An Aberdeen Allotment

02/09/2026

It's always interesting to hear about gardening in Aberdeen. Unfortunately at this time of year Bob won't have any Tatties on him 😉

Greyhope Morning: A History of Community Gardening in Aberdeen.

Bob Donald, Chair of community growing initiative One Seed Forward will guide us through the story of community gardening in the city, from its origin by land gifting through to the various locations and groups creating green spaces in the present day.

📆 Tuesday 8th September, 10:00 - 12:00.
📍Greyhope Bay Centre
💰Free to attend & open to all, donations welcome.
☕ Free tea & coffee served by our brilliant volunteers.
🔗 Book your free places here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greyhope-morning-a-history-of-community-gardening-in-aberdeen-tickets-1999385589119
📷 Photo credit: One Seed Forward.

30/08/2026

RHSA Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen Flower Show Weekend

It's been a busy weekend helping at the Flower Show, but positively seeing a steady stream of visitors come through the gate to view all the fantastic exhibits.

Friday was the only day available for me to prepare my entries for the show but the weather unfortunately didn't play ball. This meant less entries from me than normal particularly with the flowers. That said I still managed eight entries, with four in the Tomato classes, one in the French Beans and one in the Potatoes. Unfortunately didn't place with the Tomatoes (which is always hotly contested), but got a first for the French Beans and a third place for the Tatties. The latter was a last minute entry when I found four evenly decent sized potatoes without any marks or blemishes. A quick clean and they were ready to go. Variety Caledonian Pearl.

In the flowers it was two entries in the Marigolds - French and Pot (Calendula). Again a third place for both which I was quite happy about all things considered. Well done to all the exhibitors there was some cracking veg and beautiful flowers on display The rest of the show was spent working the gate with Allan and Zuzi and in between the customers have a good blether with both.

The Flower Show is a fantastic event for the city and it was great to see it well supported with exhibitors and visitors. All the local flower shows are organised by volunteers so thank you and well done to everyone who helped over the weekend.

28/08/2026

🫡

🍃 Gardener Vacancy | Balmoral Castle

A truly unique opportunity has arisen for a professional Gardener to join the Gardens team at Balmoral, caring for and developing gardens with a remarkable horticultural history.

Originally developed under the keen supervision of Prince Albert, the gardens at Balmoral have evolved through generations of royal stewardship. Today, the successful candidate will help maintain and develop the gardens to an exemplary standard, in accordance with Their Majesties’ wishes and using organic methods of horticulture.

Working alongside the Head of Gardens, Deputy Head Gardener and wider garden team, this varied role encompasses ornamental and productive horticulture, lawn care, pruning and topiary, glasshouse cultivation, propagation, vegetable production and sustainable, wildlife-friendly gardening.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a qualified gardener with strong plant knowledge, practical horticultural experience and an understanding of organic gardening principles to contribute to the continuing story of one of Britain’s most renowned private gardens.

📍 Balmoral, Aberdeenshire
🕰️ Full Time | 39 hours per week
💷 Competitive salary DOE + pension
🔖 Job Ref: EC75403
🏡 Private Advertiser

Interested in becoming part of the Gardens team at Balmoral?

🍃 View the full vacancy details and apply online through English Country Gardeners.

26/08/2026

It's the RHSA Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen Summer Show this coming Saturday and Sunday at Duthie Park in Aberdeen. Visit their website for further details and opening times. If you're thinking of entering then you can download a schedule which will show all the different classes you can enter. I would encourage everyone to enter as without exhibitor's these shows would end. If you have any questions on entering just send me a message. I'm also volunteering at the show this year, I believe I'll be working at the entrance gate so if you're coming along please say hello 😊.

RHSA. Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen. Spring and Summer Shows held at Duthie Park Aberdeen

22/08/2026

Weekend's here and we are cruising through August. It was an early start today and a quick visit to the plot to pick up my donations for the Alcohol & Drugs Action Annual Plant Sale held at Gairn Community Aberdeen. This was to raise some funds for the ADA Gardening Group who meet at the Gairn Community Garden and do other work in the community. I wasn't just donating plants for sale but helping out too! It was a great morning of chat with a steady stream of plant fanatics picking some locally grown plants at easy on the pocket prices for their gardens.

