Courtesy of DT Brown's both Mick and I bought 20 winter brassica plug plants each to try to keep the produce growing into Autumn and even Winter:.
The arrangement on our plot is as follows, starting with the smaller plant cage towards the back of the plot:
5 broccoli Rudolph purple sprouting plants + 2 cauliflower Amsterdam
In the larger plant cage adjacent to the path:
5 kale Reflex + 3 cauliflower Amsterdam + 5 cabbage Tundra
Planted with growmore raked into re-dug and firmed soil, with many slug pellets, here's hoping to some winter brassicas!
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Monday, 24 August 2015
August already!
This entry will be an attempt at a big catch-up over the past couple of months.
All the potatoes are now dug up and were a big success.
The tomatoes, both in the ground and in the greenhouse, have been very slow this year due to a lack of real heat and sunshine in August and late July. However, they look like they'll soon be producing red fruits, as will the chilli plants in the greenhouse as well as at the allotment.
The cucumbers are steadily producing fruits but we're not really eating so many.
Both the green and yellow courgette plants are producing plenty of fruit, especially the yellow variety, so as ever it's a question of how many we can eat and how we cook them.
The chard established itself well and hopefully will grow right until the end of the year if not longer, but the Cavalo Nero isn't looking as healthy as last year - perhaps due to less successful netting against insects and butterflies. That problem might be solved from now on thanks to Marilyn's suggestion that EnviroMesh was the thing to use. We've bought some and currently have some in use over new brassica cages (thanks to Kay's mother!) where we have planted 20 brassica plug plants from DT Brown's and which ought to mature in Autumn - we have 5 of each of Kale, cabbage, cauliflower and purple sprouting broccoli and have our fingers crossed that all the plants will survive and thrive.
The broad beans were very successful but finished first. It's hard to plant enough to really produce huge crops but what we did grow were delicious.
The climbing French beans are in full flow now and have been for two or three weeks - once again there are more than we can eat so some of them have gone to the Foodbank and others have been frozen. It'll be interesting to see how they are when we come to eat them. They will be the next bean to exhaust themselves but they are truly delicious.
The runner beans are also in full flow now and will be the latest producing beans of the three. It's the first time we've grown runner beans, perhaps never having appreciated how nice they can be, and they're not disappointing. Linda bought a bean slicer last year (to cut off any stringiness and prepare nice thin bean slices. It definitely helps make them a really nice bean.
The leaks in one of the deep beds really look like they'll be good this year. They already look sturdy and are growing well so we'll look forward to those in not too long.
The onions also are far better than in previous years. I didn't plant many as I was doubtful if they'd grow, but ought to have risked some more.
Similarly the garlic is looking good. Amazingly, it is all over-wintered bulbs which I missed last year when I was harvesting it then. We don't eat much of it but it's encouraging to know that we can grow it successfully.
Our Lord Lambourne apple tree is still a small tree but its small branches are bent over with apples and we're looking forward to them ripening and tasting nice. There are around 30 fruits at the moment.
The Victoria plum tree also seems to be thriving and has a lot of fruit again this year. It still amazes me how tall the tree is. I think there must have been a mistake over its description when we bought it as I'm sure we'd have insisted on a more dwarfing rootstock but we'll need to be careful when we prune it that we don't harm its prospects of fruiting again next year.
The Worcester Berry hedge is as prolific as ever it was last year and we've picked a lot of fruit already - stewing and eating it and also freezing some too. The blackcurrant bush has also provided a lot of fruit so far, and the raspberry canes, logan berries andmore recently the blackberries have also grown well.
All the potatoes are now dug up and were a big success.
The tomatoes, both in the ground and in the greenhouse, have been very slow this year due to a lack of real heat and sunshine in August and late July. However, they look like they'll soon be producing red fruits, as will the chilli plants in the greenhouse as well as at the allotment.
The cucumbers are steadily producing fruits but we're not really eating so many.
Both the green and yellow courgette plants are producing plenty of fruit, especially the yellow variety, so as ever it's a question of how many we can eat and how we cook them.
