Another crazy week!
I've been filming my one-hour special, which in a way is an extension to last year's, exploring the way people garden with extremely limited (or sometimes no) outside space at all. It's taken me around London, as well as Sheffield and Paris, from wonderful tapestries of green walls and roofs, to green architecture aimed at increasing biodiversity, reducing water run-off and cooling buildings.
I got up to the allotment last weekend for a few hours and will be there for three days over the next week or so to whip it into shape and get as much produce from it before I go on holiday. I was really pleased with myself as I brought back a box full of peas, French beans, potatoes, onions and a few strawberries from the plants I put in earlier in the year. It was similar to the organic box we used to get delivered - finally! The weeds are always a problem, especially between the garlic and onions, and around the edges of the plot. But they're certainly getting weaker as I keep pulling them. The mares tail really doesn't like the shade of the squashes, potatoes and courgettes. The soil has improved greatly, especially where I'm digging up the spuds. They are ideal as a first crop to break the earth, because you dig to put them in, dig again to earth them up and then dig once more when lifting. I've also decided to dig in some compost and weed again before replanting the area. I'm already looking forward to next year and thinking about where I'll put certain crops. The garlic, onions and shallots will certainly be moved and I may lift and replant the comfrey near the water butt and compost heap. Always learning, that's for sure! I know there's great concern about dodgy contaminated manure that people are putting on their gardens and allotments. Our producer Rosemary Edwards wants to feature it as a main part of the programme, so the Gardeners' World team are currently investigating. Watch this space, Joe.
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