>It was over 27C yesterday and the Sun baked all the allotments. I called in after work to see what damage was done and to try an revive my newly planted beans, squash and corn. The stone mulch seems to have done the trick as they were looking much better. Many watering cans of water later and all the plants looked very happy.  The temperature suppposedly dropped overnight and should be around 18 C for Tuesday.  I hope that growth will take over survival.

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Spent much of the weekend getting plants in even though it was so hot. Now have potatoes, shallots and onions sets in. Also sweetcorn, dwarf beans and artichoke plants plus carrots, french beans and radish seeds. Even managed to get the black, red and white currents, gooseberry bush and rhubarb corm in place.

Experimenting with a stone mulch to keep moisture in and protect roots from sun. Used much of the comfrey as a trench filler,

If the scorching weather continues will consider grape vines, tomatoes and chillies!

Now for watering – my 9 year old son proved to be an gold medal waterer. Only when I started did I realise how heavy the can was.

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>Sunday morning, son and I arrive at the weed patch to start making some order. String, pegs, tape measure. Site now marked out clearly and the first third weed free. I have drawn a plan and look forward to starting to plant. Som who is 9 spent most of the time playing “ragdoll” on the iPhone. Once done he helped with the measuring and raking. Then the drizzel started. Plot seems to have good soil, plenty of fat hen, comfrey and nettles. Well drained good mix of fairly deep topsoil. Nice neighbours. At least I will be able to use the comfrey as a feed.

>Sent off the cheque for £9+5 for the rental and key deposit. Rules look remarkably short and sensible. No sheds on a half plot but I can have a toolbox if I want. Next stop / meet the groundsman to sort out boundaries.

>I am amazed, my application for a new allotment was accepted, I have been to see the plots available and chosen one. I was fully expecting a long waiting list.  This is the plot as it starts -Now for the hard work.

>Emailed parish council to be added to waiting list for an allotment. Happy to have half plot to start with. This should solve space and dog problems at home. Wonder how long the list is.

>I have just spent many hours trying to put up a small fence to stop our Border Terrier puppy from tearing my pots and grow bags to shreds. The first fence was demolished in seconds by the dog. The new one has survived three days so hope this is an end to it. As a result I have only managed to get in some early lettuce and cabbage seedlings. The dog also loves garlic so the earlier plantings have suffered somewhat. Still good to see he is such a horticulturalist.