The chard established itself well and hopefully will grow right until the end of the year if not longer, but the Cavalo Nero isn't looking as healthy as last year - perhaps due to less successful netting against insects and butterflies. That problem might be solved from now on thanks to Marilyn's suggestion that EnviroMesh was the thing to use. We've bought some and currently have some in use over new brassica cages (thanks to Kay's mother!) where we have planted 20 brassica plug plants from DT Brown's and which ought to mature in Autumn - we have 5 of each of Kale, cabbage, cauliflower and purple sprouting broccoli and have our fingers crossed that all the plants will survive and thrive.
The broad beans were very successful but finished first. It's hard to plant enough to really produce huge crops but what we did grow were delicious.
The climbing French beans are in full flow now and have been for two or three weeks - once again there are more than we can eat so some of them have gone to the Foodbank and others have been frozen. It'll be interesting to see how they are when we come to eat them. They will be the next bean to exhaust themselves but they are truly delicious.
The runner beans are also in full flow now and will be the latest producing beans of the three. It's the first time we've grown runner beans, perhaps never having appreciated how nice they can be, and they're not disappointing. Linda bought a bean slicer last year (to cut off any stringiness and prepare nice thin bean slices. It definitely helps make them a really nice bean.
The leaks in one of the deep beds really look like they'll be good this year. They already look sturdy and are growing well so we'll look forward to those in not too long.
The onions also are far better than in previous years. I didn't plant many as I was doubtful if they'd grow, but ought to have risked some more.
Similarly the garlic is looking good. Amazingly, it is all over-wintered bulbs which I missed last year when I was harvesting it then. We don't eat much of it but it's encouraging to know that we can grow it successfully.
Our Lord Lambourne apple tree is still a small tree but its small branches are bent over with apples and we're looking forward to them ripening and tasting nice. There are around 30 fruits at the moment.
The Victoria plum tree also seems to be thriving and has a lot of fruit again this year. It still amazes me how tall the tree is. I think there must have been a mistake over its description when we bought it as I'm sure we'd have insisted on a more dwarfing rootstock but we'll need to be careful when we prune it that we don't harm its prospects of fruiting again next year.
The Worcester Berry hedge is as prolific as ever it was last year and we've picked a lot of fruit already - stewing and eating it and also freezing some too. The blackcurrant bush has also provided a lot of fruit so far, and the raspberry canes, logan berries andmore recently the blackberries have also grown well.
Sunday, 3 May 2015
Sunday 3rd May
A busy day, especially in the garden and greenhouse.
At the allotment, I planted out around 15 Roi des Conserves climbing peas against a framework made from re-cycled goal netting from Kryssie a few years ago. I'll put a photo of it on the blog soon.
Today, after heavy rain in the morning made it seem unlikely, Linda planted out most of the plants which we got yesterday from our favourite garden centre.
In the greenhouse I planted 3 different flower seeds, to start off in the propagator, as well as potted on some cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes and chillies. Gradually it will be possible to move things from the greenhouse to the cold frame and then into the open ground, and it will be a busy time for the next few weeks.
The rain today will make it easier to dig the remaining part of the allotment which is still uncultivated, or at least in need of a good dig, Tomorrow might be a possibility, or certainly over the next few days.
At the allotment, I planted out around 15 Roi des Conserves climbing peas against a framework made from re-cycled goal netting from Kryssie a few years ago. I'll put a photo of it on the blog soon.
Today, after heavy rain in the morning made it seem unlikely, Linda planted out most of the plants which we got yesterday from our favourite garden centre.
In the greenhouse I planted 3 different flower seeds, to start off in the propagator, as well as potted on some cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes and chillies. Gradually it will be possible to move things from the greenhouse to the cold frame and then into the open ground, and it will be a busy time for the next few weeks.
The rain today will make it easier to dig the remaining part of the allotment which is still uncultivated, or at least in need of a good dig, Tomorrow might be a possibility, or certainly over the next few days.
