Well May was certainly a wet one wasn’t it?! 😅
Usually May is filled with excitement and anticipation. New seedlings emerging, planting out bedding and young plants. Watching everything really start to grow and flourish. This year, however it hasn’t quite happened like that. If anything it’s been a bit of a disaster but I shan’t dwell on the weather too much.
The tomatoes, after a very tricky start, now look amazing and have been planted into their finals spots. I love seeing the greenhouses when they’re first planted up, especially when the beds have had a fresh Magic Mulch finish. I’m adding peppers, cucumbers, basil and marigolds to the allotment greenhouse beds in June when the weather warms a bit more. The home greenhouse is already fully planted up as I can fleece them if needed.
My little mini tomato gardens are also looking fantastic. They’ve grown so well and I’ve even started harvesting some of the basil, lovely. I’ll be keeping a close eye on feeding and watering due to the limited space but so far all is going well.
Sadly most of what I’ve planted out this month has been scoffed by greedy slugs and snails 🐌
Peas, beans, potatoes and even onions have been eaten! I’ve never known a Spring like it. The mild wet winter has certainly not helped and a lack of natural predators means slugs and snails are on the rampage!
I’ve resown a lot in the hope that we get a long summer and I’ve treated the garden with nematodes. I’ve still to treat the allotment but I’m actually planning on adding a small pond, watch this space.
The lavender cuttings that took back in April have all rooted amazingly well and have now been potted on individually. I’ve bought a pink and a white lavender to do the same with and also a pink flowering rosemary!
I’ve used the RocketGro Seed & Cutting compost for these cuttings with a little dip into some rooting powder.
Free plants are always a winner!
Hopefully the sun shines a bit more for us going forward and the rain stays at bay 🤞It’s been such a tricky start to the year so if this is your first year growing then please know you’re not alone and it will get better!
Steph 💚
Steph’s Allotment 
If you follow Charles Dowding, you’ll hear him say he has had a lot of reports all over the country about the slug and snail problems folk are having this year. I still can’t get my courgettes etc out due to cold so I’m also hoping for some decent weather!
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