I was a bit nervous about sowing new stuff in August. Even though I know Spring to late summer is still prime growing season territory, something about August felt a bit like no-man’s land.

Frantically, I trawled through my allotment handbook, the RHS website and various other credible resources, and still found self-doubt creeping in a bit.

Should I or should I not sow in August? Isn’t harvest around the corner?

But there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I remembered the crop that grows quickly, can be sown every 2 weeks between my main crops and is quite robust (and delicious!)

SPINACH

It likes light shade and is fine with warmer weather, and I knew just the bed for it.

The empty bed behind my tomato bed!

It has a bit of shade from the overhang from the trees, but still enough light to catch a bit of warmth.

My confidence returning, I scrawled down a quick plan and decided to throw in a couple of other crops for good measure (getting confident with the land requires a bit of experimentation and courting, if you will):

• spinach, callalloo (same bed; directly sown)

• mint (in tray)

• basil (directly sowing in between my growing tomatoes. These are good plant companions and coincidentally taste amazing together in spaghetti sauce)

News from the community allotment 📢

This is my mini update from the community allotment I volunteer at (gatekeeping so it remains my safe, happy place).

1. Our toms are fruiting nicely and some are ready to harvest!

2. Kohl rabi has come through in the cut! I took one home and cooked it down with vegan mince and it tasted divine.

3. The hosepipe ban has been a confusing as we’re technically a garden that provides commercial produce. I’ve been sticking to a watering can to be on the safe side.

   Till next time xo

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   @bushnotesdiary

   @bushnotes