September Allotment Update: Showers, Harvests, and a Greenhouse Full of Onions
September is always an exciting time on the allotment — the transition from summer into autumn brings both rewards and challenges. The days are getting shorter, the nights a little cooler, and this year, the weather has been anything but predictable.
This past week has been a real mixture of heavy showers, thunderstorms, and hospital appointments, which together have kept me away from the allotment far more than I’d have liked. That said, if there’s one thing gardening teaches you, it’s patience — and even when you’re not digging, planting, or weeding, there’s always something happening behind the scenes.
In today’s update, I’ll share what’s been going on with the greenhouse, our latest harvests, the soaking the allotments have had from all the storms, and how we’ve had to buy yet another chest freezer to keep up with the sheer amount of produce coming out of the ground right now.
A Wet and Wild Week
The first half of September has been dominated by unpredictable weather — one minute, bright sunshine; the next, torrential rain hammering down like stair rods. A couple of heavy storms rolled through earlier in the week, bringing much-needed water to the allotments but making it nearly impossible to get any proper gardening done.
Normally, I’d be up at the plots several times a week at this time of year, but with the constant downpours and a hospital appointment in the middle of it all, I’ve had to make do with smaller jobs closer to home.
The upside? Every single water barrel at both allotments is now topped right up. After such a wet week, we’ll be well prepared if September suddenly decides to turn dry. That’s the thing about this time of year — you have to take whatever the weather gives you and adapt your plans as you go.
Greenhouse Graft — Giving the Onions a Head Start
When the rain’s relentless, the greenhouse becomes my little sanctuary. This week, I’ve been busy planting up onion sets to give them a good head start before they eventually make their way up to the allotment.
I’ve always found that starting them off under glass helps them establish strong roots before facing the elements, especially with the unpredictable British weather. A few weeks of gentle warmth and protection makes all the difference later on — healthier plants, bigger bulbs, and better yields.
Iris popped in to give me a hand too, and we got a nice little production line going — filling pots
spacing the sets neatly, and making sure everything’s tucked in ready for growing on. There’s something really satisfying about working in the greenhouse on a wet day, listening to the rain pattering on the roof while knowing you’re still getting jobs ticked off the list.
A Morning Harvest with Iris
Today, I finally managed a quick dash up to the allotment with Iris. After days of dodging showers, it felt good to get up there and see how everything’s doing. And wow — we weren’t disappointed!
We managed to pick armfuls of tomatoes, all perfectly ripe and bursting with flavour. The French green beans have been incredibly productive this year, and we filled another basket with those too. A few lovely courgettes came home with us, along with some crisp cucumbers — perfect for salads while the last of the warm days linger.
There’s nothing quite like that feeling of gathering your own food, knowing the effort that’s gone into growing it from tiny seeds. Iris loves helping with the picking, and it’s a lovely way to spend a morning together — chatting, filling trugs, and comparing who’s found the biggest cucumber!
Storm-Soaked Allotments and Topped-Up Water Barrels
One unexpected bonus of all these storms is just how well-watered the plots are right now. Sometimes, September can swing the other way and leave us desperate for a drop of rain, but not this year.
The soil’s had a proper soaking, and the crops have lapped it up. Everything looks fresher, greener, and a little more vibrant for it. With every single water barrel refilled, we’re set up nicely for any dry spells ahead. It’s always a good reminder to take advantage of the rain when it comes — nature doing the heavy lifting for us gardeners.
Another Chest Freezer Joins the Team
Now, here’s a problem I never thought I’d complain about — too many vegetables!
Between the greenhouse, the allotments, and the fruit we’ve been picking, the freezers are bursting at the seams. After a lot of debating, we finally gave in and bought another chest freezer to handle the overflow.
Sara’s been flat out blanching, bagging, and storing everything — from beans and courgettes to berries and cucumbers. We’re hoping that by the time the Christmas holidays roll around, we’ll have worked through a fair bit of it, and the freezers will start to breathe again. But for now, they’re groaning under the weight of this year’s efforts — and I’m certainly not complaining. It’s a good problem to have!
Looking Ahead to the Rest of September
The next couple of weeks will hopefully bring drier, calmer weather so I can catch up on a few delayed jobs. There’s still plenty to do — more onion sets to start off, beds to clear, compost bins to turn, and a few late sowings I want to sneak in if the conditions allow.
If we get a bit of sunshine, I’d like to tidy up around the paths and get a head start on preparing the ground for autumn planting. Once October rolls around, things will slow right down, so it’s worth making the most of these last busy weeks before the season really turns.
Final Thoughts
Even with hospital appointments, stormy skies, and soggy boots, there’s always something to celebrate on the allotment at this time of year. The greenhouse onions are away, the harvest baskets are full, and the freezer situation — chaotic as it is — tells its own story of a season well spent.
Gardening has a way of reminding you that progress isn’t always about how many hours you put in. Sometimes, nature does the work for you. Other times, a helping hand from family — like Iris joining me for a quick harvest — makes all the difference.
With the allotments soaked, the barrels full, and the kitchen overflowing with homegrown goodness, I’m looking forward to what the rest of September brings. Here’s hoping for a few sunny, dry days so I can really get stuck back in.
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