Curcubit mosaic virus appeared from somewhere so I had no courgettes, squash, cukes. Deeply annoying. Broad beans, potatoes were pretty good. I missed loads of french beans because glut (and I have become very slack about the whole preserving issue). Tomatoes were OK ish but not one of my better years. There's loads of stuff I cba ro grow (any brassicas because failure is inevitable...and unlike allotment marauders, I don't like them very much. Beetroot, carrots, parsnips - some years I do, some not...and this was a not year because of seed issues. A dreadful, dreadful fruit year though...and this is my major crop and investment, Although disease issues have done for raspberries and blackcurrant, this year has been a relentless and completely futile defence from the 'wrong sort of wildlife'.
My plot, according to a neighbour who is on the allotment facebook group, is the worst offender. This is true...and I also feel their pain since not a single cherry, plum, redcurrant, gooseberry, hazelnut, almond or strawberry survived the rampaging giant blackbirds and thrushes - dozens of which have nested directly on the site amongst the 60 or so remaining massive roses (I planted over 100), as well as 17 other trees on my 450m.sq plot. The terms of my lease include a clause that nobody whatsoever adheres to (no plants which do not reach maturity in 12 months to be grown) but I adhere to it least of all. Basically taking the piss. Anyway, I am going to make some canvas 'armour' and tackle some of the biggest, lariest roses. And the hazel and almond are goners. But I have bought an apricot so...
Most astonishingly, on my dry, rubbish east anglian desert sand, I have 2 rows of celery. I seriously questioned my judgement, attempting what is more or less a greedy bog-plant. I had some serious hose action...(and on the potatoes). It will likely go on my not again list. Finally, after years and years of no alliums (white rot), I am planting garlic (act of hope in this virus year)
