Every year has its ups and downs.

C’est la vie.

It’s still been another fantastic year in the allotment garden.

There were extremes in 2018. The ‘beast from the east’ dumped it’s cold white load over much of the UK in early spring and the early summer provided a 12-week heatwave. The plants froze and the plants frazzled.

There’s been plenty of colour and crops and wonderful experiences too.

I believe reflection is an important component in all of life’s little adventures and before I move forward into a new and exciting year, join me as I remind myself of what the allotment year had to offer.

 

January
Soul soothing parsnip soup and a hint of gardening with chitting potatoes and sowing sweetpeas.

 

February
The heartwarming sight of chilli seedlings, delicious white onion soup and getting the fingernails dirty sowing broad beans

 

March
Wrapping up against the heavy snow from the beast from the east. Green leaves on bush raspberry and the chillies put on some height.

 

 
April
Spring finally arrived. Seedlings poked through, the shallots flew into action and I attempted Jedi mind tricks to get the rhubarb to grow.

 

 
May
The Jedi magic worked, the magnificent sight of the first radishes and the peas looked perfectly pleased in their home.

 

 

June
The heatwave arrived but so did the carrots and early potatoes.

 

 

July
Incredible six foot ‘Champion of England’ Peas, the colour of the Calendula matched the summer sun and wonderful year for the onions.

 

 

August
The first crop of tomatoes, the Dahlias hooked me with their blooms and the garlic crop impressed.

 

 

September
Colour in all shades. Deep purple ‘Bulls blood’ beetroot, sunshine pompom dahlias and an early crop of the delicious mini pumpkin ‘Oranagita’.

 

 

October
Preserving the super shallot harvest, Cinderella wished for a carriage via the ‘Porcelain Doll’ Pumpkins and planting elephant garlic for the new year.

 

 

November
The dahlias finally give up the ghost but the golden sunrise over the allotment had me waking up many an early morning just to experience it.

 

 

December
Disaster struck but there was still colour and crop and stunning delicate paperwhite daffodils to ease my pain.

 

Thank you so much all of you for joining me, reading my ramblings and making 2018 an incredible year.

Happy New Year. I wish you a very edible and colourful gardening 2019.

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