Simon's Allotment

A Beginners Guide to Shopping in Derby. Shopping in Derby is not conducted in the street but in special houses called shops. Some of these s...

A belated happy solstice to you all. Did anyone see the lunar eclipse? I missed it on account of it being too cloudy here in Derby. And too ...

November is the new January. Siberian winds, snow and penetrating frost; we've just had the coldest November night since records began. ...

I find September a bit depressing, end of summer and all that. But once I get my head round it and the leaves start changing colour, autumn ...

I'm taking a different approach to digging this year. I'm not yet convinced enough to go for a complete no-dig system but I did noti...

Besides the changing leaf colours there's also still a few flowers to enjoy in the garden and on the plot: Monkshood Evening primrose Ca...

I'm having a go at drying the last of these. Should make useful ammunition for the winter.

It's shaping up to be a wet autumn so I'm glad I got the maincrop spuds safely gathered in last weekend. Out on the plot there's...

Pea beans and french beans - I'll let these dry out for a few days before shelling them. Funky pea beans:

Bottom leaves need removing when I get round to it.

A nice row of Autumn King, if I do say so myself.

Right then, back to gardening. Time to savor the last of summer.

Am I eating apples? Yes I am.

Tried a couple of slices of the first red ones yesterday and they nearly blew my head off. Should make useful gifts.

These made great looking plants but the cobs are disappointing. They were supposedly meant to be "mini-corn" (Minipop F1 from Mr F...

The winter tares are growing away nicely and I'll dig them in in the spring: The trefoil I've dug in now and I'll be planting ga...

Still looking lovely.

Fuchsia Sedum Rose campion Geranium

I first went to Stonehenge free festival in 1981. I didn't know any Sid Rawle but I did get to score some dodgy acid and see Hawkwind. ...

All the rain we should have had in the spring seems to have fallen in the last fortnight. Still, life goes on, which is just as well really....