Marigold Memoirs

I've put them on a throw pillow and by a jar of mustard for scale. I can't believe how big these shallots are getting. The leaves aren't even yellow yet. And all those came from one shallot. The beetroot were pulled just out of curiosity. I'll probably add the stems to a salad. There are plenty of shops that stock Polish food around here, so I'm planning for large pots of Borsht, with perogies (dumplings) and smetana (a thick sour cream).

Today and a few days ago, I planted 4 outdoor cucumbers, 1 Pumpkin Galeux de Eysines, 3 crown prince squash, 2 yellow crookneck squash, 1 Organic Dundoo F1 courgette, 1 courgette gold rush, 2 marrow long green bush 2 improved, 1 pattypan squash, 14 corn plants, 4 French Marigolds Bolero, 5 or 6 more tomatoes. I might be forgetting something in the haze of post-allotment brain-fog. Do you know what I mean? It's like you're all happy, content and relaxed, but at the same time it's like you've downed a pint of lager and are somewhat inebriated.

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I have nearly killed all the broad beans with a strong solution of Fairy dish-washing liquid and water for the blackfly. It was supposed to be 1 part soap to 10 parts water... All the leaves started turning black within minutes. It'll be a miracle if they survive. I'll have to get some proper horticultural soap and be sure to measure correctly in future. The tomatoes have greenfly, so that I can see a trip to the nursery in the very near future.

Also having to change the menu for the next few weeks to deal with the onslaught of potatoes and brassicas...