The team from One Seed Forward and The Allotment Market Stall were also there selling lots of Tatties, Courgettes and Cut Flowers. Only complaint was that it could have been a bit warmer 🥶.

Needing to warm myself up it was a quick stop for some lunch and a cup of Coffee before heading back up to the plot. The site was quiet, which tbh I didn't mind as I was able to crack on. Fortunately the sun had peeked out to warm things up a bit. It was in to the Greenhouse to again tidy up the Cucumber and Tomato plants, cutting off some of the dead leaves.

With the body temperature definitely increased it was back outside to lift the net off the Leeks now they had established. The plants are looking great with no failures but I can see the first sign of rust. It doesn't affect them growing, but just looks a bit unsightly. This year I also wanted to save some seed from two plants at the front of the plot, a Scabious and Eryngium. I sowed some immediately as an experiment but also left some out on a seed tray because I think they need to dry off some more. Time will tell.

Speaking of seed sowing it was time to get the ball rolling for next year. Many seeds can be sown at this time of year for next year, just check the seed packet. Sowing late summer and autumn gives these plants a head start and as long as they can be kept somewhere sheltered over the winter such as a Cold frame or Greenhouse then despite the low temperatures they get on fine. It's often the damp wet conditions of winter that kill plants rather than cold. Today I filled half seed trays with sieved multi-purpose compost and sowed the following: Antirrhinum, Delphinium, Wild Pansy, Larkspur, Malva, Aquilegia and Nigella.

So all in all a good days work 😊.

19/08/2026

So after the highs of the flower show, it's back to the quiet life.......almost.

Despite being worn out I couldn't waste a Sunday afternoon at the plot. I was taking it easy though, started with a tidy up of all the community planters and the pots on our community plot. Lots of seed saved from the Calendula dead headed and all the plants got a good feed with Tomorite. Hence why I was so pleased I spotted the cheap replacement bottles (see previous post).

The rest of the afternoon was spent feeding my own plot, removing some of the lower leaves from the Tomatoes in the Greenhouse and removing some of the side shoots and leaves from all the Pumpkin and Squash plants that seem to have gone ferral. Still work to do here but at least the fruits of both can be seen and the sun can start to ripen those skins.

Again an unsettled week of weather so far with lots of rain and a distinct drop in temperatures. I still managed a couple of hours down the plot this evening, had to look out the allotment fleece though! Taking it easy, all I did was chat to some fellow plotters and label/tidy/sort some plants I am donating to the plant sale this coming Saturday. As a Brucie bonus I'll be helping out.......nice to see you, to see you nice 😊.

Ps working late last night at an open house event in one of our developments. The block of flats next to it had a cracking apple tree, laden with fruit

18/08/2026

Morrisons, King Street, Aberdeen. Tomorite on sale for £1.25 a bottle. Lots left. Not just for Toms, high potassium content ideal for feeding all fruiting and flowering plants 🤩

15/08/2026

Phew! An extremely busy day at the end of a very busy week, exhibiting, stewarding and working at the Culter Flower Show. Raffles, strip for a pound 🤣.

Pleased with the results particularly, first and second for my small tomatoes, first for my Rhubarb and first for my French Beans. There was firsts in the flowers too - Dahlias x2 and Scotch Marigolds. Some seconds and thirds in other classes such as Cucumber, French Marigolds and vases of Annuals and Perennials.

Time for a rest now 🥵

13/08/2026

I'll be there 😊 🥒🍅🧅⚘️💐🪴

It's just two days until the Culter Flower and Handicraft Show 2026

Doors open at 1.30pm.

Presentation of prizes at 2pm

Tea/coffee and home-bakes between 1.30 and 4pm.

Sale of produce from 3.45pm

Are you attending or entering the show? Let us know in the comments below.

Download a show schedule at www.culterflowershow.weebly.com

10/08/2026

It's National Allotments Week where we celebrate the joys of having a plot 😊.