This week, I’ve been solo on the plot and we’re at the stage of the year when I’m all about watering, collecting fruit and tending to my tomatoes.

At the weekends, especially when I’m on my own, I start with watering the front. So the rhubarb, gooseberries, summer squash, cucumbers, beetroot, carrots, mint pots and beans. Then I pick the berries, then I water and feed the berries. Half a kilo of blackcurrants, 750g of blueberries and some alpine strawberries, raspberries and boysenberries. Took a while to pick.

That done, I watered the rest and then it was tomato time. This time of year they tend to need attention every two weeks, so I did that, stripping the leaves, taking the shoulders out, tying them up. That also took a while because there are a lot of them (four beds outside, eight in the polytunnel. They are all in flower too, even the littlest ones in the hospital bed and the ones in the polytunnel that I was convinced would die. So they got a feed and I got to get excited by the first teeny tiny tomatoes.

That done, I harvested a pot of potatoes and watered the potatoes and winter squash. There isn’t a huge amount of produce coming in right now, because I’m behind due to a colder spring and my inability to organise and sow earlier. Maybe with the poly, I’ll sow summer squash earlier next year. Overall, I’m not mad about this, it’s nice not to have too much washing and processing of veg – in a month or so’s time, I’ll be busy enough!

What’s on my mind at the moment is the weeds, it’s summer, the paths are full of weeds. I’ve been looking at grass alternatives for the side of the raised beds next to the dividing path because the woodchip isn’t working, maybe thyme or irish moss, it’s something to think about.

I have Friday off and a big chunk of that day is going to be spent weeding. I also need to pull up the peas, mulch the rest of the back bed, strim the grass on the path dividing my plot from Dennis’, planting out the basil and sowing fennel.

It really is a case of some of that should get done but I’m really not sure how much!

On Sunday, it’s the Open Day, so if you’re in Ealing, come and admire our site.