Friday, 28 October 2011
Parsnips and chillis
With the garlic (Vallelado) and onion sets (Electric Red) planted on the allotment, the over-wintering lettuces thriving under the fleece and the Hungarian Rye green mature growing really well, the plot is still looking good and productive.
The parsnips are quite small but look and taste good, as do the chilis though the larger ones (Rokita) are definitely not the hot ones (Ring o' Fire).
Friday, 7 October 2011
End of season update
After last week's Indian Summer it is beginning to look like Autumn is not far off now.
Still in the ground are leeks, chard, beetroot, squash and one or two courgettes. To overwinter I've planted garlic (red onions to follow next week) and some winter lettuce which were grown from seed in trays and hopefully (under plastic hoops and fleece) will survive the winter and thrive in early spring.
Also, I've sown Hungarian Rye Grass as green manure in the remaining parts of the allotment but am hoping to get some horse manure too thanks to our next door neighbour whose sister happens to own a horse! I'll borrow a trailer for the weekend soon and we'll get a couple of loads, one each, or even more if we have the energy. It'll certainly be worthwhile and all we have to do is choose a weekend when we're both free and when the weather is likely to be fine.
Still in the ground are leeks, chard, beetroot, squash and one or two courgettes. To overwinter I've planted garlic (red onions to follow next week) and some winter lettuce which were grown from seed in trays and hopefully (under plastic hoops and fleece) will survive the winter and thrive in early spring.
Also, I've sown Hungarian Rye Grass as green manure in the remaining parts of the allotment but am hoping to get some horse manure too thanks to our next door neighbour whose sister happens to own a horse! I'll borrow a trailer for the weekend soon and we'll get a couple of loads, one each, or even more if we have the energy. It'll certainly be worthwhile and all we have to do is choose a weekend when we're both free and when the weather is likely to be fine.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Finally, some photos of the allotment
I have finally got round to taking a few photos, including a shot of the red currants from 2 bushes in the fruit cage. I couldn't believe the amount to be picked.
The potatoes are starting to be ready for eating, beginning with the First Early Casablanca - first impressions are they are a little low on flavour and difficult to prevent from becoming too soft when boiling. The Charlotte are also close to being ready so I'll dig up some of those tomorrow and compare them.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
The garden June 20
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| Delphiniums at last - 24 years trying... but there didn't seem to be any slugs this year! |
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| This astrantia has really grown since last year - it's a beautiful pink |
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| These chocolate dwarf foxgloves have been 3 years developing and growing from seed. Well worth it! |
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| Stachys and self seeded california poppies |
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Monday, 30 May 2011
End of May update
After a hot and dry April, May turned out to be increasingly different and definitely cooler and wetter.
It has been a great help for the allotment, both for the already planted crops and the newly sown seeds, so hopefully the final harvests won't be too badly affected by almost a month of drought conditions.
Most recently, the beans have all been planted out (dwarf and climbing varieties), and successional sowings of beetroot, radishes, carrots, chard. I've also sown two double rows of peas in the hope that finally we'll see some success. The pot grown seeds didn't germinate well enough so I bought new season peas and we'll hope for better with those.
The spinach and chard are growing well, the pak choi showing signs of something or other attacking it - probably flea beetle after checking on t'internet. I'll need to try some form of protection, as for the carrots once they germinate.
It has been a great help for the allotment, both for the already planted crops and the newly sown seeds, so hopefully the final harvests won't be too badly affected by almost a month of drought conditions.
Most recently, the beans have all been planted out (dwarf and climbing varieties), and successional sowings of beetroot, radishes, carrots, chard. I've also sown two double rows of peas in the hope that finally we'll see some success. The pot grown seeds didn't germinate well enough so I bought new season peas and we'll hope for better with those.
The spinach and chard are growing well, the pak choi showing signs of something or other attacking it - probably flea beetle after checking on t'internet. I'll need to try some form of protection, as for the carrots once they germinate.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Quick update on Spring so far
It seems a long while since the last entry and we've had a good 4 weeks of very summer-like weather and virtually no rain until the past two evenings. It was certainly much needed and should give a boost to several things recently planted.
All the potatoes are growing well and hopefully the recent rain will help the tubers develop.
The broad beans seem more or less to have survived the early onslaught from bean weevils so now it's a case of being vigilant about black fly!
All 3 trees continue to thrive. They have been watered very regularly and although the almond tree is still lagging behind the other two a little it looks healthy.
Recent sowings of seed direct into the plot have all germinated, including beetroot, radish, spinach, chard and pak choi. The trick now is to keep up the successional sowings.
