An Aberdeen Allotment

17/10/2026

It's the weekend. After a cloudy and chilly start the sun came out to produce a beautiful sunny Saturday.

Today's main task was emptying the compost bin to start to spread the black gold around the plot. This was the well rotted compost that I grew a Pumpkin in this year. The bed that I grew all the other Pumpkins and Squash in was given a mulch, with the compost raked out about 5cm/2 inches deep. The bed was then covered with thick woven w**d control fabric to protect it from the elements (and w**ds growing). The rest of the compost was then piled on the previous flower bed at the back of the plot for use once the other beds clear. It was again covered with a tarpaulin to save the nutrients leaching out with the winter rains. Final piece of the jigsaw was to take all the plant waste also piled on this bed and deposit it in the empty compost bin. Phew!

Before all that when I first arrived at the plot I discovered that the strong winds during the week had toppled my Nine Star Perennial Broccoli and completely snapped the stems. It was still in full leaf so the wind was too much for it. The roots were dug out (no signs of Clubroot thankfully) and I'll either plant one of the cuttings I rooted the other month or a perennial Kale I had acquired at the ADA plant sale in August. The latter will be potted on until I decide.

With mulching, shifting, blethering and tidying pretty much taking up the whole day there was only time for a quick harvest of Autumn cropping Rasps before heading home as the sun set. The red variety is Polka and the yellow fruits Autumn Gold which are finally producing after the canes being planted earlier this year.

Ps this little chap followed me around all day snacking on all the creatures inhabiting the compost. I also love the autumnal glow of these Dahlias against their burgundy foliage.

10/10/2026

A chilly autumnal day today, made even more chilly by a stiff breeze. Not a day for standing still on the plot.

It was late morning before I made it down to the site after fulfilling family taxi duties. The sun was shining so I cracked on with it. The clearing of the plot continued at a slow and steady pace with in between chatting to a few of the other plotters who had also made it down. I cut back the Leucanthemum aka Shasta Daisy in the side flower border. Unfortunately the roots had been invaded by some type of perennial grass which had to be teased out like a surgical operation. I probably haven't got all of the roots and it will appear again next year no doubt but hopefully a lot weaker.

After some lunch it was the front flower border that got some attention, cutting back the perennial Sweet Pea and taking out it's annual cousin. The annual Sweet Peas were still just flowering and I was able to pick one last bunch. I also saved a lot of the seeds. The fine September had meant many of the annual flowers at home and at the plot had got a second wind.

All of the foliage was piled up at the back of the plot until I empty the first compost bin and then turn the contents of the second bin in to the first. The Sunflowers were also chopped down but not before the flower heads were attached to the fence so the local birds could enjoy the seeds. To finish the afternoon I lifted some more self seeded Foxgloves. Not sure where they will go but if I don't use them myself they will be shared out.

Ps it was so chilly today the woolly hat got it's first outing. My Pumpkin hat as one of my fellow plotters called it 🙂

05/10/2026

As a long time Amateur Gardening reader this is such sad news 😢

It is with a heavy heart that we have to share some unbelievably sad news with you. Our friend, colleague and all-round beautiful AG mag star Ruth Hayes has passed away whilst on holiday in her beloved Alpujarras in Spain. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family at this difficult time. Ruth was a fantastic gardening journalist, plantswoman and joyful person who spread little seeds of care and consideration wherever she went. Her smile and positive energy lit up a room, and her wise words helped so many gardeners during her many years at AG magazine. Ruth was such an advocate for the natural world and wildlife and so as we grieve our dear colleague and friend, we are trying to take more time to garden and remember her in the birds, bees and butterflies we see around us and to reflect on how truly wonderful it was to know, and work with, Ruth these past years. Xx

04/10/2026

October's here 🍂

After a generally fine and warm September it's been another chalk n' cheese weekend. A beautiful day yesterday, sun shining and warm whilst today has been mostly wet, slightly cooler and generally all round more autumnal.

My first week back at work had tired me out so I wasn't feeling the allotment mojo. Still as it's only weekend visits now had to make a bit of an effort. In the morning I cleared out the Greenhouse of the last of the Tomatoes. The fruits left to ripen only filled a seed tray which is pretty good going. They've been left there to catch some more sun. After lifting the plants, it was back outside where I started work on a pallet planter for the front of the plot to be finished another day.

On to some harvesting and I finally decided to cut off the one and only Butternut Squash. I think outside it's going to get as ripe as it is so it's been left in the Greenhouse along with the other Squash to hopefully colour up. I also lifted some Carrots. The Carrot Fly have invaded unfortunately, you can tell when the foliage turns a bronze and purple and when cleaned of the soil you can see where the larvae have been tunnelling through the roots. The Carrots are still useable, you just have to cut out the bad bits. The net appears to have a small tear so pretty sure they have come in there unfortunately.

Today I was feeling a bit more lively. I was helping Terry our Site Officer measure up and divide the abandoned allotment into two half plots. The Polytunnel frame has been dug out to be used by another allotment holder and with the waste waiting to be cleared by the Council the plot is in an almost lettable condition. With large allotment waiting lists and demand for smaller sized plots these two will be ready to go with very little work. The soil is perfect and very friable so ideal for growing. and perfect for a new plotter.

Ps. Still hanging on the last drops of Summer. Still not got my car back btw, will be another three weeks, apparently the whole engine wiring loom needs replaced. A very expensive and time consuming job. So glad I'm not paying for it 🙏😬.

01/10/2026

Plant Sale this Saturday 🪴

28/09/2026

So, that's been two and a bit weeks of annual leave. Back to work tomorrow 😒.

