This week’s episode comes from the second week of August, following one of the driest Julys on record. The allotment and kitchen garden are both feeling the strain, with soil baked so hard that water beads on the surface and runs off rather than soaking in. Despite the challenges, progress continues — from experimenting with greywater filtration to planning green manures and keeping established crops alive through the drought.
Allotment Update: Hydrophobic Soil & Survival Mode
The main theme this week is hydrophobic soil — ground so dry and compacted that it actively repels water. Beds have become rock‑hard, making digging, planting and watering difficult. Watering still has to be done by hand with cans, taking up to two hours to give each bed a proper deep soak. It’s heavy work, but essential for keeping established crops alive.
With conditions too harsh for planting out young plants, the focus has shifted to:
Keeping mature crops alive with deep, infrequent watering
Delaying new plantings until the soil can absorb moisture again
Planning ahead by clearing beds for a potato‑specific green manure
Tidying perennial areas like the gooseberry patch and bramble‑filled corners
Preparing for wetter weather so the site is easier to manage when conditions improve
Green manures have been a success in previous seasons, helping reduce pests and disease, and with blight not yet appearing this year, it’s a good moment to prepare beds for next year’s potato rotation.
Kitchen Garden: Greywater Trials & Practical Housekeeping
At home, the drought has prompted a deeper look at greywater reuse. After a failed experiment using water mint as a natural filter, a more structured filtration system has been tested:
A bucket drilled with holes
Layers of gravel, sand, charcoal and straw
Some success in removing contaminants
Some soap residues still present
It’s an ongoing experiment, but a promising step toward making greywater safer for garden use during droughts.
Other practical jobs this week include:
A garage clear‑out, removing broken petrol tools and freeing up space
A renewed focus on repairable, durable or compostable items to reduce waste
Sowing overwintering onions and radish for supporters, though germination is uncertain in the dry soil
Using mulches and compost to help established plants cope with the heat
Recipe of the Week: Smoked Sweetcorn & Courgette Salad
This week’s recipe is a vibrant summer dish that makes the most of seasonal produce:
Smoked sweetcorn and courgette salad with chilli butter croutons
Charred sweetcorn and courgette
Lime‑honey‑mustard dressing
Crisp chilli‑spiced breadcrumbs
It’s colourful, flavourful and pairs beautifully with grilled chicken — a perfect late‑summer plate.
Hydrophobic Soil: Causes, Fixes & Long‑Term Prevention
The episode closes with a detailed look at hydrophobic soil — what causes it, how to fix it, and how to prevent it in future droughts.
Why Soil Becomes Hydrophobic
Organic particles dry out and harden
Soil structure collapses
Water beads and runs off instead of soaking in
Beds flood when rain finally arrives because water cannot penetrate
Short‑Term Fixes
Repeated light watering with a fine rose
Laying damp hessian or cardboard to soften the surface
Bottom‑watering containers to wick moisture up
Gentle, patient rewetting rather than one heavy soak
Long‑Term Prevention
Regular additions of organic matter
Consistent mulching with straw, leaf mould or woodchips
Avoiding complete drying by giving a light weekly watering during drought
Using soil conditioners like coir or biochar
Adding shade or wind protection for exposed raised beds
Slow, deliberate watering or drip irrigation to allow moisture to penetrate
These techniques help rebuild soil structure, improve moisture retention and make gardens more resilient as droughts become more freq...
