Show Notes
This week’s episode is all about focus, tidying, and keeping the garden productive during a long dry spell. Richard starts at the allotment, where he’s been tackling untidy borders, harvesting potatoes and filling gaps with new plantings. Back home, a big organisational job has transformed the plant‑pot collection into a neat, usable system.
We also have a seasonal recipe, a timely listener email about grey water, and a quick update on the bees.
Allotment Update: Borders, Potatoes and Continuous Planting
Richard starts the week by assessing the allotment and creating a list of areas to concentrate on. The borders and edges, often the first places to become untidy, are prioritised for improvement. This structured approach helps break the plot into manageable zones.
Potato harvesting continues, adding to the week’s produce. Newly cleared spaces are immediately replanted:
Kale planted into gaps left by harvested crops
Cabbages planned for planting soon
This ensures that the allotment remains productive even during drought conditions.
Kitchen Garden: Organising the Plant Pots
A single large job was chosen for the kitchen garden this week: sorting the extensive collection of plant pots. Over time, pots had accumulated from various projects and purchases, creating a substantial backlog.
The sorting process included:
Organising pots by size
Disposing of damaged or unusable pots
Cleaning and storing good pots neatly
Setting aside reusable extras for future use
The result is a more organised and efficient workspace.
Recipe of the Week: Tomato and Courgette Gratin
This week’s recipe features a simple yet delicious tomato and courgette gratin that perfectly captures the essence of summer. Bursting with fresh, seasonal ingredients, this dish is a wonderful way to make the most of your garden’s bounty. Whether you’re looking for a comforting side or a light main, this gratin offers a satisfying blend of flavors and textures.
For the full recipe and step-by-step instructions, follow the link below to discover how to create this golden, bubbling delight in your own kitchen. It’s an ideal way to use up those abundant summer courgettes and enjoy a taste of the season..
In the Podding Shed: Grey Water and Bee Update
A listener email from Lynn raises the topic of using grey water in the garden, a relevant issue as parts of the UK face hosepipe bans and prolonged dry weather.
Topics discussed include:
When grey water is safe to use
Suitable plants for grey water
Avoiding harmful detergents
Reducing pressure on stored water during droughts
Lynn also requests a bee update, and Richard shares the latest news on the colony.
More from The Veg Grower Podcast
I can cope with working in the cold. Working in the rain is another matter. With plenty of showers this week, I’ve found myself moving more of my gardening under cover — and growing food indoors has become the thread running through this episode.There are young plants filling the shed, cold frames back in position in front of the greenhouse and clear benches at the allotment where the tomato plants used to be. Inside the house, the kitchen windowsill and growing shelves are part of the picture too.It might be the middle of October, but I’m not putting the garden away. I’m making room for what comes next.
Autumn is full of useful materials that gardeners can turn into next year’s fertility. In episode 679 of The Veg Grower Podcast, Richard makes the most of fallen leaves, prepares to store wood ash safely and shares practical ways to keep growing costs under control.
October may bring shorter days and cooler temperatures, but there is still plenty to do in the productive garden. In this week’s episode, I’m sowing crops for winter and next spring, preparing allotment beds, making a warming marrow curry and checking in on Alysda and Lisa’s new vegetable garden.
The end of September can look like the garden is winding down, but this week it felt more like a fresh beginning. Moist weather brought a burst of growth to the kitchen garden, the allotment continued to provide generous harvests, and autumn sowings offered the promise of food through winter.
In episode 676, the focus is on looking ahead to the next growing season through essential autumn tasks. The small but important jobs of planting garlic, sowing hardy leaves, and preparing protected growing spaces for the shorter days are explored in detail.