My Tomatoes are Flowering...

[Stork]

...but I am now living in the Middle East so it's a bit warmer than the U.K. at the moment.

I planted them in tubs in late October after the fearsome summer heat (45C+) had cooled down a bit. I have no idea what variety they are. The "garden centre" was selling them planted in sand in old paint tins. I didn't hold out much hope but they are flying up the canes and each plant now has the beginings of three trusses.

I also have a couple of chilli plants which are struggling a bit. They were doing well but then the weather turned cold and very wet (apparently Qatar is heading for the coldest and wettest year since 1964) which seemed to stop them in their tracks. The days are in the low 20s C now so hopefully they'll get going again.

Yesterday I had the sad task of writing to Harrow Council to give up my plots in  the UK. Last year I had a back-breaking, wallet-bashing winter restoring them from dereliction to glory. I had a brilliant growing season then got an offer I couldn't refuse which brought me out here.

Some lucky person is about to walk onto a plot with 12 beautiful raised beds, 3 very well built compost heaps, 2 tons of manure dug right in and even an ornamental fish pond. And my new wheelbarrow is still in the shed. The whole lot is under weed-proof membrane so it should simply be a case of lifting the covers and chucking in the seeds.

I'm truly gutted to give them up but I couldn't sit here for two years whilst people on the waiting list were denied the chance to get out and grow stuff.

Enjoy the anticipation of the season to come. I'll try to get my toms grown, picked and eaten before this place becomes a furnace once more.

Happy allotmentering to all.

Stork.

PS: I'll try to post some pictures of my "plot" soon. I only got my broadband line installed today after ordering it 3 months ago!

[Stork]

[saddad]

Sorry to hear about the abandoned Lottie... hope the new tenants are worthy and appreciate all you've done... it would be worse to be back in a couple of years to find it had all been let go...
Yes please to more pics of extreme veg growing in Qatar....

[cornykev]

You must be gutted mate, shame you couldn't get someone to look after it for a couple of years, still I envy you in the sun, look luck planting in the sand.   :D :D :D :D ;D