Kate's Allotment

16/04/2026

Is very confusing to use the wrong word in Gardening...and I'm especially sad when I hear words wrongly used by presenters on popular T.V. programmes. My particular pet hate at the moment is when the words 'sowed' and 'planted' are wrongly used...I'd like to clarify that a) when we put seeds in the ground prior to germination it is referred to as 'sowing' and b) to put plants in the ground is referred to as 'planting...i.e. flowering bulbs, Allium sets and seed Potatoes, as well as seeds that have germinated and are now seedlings, fully grown plants, shrubs and trees etc. which are 'planted'. Am I being picky???

28/02/2026

15/02/2026

14/02/2026

Flea beetles, Cabbage White Caterpillars and Aphids can quickly decimate our Cauliflower, Cabbage or Brussels sprouts but this year I'm growing White Mustard as a 'trap crop' i.e. to lure destructive insects away from the primary crop—in this case, brassicas....as luckily pests that feed on our favourite brassicas prefer mustard which is in the same family. it may be the wide leaves or the spicy flavour, but whatever the draw, it's more to their taste. Some trap crops interfere with the pests lifecycle but the mustard plant won’t do any damage to these pests, it will hold their interest while the other crops thrive. A cabbage white butterfly caterpillar that enthusiastically chomps down on mustard will still grow to be a healthy little butterfly. It’ll come back and lay its eggs on the row of mustard as well, so the pest life cycle will continue.

It’ll come back and lay its eggs on the row of mustard as well, so the pest life cycle will continue.

15/01/2026

The conversation ran thus...I need the drill and have the battery in it but it needs charged...what ever happened to the charger? When did we use it last? We agreed it must have been sometime in 2019....where did you find the drill? It was put away but I found it on the kitchen table the last time it was used in 2019 but there was no charger...and since then its been used/moved without the charger....so after a debate about the merits of 'putting stuff away 'properly' compared to 'tidying' whilst cleaning....I said " when you borrowed it in 2019, did you use the charger?" I mean ...really...when I put something away I expect it to be in the same place when I need it again. So then my husband said ..."I'd like to live in your world, where things stay put for 5 - 6 yrs...its like expecting....sunshine all day then rainbows and unicorns...when it rains". Then I wondered...if he had borrowed the drill without the charger...could it still be where it used to 'live' before moving bedrooms in 2017...and so I looked and found he charger still plugged in...little light still blinking...beside where my bedside cabinet used to be.....oh how I love my world....where the sun always shines and unicorns dance beneath rainbows when it rains...and things stay put.

14/01/2026

I've got a Polytunnel! I do have instructions and Ive watched the video from manufacturers but is there anyone with practical advice on putting it up???

23/12/2025

12/12/2025