The 2025 growing season got off to a great start at Green Horizons, writes a spokesperson for the group.
Our first planting was a patch of Jerusalem artichokes in the bottom corner near the hedge, followed by rows of onion sets. By late spring, the broad beans in the polytunnel had taken off; they were huge, almost like something out of The Day of the Triffids! We had such an impressive harvest that we were giving beans away to anyone who’d take them, even before realising we had another batch growing in the greenhouse for summer.
In the greenhouse, we sowed leeks, purple sprouting broccoli, tomatoes, lettuces, and a mix of flowers in trays. We also planted dwarf and climbing French beans, sweetcorn, cucumbers, and courgettes in pots. Once the seedlings were strong enough, we hardened them off in the polytunnel and moved the beans, leeks, broccoli, lettuces, and flowers outdoors. The cucumbers and courgettes stayed inside the tunnel, while the sweetcorn was placed in large pots in the greenhouse. Outdoors, we also planted seed potatoes, parsnips, and turnips.
By July, the raspberries were ripening fast, producing more than anyone could carry home, so the extras were turned into jam for everyone to share. We had plenty of strawberries, too, and harvested the onions the same month. The summer continued with bumper crops of beans and potatoes, some huge ones among them! As August came around, we picked courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and turnips.
Even now, in late October, we’re still picking courgettes, cucumbers, and lettuces, and the sweetcorn, planted a little later, is just starting to produce cobs. The green tomatoes that didn’t ripen have been made into chutney.
Our fruit trees have had a great year as well. The sour cherries and plums have both been turned into jam (next year we’ll remember to remove the cherry stones first!). The two apple trees are absolutely full, and we’ll be picking them soon before the first frost arrives.
Alongside all this, we’ve been busy building four new raised beds, designed to be deep enough for anyone with mobility or bending difficulties to garden comfortably. One of these beds is nearly filled with soil taken from another part of the allotment. We’ve also started preparing an uncultivated section ready for new vegetable beds and a grassy area next spring.
Green Horizons is a community allotment, garden, and wildlife space at Storehouse Allotments. It’s run by Home Group and the Durham Mental Wellbeing Alliance (DMWA) Wellbeing & Recovery Service, with support from volunteers and small local grants. The project helps people improve their wellbeing, connect with others, and build confidence through nature and community activity.
For more information, visit www.durhammentalwellbeingalliance.org or contact Dean on 07796 329517.
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