This is the time to start the rewarding part, the picking, it is also a time to keep on top of the weeds and cultivation of the soil between plants. with this warm and wet weather many crops are growing away well. There is still planting to be done of the autumn and winter crops, in fact, some are still to be sown.

The sucessional sowing of salad crops still must be continued with or you will find yourself without any in about a months time if you slip up now. many crops need attention all summer while they are growing, tying new growth intto training wires and frames. Others need side shoots continually removing and still the weeds keep growing!

This rain is helping to bulk up the potato crop and is helping the courgettes, marrows and squashes to get well established.

For the third time this year vandals have visited the site, braking into sheds breaking glass and tearing polytunnel covers. They also smashed one plotholders car windscreen and side window while he was on the plot. All the troubles have been reported to the police, who seem deaf to the problems.

JOBS FOR THE WEEK
1.Plant up brassicas in the area cleared in the frame. Done
2.Plant out more salads. Done
3.Tie in outdoor cucumbers.
4.Thin carrot bed.
5.Remove 2nd old compost heap.
NB The weather this week has hampered progress,just a little!

WORK DONE THIS WEEK
Sunday
Weed both tunnels.
Tie in climbing beans.
Water.
Pot seeds from modules to small pots.
Monday
Water.
Tuesday
Plant out brassicas into frame.
Plant out Lettuce
Water
Weed
Wednesday
Weed brasssica bed (part).
Water.
Plant out 3 butternut squash.
Tie in grape vine leader.
Thursday
Water.
Repair vandal damage to tunnel and shed.
Friday
Tie in grape vine leaders.
Water.
Plant out trial of brassicas in cut down bottles.
Saturday
Water
Pick

CROPS PICKED THIS WEEK
Cauliflowers.
Strawberries
French Beans
Radish
Lettuce
Spring onions
Courgettes
Potatoes

We are now beginning to reap the rewards of the work that has been put in over the last few months, the picking has started. For the next few months we will be picking crop on most days and gradually building up supplies for the winter. There are still the rest of the routine jobs to do, weeding, watering and hoeing as well as filling the areas cleared by picking.

The asparagus season has now ended and the plants will be allowed to grow and build up strength for next years crop. The early potatoes are now being dug and the area will soon be available for late season crops or to sow with a green manure to improve the fertility of the ground for next year.

This years sweet corn is growing on and producing good strong plants, the celery is growing up its collars and the leeks are standing up well.

The volunteers at Levenshulme and District Allotments are at it again this weekend - 23rd & 24th June. This time spurred on by the good news that Barclays Bank have committed £500 to support parts of the work.

The volunteers cleared an inaccessible pathway so that the new tenants could get cracking on their overgrown plot. They also built a fence to define the pathway and the neighbouring plot holder’s area.

The next wave of work will use the money from Barclays to transform the skip and recycling area - with paved paths, more robust bays for the recycling materials and some nice signs to make everything clear.

‘2′ marks the spot of the last volunteer weekend, and we’re back to ‘1′ this weekend for more work there.

Thank goodness we have got to the stage where we can sit and relax a little! The majority of the summer/autumn crops are now in the ground and with, this recent rain, are settled in and growing well. There are still the regular sowings of salad crops to keep up with and the last of the autumn/winter crops to plant out, but the bulk of the hard work is done.

That doesn’t mean that there is nothing to do, but the pressure has eased. Now we have to keep the rows/beds clear of weeds and the soil cultivarted to allow the rain water to penetrate to the roots.

Then the plants in the tunnels still need watering daily, as do outside crops when they are producing. Tomatoes need side shooting, cucumbers and tomatoes need tying up to keep the fruit clean and the rest of the plants need attention to produce the best crops.

When these jobs are done we can sit and stare, as the poem says. However, if you have other projects to get on with now is the time to start planning how and when to do them!

JOBS FOR THE WEEK
1 Finish planting out peas from the small pots. Done
2 Transplant the last of the brassicas into large pots. Done
3 Transplant lettuce from modules into small pots. Done
4 Plant melons from the large pots into 2 litre pots. Done
5 Plant Aubergines,Peppers ans Chillies into 250mm pots. Done
6 Weed and cultivate leek bed. Done
7 Weed and cultivate french bean beds.Done
8 Cut comfrey and fill bin for the second time.Done
9 Thin root crops.Done

WORK DONE THIS WEEK
Sunday
Transplant peppers,chillies and aubergines into 250 mm pots.
Transplant brassicas into large pots.
Weed and cultivate french bean beds.
Weed and cultivate beetroot bed.
Cultivate carrot, garlic and mixed root beds.
Water tunnel.
Monday
Transplant lettuce into large pots.
Water tunnel.
Start planting out peas.
Tuesday
Finish planting peas.
Cover carrot bed with insect mesh.
Water.
Wednesday
Move plants to cold frame to harden off.
Water.
Plant out celery.
Weed leeks.
Weed round plum tree and blueberries.
Thursday
Water.
Friday
Water.
Pick beans
Pick cauliflowers for freezing
Saturday
Cultivate leek bed.
Cultivate french bean bed.
Water
Pick crops.
Cut comfrey and fill bin.
Clear out cauliflower rows in brassica frame prepare soil for next planting.
Weed lettuce beds.
Thin root beds.

CROPS PICKED THIS WEEK
Asparagus.- Last picking this year.
Cauliflowers.
Peas.
French and broad beans.
Strawberries.
Turnips.
Spring Onions Radish.
Carrots.

FROM STORE
Potatoes
Onions

It is now time to enjoy the plot and keep on top of the regular jobs of weeding, watering, hoeing and picking. The crops in the new tunnel are growing well as are most of the outside crops.

The planting out of seedlings from pots and trays is over and a good job too as there is no more room left on the plot.
There is still plenty to keep doing as the crops in the tunnel need regular attention, side shooting and tying up.