On the Plot – July: Pumpkins, petals and plenty of produce
A summer full of growing, learning, and tasty treats!
It’s been a busy summer on the plot, and not just for the plants! Everyone’s been learning new things, trying out ideas, and growing in confidence. There’s something special about watching people and produce thrive side by side.
Our pumpkin patch is coming along nicely. They’ll be ready to pick in October, just in time for Halloween carving. We can’t wait to see them turned into spooky faces and fun decorations. Check out Skye’s carvings from last year – she set the bar pretty high!
What is the Grimsby Garden Centre allotment?
We also gave butternut squash a go for the first time. Only one grew this year, but that’s okay, we’ve learned a lot and we’ll try again next year. Gardening is all about patience and giving things another go.
The tomatoes have been amazing — sweet, juicy, and never-ending! They’ve been perfect for summer snacks and salads. The solar watering system we added in March has really helped, saving us lots of time and keeping everything happy and healthy.
The runner beans are flowering now, and we’re excited to see them start producing veg soon. It’s always fun to spot the first pods!
Last week, we picked some of our fruit and veg. The morello cherries from our little orchard were turned into a tasty cherry compote, which we served on ice cream. It was so good! We also made beetroot chutney — it’s still maturing, but soon we’ll be enjoying it with cheese and crackers.
Skye’s planter has been full of colour and scent. She’s been collecting geranium petals and lavender flowers to use in her handmade soaps. We’re also still picking and drying calendula flowers to make calendula massage oil and soap — they smell lovely and look beautiful too.
Our herb bed is thriving! Becky from The Potting Shed has been harvesting sage, rosemary and thyme to season her chicken dishes. It’s great to see the garden being used in the kitchen!
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Every time you shop at Grimsby Garden Centre, you’re helping us grow more than just plants – your support allows us to keep running projects like our therapeutic allotment, where people can connect, learn new skills, and improve their mental wellbeing through gardening.
