Keith & Freya are cropping their French beans as they continue to be abundant, but the pests are gathering around the chilli plants and the brassicas with swarms of white flies that need dealing with if they are not to kill the plants.

Spring greens have to go in about now so we have that vital link between the main crop greens in the Autumn (Fall) and Winter and that fairly crop free early Spring. 

We are still battling to grown lettuce in the high ambient temperature the English Summer has blessed us with in 2026. But never give up! And it's also time to plant the Winter cropping carrots in the Carrot-O-Nator!

Keith & Freya are on the plot this week digging Charlotte spuds and getting a very pleasant surprise, managing the water (it's been very hot in England this year) and cropping French beans and Courgette (Zuchini).

The pumpkins and squah need lots of water , the potatoes, less so. But, how come more plots don't have access to hosepipes? The fact is, it can be a waste of water and cans are more effective at concentrating splosh where you need it!

When a major Royal Horticultural Society comes to your doorstep it'd be rude not to go, wouldn't it?

Keith & Freya have lost the plot and are at the Badminton estate in southern Gloucestershire for RHS Badminton 2026, the first time a major show on the calendar has come to the area.

The weather is great for the show and we are talking with some of the exhibitors who have a stake (geddit) in helping us grow crops, as well as giving us new ideas as to how we can improve our plots and soil.

So wherever you are in the world, here's a little English summertime just for you.

Keith & Freya are planting something Italian and delicious for winter cropping, endive you eat with white beans. You get it in now and pick to enjoy in the colder months. 

Some of our French beans need infilling but you have to be quick this time of year as those lovely legumes want to flower and set the bean pods all at once. 

It's also time to feed your courgette (zuchini) plants to keep them cropping.

There's been a heatwave in England this week and it's brought on the garlic crop (38 degrees Celsius for three days).

So it comes and without giving too much away, it's looking great! 

What to do with the gaps in the raised beds it has come from? Well how about two P's? Pak Choi and Mange Tout peas? It may seem a little late, but in the Pak Choi's case, it loves being sown after the longest day. The experts are also sating that you can plant aPea crop this late, so we are giving it a go! 

The spring planting rush is over and it's time to take stock on the plot this week.

What's growing well? What needs some help? What pests are eating your produce before you can and what have you forgotten?

There's nothing wrong with sitting on your plot in the sun and just enjoying nature and the insects and animals we share the allotment or garden with.

Saying that, the black fly are attacking our Broad (Fava) beans, the carrots have bolted, the spuds are doing well and it's time for the last planting of seeds before the longest day next week........

Keith & Freya are sheltering from the wind and rain and are going to scurry out between the showers to plant this year's Leek crop.... A highly unusual planting method compared to most veg.

Freya's has also been harvesting wild Elderflower and making this year@s cordial. A top drink with Cava or Prosecco in the depths of winter.....

We are also tending the chilli plants and the tomatoes and it's perfect growing conditions for the potatoes too. 

This week it's all about those jobs to make sure your harvest is as good as it possibly can be.

Are your potatoes looking healthy? Green, not yellow? Well now it's time to cover them up with soil to cut out the light and persuade them to form some more tubers for your harvest come September or October.

It's hard work so choose your day to do it carefully. Not too hot.

It's also time to get lots of well rotted manure on the pumpkin and squash bed so these heavy feeders have the best chance of putting on weight from their vines before halloween !

It's time to net our strawberry crop for this year. Keith & Freya have allowed the plants to flower and the pollinators to visit to set the fruit. Now it's time to make sure the birds don't get your delicious crop.

The purple sprouting broccoli we will be cropping next February and March are going in too and again, if you don't net your crop as you transplant it, the wildlife will move in and decimate your plants. Be it birds or caterpillars.

So plot along with us and together we'll be eating freshly grown veg and the wildlife will have to look elsewhere!

Keith & Freya are at the biggest(and poshest) horticultural show in the UK, The RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Amongst the famous faces and expensive items there's also huge inspiration for allotmenters and plotters. What to grow and how you can mix your veg and decorative flower gardens to feed your tummy as well as your eyes and nose.

In today's episode we give a nod to heritage seed retailers as well as our tip for the Garden of The Year prize...... (We were bang on!)

So take inspiration from such shows as Chelsea, because the best and brightest designers and growers showcase what can be done on the plot......