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There's a plot on our allotment site which hasn't been touched since we took on our plot at the start of the gardening season in 2009. Someone had, apparently, been paying rent on it until the beginning of this year, but had finally decided to give it up. It's such a shame that it's been allowed to get in to the state it has, it's absolutely covered in brambles and it will take such a lot of hard work to get it back in to shape. It will be a daunting task for anyone who takes it on, and will probably put people off from wanting the plot. Amongst all the brambles and weeds, there's some mature apple trees, both red and green, and they're fruiting profusely. I don't like to just help myself, but it's a shame that all the fruit will just go to waste.
I'm not ready for autumn yet, I'm definitely a summer girl, but there's no denying that it's on its way. The mornings are noticeably darker when I get out of bed, and the nights are starting to draw in. It's raining hard today and it hasn't really got light yet, though I'm sure the ground will be thankful of a downpour, everywhere is parched. It looks like I'm definitely going to have to let go of summer and embrace autumn.
We ended up with one of our plots because someone had abandoned a plot that we knew had apples and redcurrants on. They are our apple hedge and redcurrants to this day.
ReplyDeleteWe have quite a few plots that don't appear to have anyone making any progress with but the council are a bit slow to sort things out and as you say the plots them go to port!
I do agree that the beefsteak tomatoes are tasty.
Whoever takes on that plot will have a lot of hard work ahead of them, but they'll be well rewarded with the fruit. It's a shame there are so many plots left to deteriorate so badly, especially when there's waiting lists. We've still got a lot of people waiting for a plot in our area. I haven't grown many different beefsteaks before, but this is definitely the tastiest I've grown.
DeleteI'm not keen on big tomatoes, and prefer ones no bigger than a golf ball.
ReplyDeleteThere are plots like that on my site which the council never do anything about despite saying otherwise now and again. Go scrumping, I would!
I'm sure that despite darker mornings and the nights drawing in there'll be plenty of nice days over the next couple of months. Flighty xx
I've grown a variety called Totem this year. They're a bush variety but produce larger fruit than the cherry size I was expecting. I think there's neglected plots on most allotment sites, it's such a shame. I'm sorely tempted to go scrumping, now there's an old fashioned word, scrumping. You don't hear that often these days. I'm hoping we still have some nice days to come, it's been doom and gloom here today.
DeleteMmmm that looks nice and juicy Jo. Was hoping to have a beefsteak with my lunch but too wet to waddle to the greenhouse. What a shame about the overgrown plot. Is yours a council site? I think that I would pick those apples as long as you are sure that the plot has not been re-let otherwise it's such a sad waste. Yes summer has disappeared behind the rain clouds today Jo but September and October usually bring some beautiful days :)
ReplyDeleteIt was extremely juicy. I would have stayed indoors today if Archie hadn't needed a walk, needless to say, I got drenched. It is a council site, but has it's own allotment association. I'm not sure about picking the apples, I'll keep my eye on them for the time being and may just jump in at the last minute if no one else takes them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some nice days, I'll be depressed if summer's gone already.
DeleteI think I bought that same multi pack of seeds, in the 50p bin at Wyevales last year! Mine have done really well too and I agree about the taste. I'll definitely be growing them again.
ReplyDeleteMine came from Wyevales so it's perfectly possible that we got the same pack. My San Marzanos are doing well too this year, so I'm pleased with my 50p bargain. I'm glad you agree with me about the taste of Costoluto Fiorentino.
DeleteEat the fruit. I bet there's a waiting list at your allotments, too and someone is just dying to have a go at growing their own. It's a shame there's such a gap between one person finishing and one taking over. The council ought to send someone round regularly to check that plots are being used properly. Eat the fruit.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
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I agree, there should definitely be something done about plots which fall in to disrepair. I may just eat the fruit, I'll let you know if I let Hubby pick it and bring it home for me.
DeleteI tried Costoluto Fiorentino in a bad weather year and didn't have much success, but the few I did have were lovely. Such a shame about the overgrown plot. We have a lady with a clipboard who boots you out if things get too weedy, so most of our site is pretty good. Everyone lives in fear of getting The Letter. I would help yourself to the fruit if no-one has the plot. Such a shame for it all to be wasted.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame we're so dependant on the weather for a good tomato crop. My Costoluto Fiorentinos have produced loads this year, as have most of my other varieties. I think our site is quite lenient where overgrown plots are concerned, which is a shame really when there's so many people wanting to grow their own.
DeleteHi Jo! When I took on my over grown plot I inherited 2 apple trees, a pear tree and some of those yellow raspberries (that I sooo wish I'd kept now! They were in the 'wrong place' though). Wasn't yesterday and awful day in Leeds! Really mucky rain :( Thankfully it's better today! Hope you have a good weekend :)
ReplyDeleteYou did better than me then. I inherited a rusty old wheelbarrow and a couple of water butts. We got so much rain yesterday. Hubby and son are supposed to be playing cricket today, we're wondering if the pitch will be waterlogged.
