Barry Cuff takes a look back through his notes of what happened on his Sturminster Newton plot last month
As the drought continued through August – now into its third month – it was essential to water most crops every day. The high temperatures, together with the lack of rain, took their toll on some more than others. The worst affected were lettuce, runner beans and peas.
Our well, which supplies the allotment site, finally ran dry on the 13th and we had to rely on mains water. Fortunately, we have a mains supply on site, installed around 20 years ago with the help of a grant from Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival.
Beetroot
New sowings were made of Crimson King, Cylindra and Moulin Rouge. Established roots were harvested as required.
Brassicas
Growth was slow across all varieties and we suffered a second attack of flea beetles. It is extremely unusual to have a further infestation, so we sprayed again with Deltamethrin, apart from the red cabbage. Harvested our first Red Drumhead and planted out Tundra savoy cabbage from plugs.
Carrots
New sowings of Early Nantes were slow to establish until the rain finally arrived. Earlier sowings were harvested as required.
Celery
Needed plenty of water. We started harvesting in the middle of the month.
Celeriac
Our two varieties, Giant Prague and Asterix, were mulched with manure and homemade compost. Lifted the first plant on the 21st.
Courgettes
Watered every day and producing good yields.
Cucumber
Kept well watered and producing excellent medium-sized fruits. Gergana is the best variety we have ever grown.
Flowers
Mainly for the bees this month: tagetes, tithonia, cosmos, dahlias and summer savory.
All images: Barry Cuff
French beans
Safari was given plenty of water and produced good yields of fine pods.
Fruit
Cobnuts are dropping early. Pears are looking good.
Gherkins
Yielding well.
Green manure
We will sow when it rains.
Groundwork
Clearing away old pea and broad bean crops.
Lettuce
Really suffering in the heat despite plenty of water. We shaded young plants from direct sunlight, while germination was erratic, so extra sowings were made to ensure a constant supply.
Onions
Lifting was completed by the end of July, with the crop dried off and stored in trays at the beginning of August.
Parsnips
One of the crops least affected by the drought, requiring water only once a week.
Potatoes
The final row, Desiree, was dug on the 4th and stored in paper sacks with the rest of the crop.
Runner beans
Really suffering from the high temperatures, with poor pod set.
Salad crops for autumn and winter
Planted out from plugs Chinese cabbage, Scarvita and Yuki, and Rossa di Verona radicchio.
A short row of daikon radish was sown on the 23rd and was emerging well by the 27th. On the 28th, every seedling was infested with flea beetles. We have never seen this in the 30 years we have grown winter radish. More seed was sown on the 28th and covered with fleece. Fingers crossed.
Sweetcorn
Swift has had a good year. All was harvested by the 17th, giving us 66 excellent cobs and 12 poorer ones from 70 plants.
Sweet peppers
A good year, with plants continuing to crop well.
Tomatoes
Most plants are still cropping as we move into September. Notable varieties this year include Sunchocola, Britain’s Breakfast and Bellandine.
Winter squash
Plants were given around five litres of water each per day. Good-sized fruits are now appearing among the foliage, including Butterfly butternut and Crown Prince.
Rain at last!
It finally arrived on the 27th, with around an inch falling by the 30th. There was a noticeable improvement in most crops by the morning of the 30th – and we were able to pump from the well again.
