Allotments 4 All

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Where is everybody? It's been days since anyone posted  -  I'm worried Dan will think we're no longer interested in AforAll. Come on guys let's hear about your successes or failures so far this season!

My 4 raised beds of squashes, tomatoes, sweet corn and beans are all growing well. I've been picking courgettes, strawberries, blackcurrants and a few early blackberries on a daily basis for some time and the first picking of Cobra beans will be made this weekend.  Slugs and snails have,  oddly, been noticeable by their absence this year  - not that I'm complaining  -  .

The apple trees are doing their bi-annual sulk, so apart from one solitary fruit on the Jonah Gold, no apples this year.

The sun is shining and I'm going to harvest some very luscious looking Sunburst cherries 🍒 now.

Tricia 

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Although I took early retirement at 55, I managed to keep out of the way doing gardening shows throughout the summers for a dozen or so years, then for the last 10 years, at my leisure allotments, pottering, telly bingeing and generally being left to my own devices. Now she wants to retire next month, was going to be when she was 60, but a reprieve until 65, then I even blagged another year to 66. But i will not get away with it going up again. So my sanctuary at the allotment is paying for its keep. Time to get a more comfortable shed I think.

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In never usually bother fertilising my potatoes after planting and have had bumper crops in the past although some years they are poor. In the latter case this can be usually put down to too much rain (rotting in situ or blight) or too little at the wrong time of year when the tubers are forming. I just make sure the soil is in good condition before I plant and add a bit of Growmore to the hole I plant the potatoes in. All the older gardening books I have never mention fertilising after planting.
Looking at the web a lot of sites nowadays enthusiastically recommend using granular fertiliser or tomato feeding several times post planting over the growing period, though in some cases they may have a vested interest as they are sites that want to sell you the fertiliser!
I would be interested in what people think of the issue.

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I cannot grow Onions, Garlic, or spring onions because of the dreaded White Rot. Now for the last couple of years i have to net my leeks because of Allium Leaf Miner. Now commercial growers must have some insecticide spray they are able to use. Anyone know what it is?