As the hungry gap approaches, my thoughts turn to making the most of the last of the season's bounties especially those in the raised beds at home.  The kale is fast going to seed and the broccoli is probably common old broccoli not BSB so the challenge is to use them up before the next lot of plants come through.

To this end I made a simple supper/ lunchtime snack.  I stir fried tender baby kale leaves with chicken stock and a little tomato paste and a drained can of kidney beans (it was supposed to be chick peas but I had run out). It would also be nice with crumbled feta in it (or bacon).

Frost and physalis

Top tip: Keep trying exotics - they might surprise you

Well not only have we had amazing frosts but we have also had snow showers that disabled the Southeast and threatened Brussel sprout farmers. Apparently despite frosts making sprouts sweeter, the snow and prolonged bad weather has meant that farmers can't harvest during their usual hours (the sprouts go black if picked when frozen) so hopefully my few on the allotment will be worth a million pounds. Well, a girl can hope.  Mind you, as we are not allowed to profit from the plot I will just have to enjoy the kudos of serving our own sprouts on Christmas day.

In the mean time I have been enjoying using kale which I can sometimes find a bit tough in an Asian inspired dish. Boil up the leaves in chicken stock and add noodles and sprinkle with dried shallots - a perfect and nourishing lunchtime snack.

Just before the frosts hit I had the excitement of harvesting the first and last of the physalis or cape gooseberries as they are known. I thought they would never ripen and thought the seedling I bought at the Hilly Fields Country Fayre would be a complete dud. It grew but stayed a resolute green. And then by magic, fruits appeared. Not many but they were lovely.

Tangy and sweet, they are great dipped in melted chocolate but they are great on their own too.  It just goes to show don't give up on a plant too soon (unless it's carrots, peppers or aubergine where it really isn't worth it).

Problem plants

Top tip: cover your brassicas with netting to stop pigeons from eating them and catch problems early before they get out of hand.

I am worried. My brussel sprouts aren't sprouting very well. In fact they look grey. I don't know if it's mildew or a grey aphid that I spotted earlier in the season and ignored.  It's in the main patch and has spread throughout the brussel sprouts.  There are early signs of the sprouts but they look a little frilly.  Luckily the 'grey' hasn't spread to the Kale 'Cavolo Nero' or the cabbages but I don't know what to do about it.

The other patch however by the compost bins (soon to be decommissioned - sorry Tom, you're hard work is being replaced by a shed) is doing fine and it's exciting to see the developing buds. With luck we'll have our own sprouts for Christmas.  That is as long as we don't have to sacrifice them when rebuilding the shed. On that topic, does it make me a lazy allotmenteer to pay another person to construct the shed and move my compost?  I like to see it as sharing the goods - I have a job (hooray!) and he doesn't always. He is a builder and I'm not. He has skills and I definitely don't.  He has time and I don't. Surely it's the best for all around?

The kindness of strangers

Top tip:
Take time out from all the work to talk to your neighbours - you never know what you might learn. Besides, it's just nice to get to know new people.

20.07.10
Having an allotment is more than just growing food for yourself, it is about connecting with a variety of people in your area. Much like your family, you cannot choose your allotment neighbours but you are united by a common interest and it is in your interest to get along with them as it makes life much more pleasant. Whether it is advice, help with the watering or free plants there are great benefits of building relationships with your fellow allotmenteers.

Within just four months I have received spinach, peppers, curly kale, Spanish onion plants, runner beans, Jerusalem artichokes, a fabulous metal rod for holding my hose, help with carrying scaffolding boards and eaten some wonderful broad beans, spring greens and cima di rapa (a fast growing sprouting broccoli type of plant). These last 4 days we have had winds of over 45km per hour and my immediate neighbour has kindly helped piece together my runner bean framework. I've also had a convivial drink and a chat with a few others along the way.

This generosity of spirit spreads around – some seeds here, tomato plants there or the offer of a building job is offered in return. Even non-allotmenteers start to benefit as the gluts become so great that the freezer and belly is full of chard, tomato or courgette.

My Spanish onion courtesy of a fellow allotmenteer