I transplanted the brussels sprouts plants into the cage and they will be followed in the next day or two by the spring cabbage plants.
The rhubarb is almost ready to pick, and will be followed in not too long by currants and strawberries. In due course the raspberries will develop - in summer, hopefully for a long season.
I'm hardening off some sweet corn plants which ought to be in the ground soon - fingers crossed we don't suddenly get hard frosts.
Two types of french beans and a runner beans are all growing well in pots and they should soon be sturdy enough to plant out as well.
3 grow bags are already planted up in the greenhouse with Alicante tomatoes and some Gardeners delight will follow soon. Likewise I'll be putting some chili plants into large pots to keep in the greenhouse.
Any spare tomatoes can go into the allotment plot but on past experience they have not been as successful as those grown in the greenhouse.
All the potatoes are growing well and hopefully the recent rain will help the tubers develop.
The broad beans seem more or less to have survived the early onslaught from bean weevils so now it's a case of being vigilant about black fly!
All 3 trees continue to thrive. They have been watered very regularly and although the almond tree is still lagging behind the other two a little it looks healthy.
Recent sowings of seed direct into the plot have all germinated, including beetroot, radish, spinach, chard and pak choi. The trick now is to keep up the successional sowings.
I transplanted the brussels sprouts plants into the cage and they will be followed in the next day or two by the spring cabbage plants.
The rhubarb is almost ready to pick, and will be followed in not too long by currants and strawberries. In due course the raspberries will develop - in summer, hopefully for a long season.
I'm hardening off some sweet corn plants which ought to be in the ground soon - fingers crossed we don't suddenly get hard frosts.
Two types of french beans and a runner beans are all growing well in pots and they should soon be sturdy enough to plant out as well.
3 grow bags are already planted up in the greenhouse with Alicante tomatoes and some Gardeners delight will follow soon. Likewise I'll be putting some chili plants into large pots to keep in the greenhouse.
Any spare tomatoes can go into the allotment plot but on past experience they have not been as successful as those grown in the greenhouse.
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Potatoes all planted
By the last day of March I had managed to finish the planting of all our seed potatoes, and in a period of relatively mild weather too, although a little rain was much needed.
We have Casablanca (1st early), Charlotte (2nd early salad potatoes), Milva (1st main crop) and Valor (late main crop). If we have half the success of last year we'll have plenty of potatoes!
I've also dug in most of the green manure and will finish digging the rest of the plot in the coming week so that everything's ready for more seedlings and seeds direct into the plot.
Meanwhile buds on the apple and plum trees are slowly starting to open and hopefully the almond tree will not be far behind.
We have Casablanca (1st early), Charlotte (2nd early salad potatoes), Milva (1st main crop) and Valor (late main crop). If we have half the success of last year we'll have plenty of potatoes!
I've also dug in most of the green manure and will finish digging the rest of the plot in the coming week so that everything's ready for more seedlings and seeds direct into the plot.
Meanwhile buds on the apple and plum trees are slowly starting to open and hopefully the almond tree will not be far behind.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Good day at the allotment
In fine weather it was ideal today to continue the preparations of the ground at the allotment.
Mainly this involved digging over areas which had been planted with green manure, and digging it in, and tidying up the raspberry canes and putting some chicken manure around them.
The area for the First Early Casablanca potatoes is all set, as is the area for the transplanting of the red onion sets which have been started off in the greenhouse and which have now grown good roots.
I'll get the onion sets planted by the end of the weekend and take a 'rain check' for the potatoes but think they also should be planted by the end of the coming week.
So far, so good regarding the newly planted fruit trees - we just need to keep them watered until they really get established.
Finally, I'll try to deter further weed growth in the upper half of the allotment by using some safe, but powerful, Glyphosate weed killer. If we can keep the weeds and nettles down this will really open up the top end of the allotment and we'll see the orchard to full advantage!
Mainly this involved digging over areas which had been planted with green manure, and digging it in, and tidying up the raspberry canes and putting some chicken manure around them.
The area for the First Early Casablanca potatoes is all set, as is the area for the transplanting of the red onion sets which have been started off in the greenhouse and which have now grown good roots.
I'll get the onion sets planted by the end of the weekend and take a 'rain check' for the potatoes but think they also should be planted by the end of the coming week.
So far, so good regarding the newly planted fruit trees - we just need to keep them watered until they really get established.
Finally, I'll try to deter further weed growth in the upper half of the allotment by using some safe, but powerful, Glyphosate weed killer. If we can keep the weeds and nettles down this will really open up the top end of the allotment and we'll see the orchard to full advantage!
