Helensburgh & Gareloch Horticultural Society

Following on from an amazing June and July, August has seen a return to the changeable weather we are more accustomed to on the west coast of Scotland. We have seen rain and wind, and the air now has a real hint of Autumn and the next season to come. However it is mild, with long(ish) days, and with some sunshine we are very much still in the growing season, as all the plots on the allotment show. During the month of August, onions have been pulled and potatoes dug. Beans, co

July is often known as the month where gardeners can reap the awards of all the hard work earlier in the year, and I’m glad to say that this is true of our allotments this month! With most of the month spent in a heatwave, the few individual days of rain have been much welcomed and provided a growth spurt needed for plants. There have been huge crops of strawberries and blackcurrants, in addition to peas and courgettes. Broad beans are ready for the picking and tatties are be

Well, what a stunning month June has been on the west coast of Scotland, summer arrived with long days packed with sunshine. However it has brought its challenges down the allotment, with June arriving and departing with record high temperatures, sunshine and no rain, and during the middle of the month mother nature came back in avengence with Storm Hector. June saw a slow start for newly sowed seeds, with not enough rain to help germinate. But that changed with the rain that

Ready… steady… grow! What a difference a few weeks make. At the end of April, warm weather felt like a distant dream. However, May has turned into a lovely month and there has been a lot of activity on the allotment, with the plans for the different allotment plots starting to come to life. Peas, sweet peas, beans and brassicas have been planted: Onions and potatoes planted in April are growing well: Strawberry plants are in flower: Asparagus and Swiss chard are ready for har

Mother nature has been a slow starter this year, with cold temperatures and even hail being seen this month. However after a winter of browsing seed catalogues and planning crop rotations, the last few weeks have been a hive of activity on the allotment. With plots being weeded, turned over and prepared for the growing season ahead. Onions and potatoes have been planted, with Red Barons being a favourite red onion, and Charlotte one of many varieties of early potatoes. Curran

I was down at the allotment plots today where some plot holders are well ahead and have been making the most of a few weeks of dry weather, and more recently the much needed rain. Nice tidy plots, no weeds , broad beans, onions, asparagus already well a head. I see some peas - a bit ragged round the edges – pesky birds have been nibbling again. Courgettes have been planted out and sowings of carrots and goodness knows what have already been made. Some nice lettuce further u

As the days are slowly getting longer, it is time to start planning on the allotments for 2017. 2016 was a successful season with Trevor and Christine being awarded the Allotment trophy, in addition to several winners of the flower and veg show coming from our own allotments. However it isn't about trophies. The allotments are a great opportunity to grow fresh produce and flowers, spend more time outdoors and get to know a great group of like minded people! So, as we browse t