Saturday, 25 April 2015
25th April update
Mick kindly let us have some spare seedlings, meaning that we have Kale (Cavalo Nero) earlier than planned. We also have some Snowball cauliflower plant and some red chard seedlings to go with what we've already sown directly into the plot.
Tomorrow I'll be planting more chard and beetroot and radish in the plot, following yesterday's planting out of rooted onion sets. Last year the onions were a failure so we'll have to see if they'll grow better this year.
I did repeat sowings in the greenhouse of sweet peas, squash, sunflowers and French beans today since germination has so far been slow or non existent. The climbing peas Roi des Conserves are growing really well and were put in the cold frame to harden off, accompanying the second sowing of broad beans which so far have not germinated.
Soon it will be time to plan protection especially for brassicas to try to keep butterflies away, and the resulting caterpillars which can decimate plants in no time.
Tomorrow I'll be planting more chard and beetroot and radish in the plot, following yesterday's planting out of rooted onion sets. Last year the onions were a failure so we'll have to see if they'll grow better this year.
I did repeat sowings in the greenhouse of sweet peas, squash, sunflowers and French beans today since germination has so far been slow or non existent. The climbing peas Roi des Conserves are growing really well and were put in the cold frame to harden off, accompanying the second sowing of broad beans which so far have not germinated.
Soon it will be time to plan protection especially for brassicas to try to keep butterflies away, and the resulting caterpillars which can decimate plants in no time.
Thursday, 16 April 2015
Thursday 16th April
All the potatoes were planted by Monday this week, in 4 rows consisting of (from rear of the allotment plot forwards):
Swift in row 1, Arran Pilot in row 2, Charlotte in rows 3 and 4.
It was also necessary to plant fresh strawberry plants s the previous ones, planted as small plug plants, didn't survive the winter. Very disappointing but the 6 news ones look strong.
With radish, chard and beetroot already planted directly into the area close to the vines, and 18 broad bean plants fairly close by, everything else has been started from seed and is either still in the greenhouse or been moved into the cold frame.
Recent sowings have included squash and French bean seeds, to join cucumber, courgette, pea, tomato, onion sets, chilli seeds/plants.
The recent fine and sometimes hot weather has definitely helped germination so most things are off to a good start.
Some tomato and chilli seedlings will need potting on very soon.
At the allotment, quite a high proportion of the cultivable area has now been cleared and dug over, with the rest to be don in the next couple of weeks.
I'll use the strimmer on the remaining grass to keep it looking neat, and am considering using some glyphosate on small areas of dense weed/grass.
I also plan to sieve the rotted down pieces of turf from last year, remove any remaining roots, and top up the deep beds with the additional soil.
I weed the deep beds regularly now to try to remove weeds and grass. It's a non-stop job but hopefully worth it if we can get a reasonable amount of asparagus. Otherwise I think we'll turn them to other crops from next season.
Swift in row 1, Arran Pilot in row 2, Charlotte in rows 3 and 4.
It was also necessary to plant fresh strawberry plants s the previous ones, planted as small plug plants, didn't survive the winter. Very disappointing but the 6 news ones look strong.
With radish, chard and beetroot already planted directly into the area close to the vines, and 18 broad bean plants fairly close by, everything else has been started from seed and is either still in the greenhouse or been moved into the cold frame.
Recent sowings have included squash and French bean seeds, to join cucumber, courgette, pea, tomato, onion sets, chilli seeds/plants.
The recent fine and sometimes hot weather has definitely helped germination so most things are off to a good start.
Some tomato and chilli seedlings will need potting on very soon.
At the allotment, quite a high proportion of the cultivable area has now been cleared and dug over, with the rest to be don in the next couple of weeks.
I'll use the strimmer on the remaining grass to keep it looking neat, and am considering using some glyphosate on small areas of dense weed/grass.
I also plan to sieve the rotted down pieces of turf from last year, remove any remaining roots, and top up the deep beds with the additional soil.
