Sandgate Community Garden Team Diary Entry for 10th September: Scorchio.
This week the weather has been scorchio! It has been far too hot to feel like doing anything much, but no matter what the seedlings, celery and celeriac still need watering. We decided to work in the garden earlier than we normally do, and finish by 11am in order to be out of the midday sun.
The rest of the tomato plants with blight got removed and composted, and work was started on laying more wood chip paths. The badgers have been active again this week in the garden, with evidence of disturbed earth and pathways, probably in the search for earthworms. Sometimes, on arrival there is a need to rake over the paths to make them level again or risk falling into the holes.
Many of the garden plots are now covered in fine netting as the cabbage white butterflies are very active still and so desperate to get at the brassicas that we often find them trapped inside where they have somehow managed to squeeze in, and have to release them. However they need to be careful as the season is turning towards autumn and there is evidence of large garden spiders and their webs strategically placed to catch anything that comes along. We observed a short fight between a wasp and a spider, but the wasp stood no chance, was wrapped up and carried off to the larder in a flash.
We were proud to notice that our little lemon tree has produced a tiny lemon, and that the banana tree had sprouted two new trees around its roots – brilliant.
On 23rd September there will be another Disco Soup event, but this time in Hythe in conjunction with the Hythe Environmental Community Group plant, seed and produce swap and community apple pressing. The venue is the Age UK centre in Stade Street from 2 – 5pm. So check it out on social media and sign up for a ticket to a great free event for all of the family.
What’s next?
- Continue to put down the wood chips
- Pick the hops
- Continue to tidy up the plot
- Remove the wig-wams and tidy up around the back of the pond
- Continue to water the seedlings if the weather continues to be hot
This weeks update from the Sandgate Community Garden Diary.