It probably seems I am constantly talking about the weather! But gardeners love talking about it and what weather we have had over the past month or so, continual soaring temperatures and at the time of writing, not a drop of rain.

As a consequence of ongoing hot weather, 2022 is now the sixth-hottest year on record. It’s become a real struggle to keep up with watering, but even so, things seem to be doing okay.

I went away on holiday for a couple of weeks and on my return I couldn’t believe how much everything has grown. My neighbour watered for me but alas did not do any of the weeding!

It has taken me a week of evenings up at the allotment to get on top of things again. But thanks to the warm weather, and my watering, my garden and allotment in Sheet are really at their peak now!

I can’t keep up with the courgettes and beans, and the tomatoes this year are fantastic. My friends and neighbours are loving the veg boxes I am sharing with them.

In the greenhouse it’s really important to keep regular watering and feeding. Irregular watering can cause bottom-end rot and also make the tomatoes split.

I am feeding the toms once a week, following the directions on the feed box.

And I’m also feeding the cucumbers two or three times a week with a high-nitrogen feed and they are doing really well.

The dahlias are really starting to put on a show now, hopefully ready for the shows coming up soon.

I grow them through a weed suppressant membrane which has worked really well, both retaining moisture and, as the name might suggest, keeping the weeds down.

I now have five beds at the allotment dedicated to dahlias and have grown a couple of new varieties this year.

The one in the picture at the top of the page is called Hillcrest Kismet and is particularly nice. At this time of year I am feeding them with a tomato feed which encourages better blooms.

This time of year is show season.

I know shows and all they involve are not for everyone, but I really enjoy the competition. It’s not all always about the biggest – well, sometimes it is! If you grow veg or flowers you should go along and visit your local show and take a look, they can be quite inspirational.

I went to the Steep Flower Show seven years ago and met a really enthusiastic grower and was hooked.

Now I usually enter six or seven shows a year.

They are a great way to meet like-minded people who are more than happy to share their knowledge.

Some of the people I have spoken to this year have more than 50 years of growing experience and have an incredible amount of knowledge. This knowledge should be passed on, or it will be lost.

So I am making it my mission to soak up as much of it as I can.

In a couple of weeks it’s the Steep Flower Show. That’s where show mania all kicked off for me, so come along and you too might be inspired!

The Steep Flower Show is in its 101st year and there is something for everyone.

Held on Bedales’ lovely grounds, by kind permission of the school, it’s a proper village show.

There are always lots of amazing flowers and fruit and veg, as well as kids’ classes, arts and crafts, lots of home-made cake, and tea.

There is also music once again from the superb national Youth Jazz Orchestra.

The fair on August 27 opens to the public at 2pm, with prize giving at 4pm.