I weed the deep beds regularly now to try to remove weeds and grass. It's a non-stop job but hopefully worth it if we can get a reasonable amount of asparagus. Otherwise I think we'll turn them to other crops from next season.
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Sunday 5th April
Nick and Emilia's 1st wedding anniversary. It seems such a short time ago that we were in Kiruna and at Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel for the big day - and had amazing views of the Northern Lights when we had least expected.
Meanwhile back to horticultural matters - I planted more seeds in pots for the greenhouse today: 4 Romanesco and 4 yellow courgettes, and 4 F1 Burpless Tasty cucumber seeds.
We'll have a look at the allotment later on and see what might go straight into the plot. This might include chard and beetroot as a minimum. Mick planted all his potato sets yesterday and with no imminent signs of frost I plan to plant all of ours before Thursday this coming week.
Linda took a lot of geranium cuttings yesterday. All being well, once they start to grow, they will replace most of the original and now very leggy parent plants in the conservatory.
Meanwhile back to horticultural matters - I planted more seeds in pots for the greenhouse today: 4 Romanesco and 4 yellow courgettes, and 4 F1 Burpless Tasty cucumber seeds.
We'll have a look at the allotment later on and see what might go straight into the plot. This might include chard and beetroot as a minimum. Mick planted all his potato sets yesterday and with no imminent signs of frost I plan to plant all of ours before Thursday this coming week.
Linda took a lot of geranium cuttings yesterday. All being well, once they start to grow, they will replace most of the original and now very leggy parent plants in the conservatory.
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
April 1st!
Here's a quick update on what's happening right now:
The chilli seeds germinated well in the propagator and are growing on the front room window sill - 2 varieties, each looking good so far. The resemble, but definitely need more heat than, tomato seedlings.
In the greenhouse we have: around 20 broad bean plants growing nicely in pots, ready soon for the cold frame and then into the allotment plot.
Two varieties of tomato seeds have germinated and are growing in the unheated greenhouse, but which by day has started to warm up nicely. Frosts don't seem imminent, so hopefully they'll be OK until they need potting on into larger pots.
The sweet pea seeds haven't germinated yet so I've got my fingers crossed that something appears soon.
The plug plants that Linda chose a while ago are all thriving in 3" pots so can be hardened off shortly in the cold frame and then planted out in the garden.
The Sturon onion sets are also starting to show green shoots of growth. Last year I think they were planted out too early in the season. For whatever reason they all suffered and eventually had to be dug up and thrown away, so I'm hoping there won't be the same problem this year.
The nasturtium seeds have germinated, as have the two seed trays of mixed salad leaf seeds, so I'm hoping that they'll get a bit of a move on soon.
Today I planted two variety of cabbage seed: Dutchman F1 and Hispi F1 so I hope they'll germinate in the greenhouse in not too long.
Now that we've reached April it's definitely time to make sure that any early seeds are sown, either in the greenhouse or in the propagator, and then look forward to open ground sowing or planting out as the month progresses.
The potatoes are all now sprouting well in the conservatory so I'm looking forward to having them all planted soon, certainly before 10th April.
The chilli seeds germinated well in the propagator and are growing on the front room window sill - 2 varieties, each looking good so far. The resemble, but definitely need more heat than, tomato seedlings.
In the greenhouse we have: around 20 broad bean plants growing nicely in pots, ready soon for the cold frame and then into the allotment plot.
Two varieties of tomato seeds have germinated and are growing in the unheated greenhouse, but which by day has started to warm up nicely. Frosts don't seem imminent, so hopefully they'll be OK until they need potting on into larger pots.
The sweet pea seeds haven't germinated yet so I've got my fingers crossed that something appears soon.
The plug plants that Linda chose a while ago are all thriving in 3" pots so can be hardened off shortly in the cold frame and then planted out in the garden.
The Sturon onion sets are also starting to show green shoots of growth. Last year I think they were planted out too early in the season. For whatever reason they all suffered and eventually had to be dug up and thrown away, so I'm hoping there won't be the same problem this year.
