Spent most or the afternoon watering in the nematodes, with water just a trickle from the tap as so many people were watering thirsty plots.

That certainly did not enhance my mood that was already tried by the thing that is increasingly driving me insane at the allotment: things left around in other people’s way!

There’s some for all tastes: plastic sheeting crumbled and left across the path to host slugs, cans of water at the bottom of the path, flapping nets in the middle of the path, rubbish thrown in the middle of what should be a path, and again netting rolls, sizeable plastic tunnels and even barbecues! All in the path!

I am not totally innocent as for example I have to leave a couple of pallets leaning against my shed and marginally in the way while finding the time to make use them. But all my neighbours seem to suffer from this spatial incontinence throughout the year, and particularly someone that I have figured out must have been an only child, considering the amount of space he takes up and the little consideration for the others (not only me!).

He is otherwise nice and even remembers my name, but I cannot help fuming when I see his stuff all over the place and I am afraid it shows when talking to him that I am so irritated (so Italian of me) even though I do not like to make a fuss and so avoid mentioning it (so very English!)… He must think I am a bit of a nutter!

Anyway, spinach is thriving and broadbeans are out, no sign of agretti but the nasturtium has beautiful red flowers. And the website must have been right about the gooseberries, as they have become so big… which also tells you that my humming line must be working and keeping the pigeons at bay!

Horrified although not surprised to find more than 10 asparagus gone to seed, but picked the most delicious strawberry. And a little bag of goodies, mainly herbs.

Surprises multiply, with last year’s cime di rapa growing in between tomatoes – just as well, as the ones I sowed more recently are tiny (10 cm as opposed to the 50-60 plants that I am used to from Italy), and already going to seed.

Major work ahead, watering nematodes in – did not have time today, just came to dispose of the obnoxious rats, really.

Despite the lovely weather I did not manage to drag myself to the allotment, my stamina has failed me horribly this week!

Now I am a bit concerned, as nature won’t wait for anyone, as is well known:

• asparagus that I should be picking is going to seed
• nematodes might well die in the fridge, and they are not cheap
• the dead rats are rotting (why did they leave them there for me to bury in the first place?!?)
• I have not planted anything in May, which will mean a ‘hungry gap’ in the middle of the season… In particular no salad at all
• weeds will have regrown all over the place and grass will need serious mowing
• it’s a windy place over at the allotment and my pallets may have fallen onto something…

I’ve just managed to persuade myself that I must go there at least a couple of hours this weekend, no matter what!

— Post From My iPhone

… I was told they are now dead, left for me to bury…

Anyone for helping?!? :/

— Post From My iPhone

Not one but two, in the trap, they are little (some 15cm + tail) and look intelligent and afraid. They are sort of cute, I could keep them as pets if I did not know they are a health hazard and breed like rabbits! 😉

Well, they breed like mice, but so goes the Italian phrase…

Called the council to dispose of them. Hope the come before the astute little things manage to open the cage.

Apart from looking at them, fixing the window of the shed which I found broken, and moving pallets around, I did not have the stamina to do anything else.

Solanaceae not doing very well and all sunflowers have wilted in the greenhouse.

… Which is very good as I did not have any time even to check the allotment over the weekend.

The pallets have arrived for my compost heap, and so has the second batch of nematodes for slugs management.

And my goodness, it’s June already at the end of this week!
— Post From My iPhone

I got bitten all over the back and head by the mysterious evening insects, besides getting my hands stung by very aggresive nettles on the palm and little finger. Hand is swollen and numb, but it’s my fault as I never use gloves: so I’ll pull myself together now!

Had another go at sowing agretti: hope is nod dead yet, although this is the third time round.

I think I have a personal character issue with crop rotation: cannot quite bring myself to pull out self-seeded plants from previous years, when they grow for free without all the hassle of nursing them: potatoes are coming out all over the place, as well as spinach beet from the previous holder, and you know already of winter spinach and garlic…