Sunday, 13 March 2011
More planting, trimming, tidying
After a lovely lunch and chat with Jan and Jane at Bantock Park the weather was still fine and warm so we both headed into the garden when we arrived back home.
Whilst Linda undertook major clearing up and trimming, I planted Leek Shelton and Sprouts Maximus in seed trays which will start indoors until after germination and then go into the greenhouse for growing on until such time as they are large enough to be taken up to the allotment.
Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, the red onion sets in pots are all starting to form roots and sprout so they will be ready to go to the allotment once weather conditions are suitable.
Also germinating are the later sowings of broad beans - Express - and some of the nasturtiums.
Whilst Linda undertook major clearing up and trimming, I planted Leek Shelton and Sprouts Maximus in seed trays which will start indoors until after germination and then go into the greenhouse for growing on until such time as they are large enough to be taken up to the allotment.
Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, the red onion sets in pots are all starting to form roots and sprout so they will be ready to go to the allotment once weather conditions are suitable.
Also germinating are the later sowings of broad beans - Express - and some of the nasturtiums.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Fruit trees
The three fruit trees which we ordered from Sutton's arrived last Wednesday so it was important to get them planted as soon as possible. A couple of days 'storage' in the conservatory occasionally dipped in a trug of water made sure they remained hydrated and I finally got the three areas dug and prepared yesterday after Linda had come down with me to make sure they were going to be planted in the correct positions.
We now have an almond tree (Sweet Mandaline), plum tree (Victoria) and apple tree (Lord Lambourne) though to be honest, apart from the almond tree they do look more like twigs! Still, they come well-regarded and are at least 18 months old, feathered trees.
Time will tell but if they can get established this year I'm hoping we'll have blossom and fruit to look forward to in 2012.
We now have an almond tree (Sweet Mandaline), plum tree (Victoria) and apple tree (Lord Lambourne) though to be honest, apart from the almond tree they do look more like twigs! Still, they come well-regarded and are at least 18 months old, feathered trees.
Time will tell but if they can get established this year I'm hoping we'll have blossom and fruit to look forward to in 2012.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
More seed planting
Made a start on planting flower seeds today with 2 varieties of Sweet Peas: Giant Waved Mixed and Cupani. I think they were bought at last year's Gardeners' World. They'll be started off in the house.
I planted more Broad Bean seeds this morning - this time Express (supposedly one of the earliest varieties, 30 pods per plant and an excellent freezing variety) in pots in the greenhouse to speed up germination, after which I'll put them in the allotment.
I planted more Broad Bean seeds this morning - this time Express (supposedly one of the earliest varieties, 30 pods per plant and an excellent freezing variety) in pots in the greenhouse to speed up germination, after which I'll put them in the allotment.
Friday, 18 February 2011
Quick update
In the last couple of days I've transplanted the Flavor garlic which I had got started in the greenhouse in small pots. They had shooted really well and didn't suffer any setback at all when they were planted in the allotment.
The broad beans in pots in the greenhouse look good, and with the extra space left by the garlic I decided to plant more broad bean The Sutton seeds to help with the succession in due course!
Also in the greenhouse now are some red onion sets in pots to try and get a head start for the allotment and produce rooted sets to make it harder for the birds to uproot them once they're at the allotment.
Some nasturtium seeds in a seed tray complete this week's work in the greenhouse and in the next few days I'll get down to the allotment for some final digging and turning over of the soil and then select some ground that I'll cover in soil-warming sheeting in preparation for the first of the potatoes in mid to late March.
The broad beans in pots in the greenhouse look good, and with the extra space left by the garlic I decided to plant more broad bean The Sutton seeds to help with the succession in due course!
Also in the greenhouse now are some red onion sets in pots to try and get a head start for the allotment and produce rooted sets to make it harder for the birds to uproot them once they're at the allotment.
Some nasturtium seeds in a seed tray complete this week's work in the greenhouse and in the next few days I'll get down to the allotment for some final digging and turning over of the soil and then select some ground that I'll cover in soil-warming sheeting in preparation for the first of the potatoes in mid to late March.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Greenhouse activities
After a little more snow yesterday Spring seemed as far away as ever. However, a change to some sunshine today and the arrival of 4 types of seed potato and some spring garlic (Flavor) soon changed things.
I'll spread the potatoes out in boxes in the conservatory or garage so they can start to chit.
The garlic is already in pots in the greenhouse now, along with some early sown broad beans (The Sutton), so we'll see if this head start under protection will give us some extra early crops.
I'll spread the potatoes out in boxes in the conservatory or garage so they can start to chit.
The garlic is already in pots in the greenhouse now, along with some early sown broad beans (The Sutton), so we'll see if this head start under protection will give us some extra early crops.
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