The nasturtium seeds have germinated, as have the two seed trays of mixed salad leaf seeds, so I'm hoping that they'll get a bit of a move on soon.
Today I planted two variety of cabbage seed: Dutchman F1 and Hispi F1 so I hope they'll germinate in the greenhouse in not too long.
Now that we've reached April it's definitely time to make sure that any early seeds are sown, either in the greenhouse or in the propagator, and then look forward to open ground sowing or planting out as the month progresses.
The potatoes are all now sprouting well in the conservatory so I'm looking forward to having them all planted soon, certainly before 10th April.
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Looking good
I've had a few days on the allotment recently and managed to prepare a good proportion of it already for the new season.
The three varieties of potatoes are chitting in the conservatory and the plan is to plant them by the first week in April. Broad beans are growing in pots in the greenhouse, and I planted sweet peas and nasturtiums in pots today, with various vegetable seeds to be planted tomorrow - for the greenhouse and also the propagator (chillis and tomatoes first there).
Garlic is already growing in the plot, and I'll plant some Sturon onion sets tomorrow in pots and hope they survive better than last year's sowings. Maybe don't plant them out too soon into the ground. Need to research on the internet.
Wilko has some great value chicken manure (£4.50 for 7kg) so that should help general fertility and growth. I'll also be able to distribute some 'new' soil from the broken down sods dug up well over a year ago and covered to prevent weed growth.
The three varieties of potatoes are chitting in the conservatory and the plan is to plant them by the first week in April. Broad beans are growing in pots in the greenhouse, and I planted sweet peas and nasturtiums in pots today, with various vegetable seeds to be planted tomorrow - for the greenhouse and also the propagator (chillis and tomatoes first there).
Garlic is already growing in the plot, and I'll plant some Sturon onion sets tomorrow in pots and hope they survive better than last year's sowings. Maybe don't plant them out too soon into the ground. Need to research on the internet.
Wilko has some great value chicken manure (£4.50 for 7kg) so that should help general fertility and growth. I'll also be able to distribute some 'new' soil from the broken down sods dug up well over a year ago and covered to prevent weed growth.
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
2015 here we come!
Although we're still in Winter, a few sunny and dry days make it easier to imagine that Spring is not so far off now.
On Saturday we visited our new caravan storage site near to Swindon after going to the Sandiacre Garden Centre and Farm Shop to get our seed potatoes.
This year we shall be growing Swift (first early), Arran Pilot (first early) and Charlotte (second early) which will be same as last year minus the Estima which were a little bit disappointing.
This morning (after reading Which? reviews of composts and growing bags) Mick and I went to B&G to stock up with recommended all-purpose compost (4 bags each), seed and posting compost (1 bag each).
I also got 2 growing bags, following the Gardeners World trials of growing bags versus pots versus outdoor grown, and varying amounts and frequency of watering. Time will tell, but the heaviest crops of tomatoes should come from growing bags only watered once a week. I'll also grow some tomatoes on the allotment. Chillis will all be grown in pots again.
I planted 20 Sutton broad beans in pots this afternoon and they will remain in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out in the allotment. They are very hardy so should be able to get off to an early start.
On Saturday we visited our new caravan storage site near to Swindon after going to the Sandiacre Garden Centre and Farm Shop to get our seed potatoes.
This year we shall be growing Swift (first early), Arran Pilot (first early) and Charlotte (second early) which will be same as last year minus the Estima which were a little bit disappointing.
This morning (after reading Which? reviews of composts and growing bags) Mick and I went to B&G to stock up with recommended all-purpose compost (4 bags each), seed and posting compost (1 bag each).
I also got 2 growing bags, following the Gardeners World trials of growing bags versus pots versus outdoor grown, and varying amounts and frequency of watering. Time will tell, but the heaviest crops of tomatoes should come from growing bags only watered once a week. I'll also grow some tomatoes on the allotment. Chillis will all be grown in pots again.
I planted 20 Sutton broad beans in pots this afternoon and they will remain in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out in the allotment. They are very hardy so should be able to get off to an early start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)