August is changeable with the potential for some hot spells and also heavy thundery rain. A typical start to summer then!
The site is looking very good at the moment, with several new plot holders who are really making a fantastic effort. Welcome to them!
Water and watering ~ taps, butts and hoses!
Because we have had such a dry start to the season many plot holders are having to water plants to get them established and help them survive. A gentle reminder that we should all try to be as careful with water as possible. A few tips for best practice:
Using a can to water at the base of the plant is much more effective than spraying over a whole area.
When the weather is warm watering in the early morning or evening is better than watering in the heat of the day as there is less evaporation.
Please remember to turn taps off after you have used them. We have had a couple of instances when taps have been left running and butts have overflowed.
Break ins
Sadly we have had several incidents of people coming on to the site and breaking in to plot holders’ sheds. Thankfully it doesn’t look as if anything has been taken but the criminals (and that’s what they are) damaged the gate and cut through the chain with bolt cutters. They came well prepared, known legally as ‘going equipped’, which might indicate that it is more than young people.The police have been informed and advice has been sent out to plot holders by email. Our local PCSO has informed us that they are increasing their trips down Bachelor Gardens and hopefully a more visible police presence will act as a deterrent.
The committee met recently and it was unanimously decided that we would purchase some cameras to increase surveillance of the entrances so that if there is a repeat of the break ins we will hopefully have some clear pictures to pass on to the police.
Know your bees…
Has anyone else noticed that there seem to be a lot more insects around this year? After travelling long distances the front of my car was well splattered with bugs, much more so than for the last few years. And at the plot some flowers have been covered with bumble bees. They seem very fond of chive flowers and opium poppies. I’m no expert but I was intrigued to discover how many different species of bumble bees there are, over 20 different ones!
Follow the link above if you’d like to learn more about these amazing creatures.
The HDAF Allotment Show
This year the show will be on August 11th in the Sun Pavilion in The Valley Gardens. It’s a great opportunity to see what others are growing and enter some of the classes. There are flower and vegetable classes, baking and preserves and special sections for novices and children. The show schedule and entry form can be accessed via the links below:
http://thehdaf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Schedule_25_5.pdf
http://thehdaf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Entry-Form_25.pdf
Why not give it a try? There are lots of shiny silver cups to win as well as the prize money!
Part of the show is the awarding of the trophy to the best site in the Harrogate area. Historically we won this seven years in succession. Could this be our lucky year again? The judges were on site on Friday 27th of June and were impressed with what they saw. There are prizes for the best individual plot too!
Composting
Has anyone else been having problems with compost this year? Whilst I fully support the idea of using less peat based products I have to admit that my experience of peat free compost and grow bags has not been altogether positive. In fact I do wonder where the manufacturers get the raw materials from, as I have found shredded plastic and even fragments of glass in some! Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is still a long way to go before they get the formulation right. The key to improving chances of success seems to be to keep a very close eye on the watering and feed earlier than usual to counteract the lack of nutrients.
Social events
We are hoping to have a BBQ in the summer. It was a great success last year and is a great way to get to know your fellow plot holders. We’ll let you know a date and more details asap.
You may also have noticed that Gary has planted some pumpkins on Janet’s old plot. These will form the basis of the stock for our pumpkin sale which will be held just before Halloween and is a great fundraiser.
Updating the site map and plot numbers
I am trying to put together an up to date site map, complete with the plot holder’s first name, to put on the notice board on the garage. We have a number of new plot holders and it is nice to be able to put a name to a face. If you aren’t sure of your plot number then please ask!
We would also like to encourage people to display the number of their plot somewhere visible. Let’s try and get creative and make some interesting signs to show which plot is ours!
Plot holders I have spoken to have said that they think it is a nice idea as it will help to build a sense of community. However, if you aren’t happy to have your name (just your first name, no other details) included on the map then please let me know. You can leave me a note in my greenhouse. Judi, (Plot 6b on the top path and 25a on the main path).
Do have a wander around the site to see what everyone else is growing. It’s great to share ideas and see what works. Don’t forget the swap and share table by the garage if you have any excess produce or spare plants. It’s a great way to try new things or prevent waste.
Happy gardening!