Deletep.s. How could I forget to mention your tomatoes! They look great and I do love those big beefy ones. I'm sticking to my one variety next year though. I made a bit of a mistake this year growing others when I do collect my seeds each time. So they won't be viable next year now. I'll have to get my mum to save me the seeds or even give me the little plants next year, just like the old days!!
ReplyDeleteI'm cutting down on varieties too next year, though I'll have to grow Gardener's Delight, they're such a great little tomato, and a new one I've discovered this year, Totem. I'll be doing a post about the varieties I've grown this year soon.
DeleteI reckon the beefsteak varieties can produce some of the best tasting tomatoes. On the downside they seem to be able to produce some rather ugly looking fruits but who cares it's not looks but taste that matters.
ReplyDeleteI don't often grow beefsteaks, but this one is certainly tasty. I quite like the ugly looking fruit, makes a change from all the uniform ones we see in the supermarket.
DeleteI think this is a variety that Monty Don mentions having in his garden. If you like Monty, as I do, that's a recommendation.
ReplyDeleteSurprising that the overgrown plot has been allowed to get like that. Is there a waiting list for plots? Our waiting list is so huge - 7 years - that there are fortnightly plot inspections and pressure on people to give up if they're not making the grade. Having said that, there are some very untidy plots, so perhaps they make a special case for eg illness.
I didn't know that Monty Don grows this variety, it is a recommendation. We do have a waiting list for plots so it's a shame that plots are allowed to get in the state that this one has. It sounds as though you've got a very strict regime on your site.
DeleteYour tomato looks juicy and amazing! I will have to try beefy tomatoes some day. I didn't grow any tomatoes this year.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that you're not growing tomatoes this year, you did so well with them last year. There's some great varieties out there, I don't think we'd manage to have a go at growing them all if we lived to be a hundred.
DeletePerhaps a few of the plot holders on your site could harvest the apples together and share them out? It would be a shame to let them rot or get ruined by wasps! People here aren't being backward when it comes to helping themselves to apples - and I only have two baby apple trees! C'est la vie! My toms are all still green and growing outdoors. I've had a few red ones that I've eaten when doing the rounds but I'm looking forward to some beefsteak ones ripening like yours - it looks a glorious tomato, a meal in itself!!
ReplyDeletePity about the overgrown plot; I'd love an allotment but they're like gold dust around this way with closed waiting lists!
It's very rare I see any other plot holders on our site. It's such a small site with only six plots, and there seems to be a couple, other than the totally neglected one, which are getting disinterested. It's a shame that plots aren't looked after when other people would love to have them. You're right about the tomato, it was very filling. I've got so many tomatoes this year, I'm keeping my mum and dad supplied and I'm going to be freezing some from winter use too. It's been a great year for them. I hope your beefsteaks ripen for you soon.
DeleteLooks like a great tomato Jo, perfect to slice for sandwiches by the looks of it. I would definitely be grabbing some apples if they have been left to fend for themselves - shame someone else wasn't given the chance to tend them sooner.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy eating larger tomatoes like apples, especially if they're as delicious as this variety. I pop the smaller ones, like Gardener's Delight, straight in my mouth like sweets. It's a shame that plots aren't handed over sooner, they tend to get in to a bit of a state and then the next plot holder has a mammoth task on their hands.
DeleteYes, sadly Jo I think we have to accept summer is ending, we may still get a few nice weeks though, fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteThat tomato looks amazing! I think it would be fine to help yourself to the fruit from the trees...after all it doesn't belong to anybody and as you say a shame to waste it.xxxx
It's been quite chilly this weekend, autumn is definitely here to stay I think. I'll leave the apples for now and see if anyone else helps themselves to a few, I wouldn't feel quite so bad taking a few then.
DeleteA plot with an apple tree is a bonus so it would be worth while taking it on and clearing the brambles although it's a daunting job. We're enjoying apples from our daughter-in-law's allotment. She's given us fresh and frozen to us and our two daughters. It's a shame when apples are left to fall and I've been eyeing our neighbour's each year as they don't collect them. Beef tomatoes home grown are a treat because they have so much flesh. I'm sure you're collecting the few seeds they produce just as we're doing with the San Marzano.
ReplyDeleteI do feel sorry for whoever takes the plot as it's going to be a big job for them. Our neighbour has apple trees too, though lots of them are just left to rot, such a waste. I've still got some of these tomato seeds left so I don't need to collect them this year. I'm growing San Marzano this year too, though they're quite slow to ripen.
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