It's been a good couple of weeks off, road trip to Glasgow, weather has been mostly good, spent some time on the plot although making plans for this past week has been slightly hindered by waiting to see what was happening with my car. I've still not got it back btw, the third thing they thought was wrong has still not brought the car out of limp mode. The garage have another option, which they "think" may work but have to run it by Hyundai first. One small mercy is that whilst they wait for this to happen I've been given a hire car. Watch this space.

Today has been mostly pottering at home, bit of gardening amongst other jobs and a trip down to the plot later in the afternoon to drop off some pruning's for the compost bin, or rather pile at the back. Beautiful sunshine today but yesterday was our community day on the site. In the pouring rain nine of us hardy plotters did some work shifting soil on an abandoned plot to make it into a more lettable condition. We're all made of strong stuff lol.

After the mud bath yesterday I wanted to clean all the dubs (great word that) off my spade and wellie boots. The mud had all dried after the fore mentioned items were left in the Greenhouse and sun baked today. I also managed a quick harvest of Rocket to enjoy with the salad for tonight's supper. Next visit to the plot will be the weekend where the plan is to harvest the last of the tomatoes and clear the plants from the Greenhouse.

Ps The Rudbeckia are really coming into their own now at home. Varieties "All Sorts" and "Toto". Fantastic rustic autumnal colours 🍂😍.

26/09/2026

Another sunny Saturday in September. We've now reached the stage where the great big end of season allotment clear up is well into it's stride.

A task I started yesterday and continued today was to tidy up the Framberry bed. Now these Strawberry/Raspberry cross have given a great crop this year and literally shot out hundreds of runners that had worked there way through the adjoining Pumpkin and Squash bed. Now that these had been cleared I was able to deal with the runners. Many of them were potted up after being lifted out of the soil with excellent roots and the best of the rest were offered out to fellow plotters. After clearing the bed, it was given a good w**d and raked over. This year I think once the Dahlias have been lifted I will spread out the plot made compost and cover the beds to save me a bit of time next spring.

Also in this bed was the remaining French Beans v. Yellow Adoration. The plants had taken a bit of a battering so were lifted and the best of the beans cut off. I've still got some to use in the Fridge at home so I think these will be chopped up and frozen.

After clearing the Framberry's it was time to start clearing the flower bed at the back of the plot. The White Snapdragons and Statice had mainly gone over however there was still some decent stems of the latter so these were cut for drying off in the shed. The Rudbeckis are still going strong though and were left. The lifted plants were piled on the bed until there is space in the compost bin. They'll rot down fine here.

Ps. Also in this bed was the Calendula which had self sown from last year. I've been spreading the seed out again this year v. Indian Prince.

23/09/2026

Great to see this local business expanding 👌

Business continues to bloom for the country's only shopping mall garden centre. Read more: https://ebx.sh/WEFVwu

22/09/2026

Tomorrow sees the Autumn equinox when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and neither hemisphere is tilted towards or away from the Sun. This means day and night are roughly equal in length across the world. It also means the start of less daylight and more dark 😭.

Winter however was far away from my thoughts on the plot with another day of sunshine and warm balmy weather. After meeting the new Allotment Officer with a couple of my fellow committee members, giving him a tour of the site and letting him know how we roll it was back to work on my own plot.

Main focus today was planting out the Autumn Onions. My go to is always the variety Senshyu Yellow, grown from seed with some red onions from sets. This year the variety Electric. Today I had enough for four rows planted 15cm apart and 30cm between rows. I also always keep some in reserve and these are grown on in pots or modules in the cold frame to plant as replacements in early spring if there are any failures.

After the onions went in and given a good water the net that protected the potatoes was used again to cover the seedlings and sets until they are established. This is in case any of our feathered friends decide to pull them out. The soil at this time of year is still very warm and planting now promotes good root growth before the onions hunker down for winter.

Once the onions had been planted I was potting up some of the self sown Foxgloves lifted from around the plot. These will be planted in the home garden and if any spare given away. I love a free plant!

Ps Evening Primrose v. Silky Orchid having a second flush of blooms. These were sown from seed earlier this year and have established very quickly.

21/09/2026

Chalk and Cheese.....

Another few hours on the plot and after a cold and drizzly start to the day it nicely warmed up in the afternoon with sunshine and a balmy 22 degrees. Indian Summer, you're welcome.

Some community work to start, clearing up some waste and then our Chairperson and I had a walk round the site in anticipation of meeting the new Council Allotment Officer tomorrow. Certainly lots of things to discuss!

I still had a couple of hours to do some work on my own plot before heading home. First task was cutting back the spent canes on my Blackberry bush. Previously a prolific cropper but a schoolboy error by me has knocked it back. A large dandelion had taken hold in the middle of the crown and earlier in the summer I spot treated the leaves in an attempt to remove this. Unfortunately the w**d killer must have affected the roots of the bush and a number of the canes died off. Those that survived cropped very poorly. I've new growth this year but half the number of canes I normally have. Lets hope it recovers next season but if not I may have to look for a replacement.

I was also sowing some seeds - Spring Onions v. Ramrod in modules which once germinated will be grown on in the Greenhouse over winter and planted out early for Spring Onions in Spring. I was also sowing some leaves - Texel Greens, Rocket and Spinach which again will also be grown over winter and hopefully give some pickings of young leaves. They have joined the Squash in the Greenhouse to enjoy the sunny conditions along with Malva v. Snow White and Delphinium v. King English Rose which have been pricked out and potted up for growing on and overwintering.

I've slowly been clearing the squash bed and despite on of my fellow plotters saying that they only have success with Butternut Squash when growing in their polytunnel I've managed to raise one outside. This fruit is my only success from two plants. It's slowly ripening but still a hint of green. Hopefully the sunny conditions continue until the end of the month but meantime it's been kept company by the last couple of French Bean plants.

Ps Antirrhinum v. Mini Cherry Cola are enjoying a second flush.