The late frost of the past week took its toll on our potatoes. But luckily only one row was affected. Some of the other plots near ours were much worse hit. Next doors courgettes were decimated. I hadn't put anything tender out so all my plants are ok. I have just put in some beans so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there'll be no more frosts. You can see the newly planted beans at the start of the video below.
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Monday, 3 May 2010
Take a Leek
If you grow the right things there's always something fresh to take home, no matter what time of year it is. As the potatoes get planted and everything else gets started I'm always taking home a few fresh leeks. These were grown from seed last year. I started them in a seed tray. When they were about 9 inches tall I planted them out on the plot. This was in late July. They've been growing nicely ever since. The first ones were ready a couple of months ago and there's enough left for another few weeks.
Leeks can be used to add flavour to lots of dishes. We've found that if they're chopped up and simmered in vegetable stock for about 20 minutes they make a really good acompliment to roast chicken. They are also superb in a risotto and even our children like them cooked like this.
The variety above are 'Musselburgh'. This year I'm growing 'Musselburgh Improved'. I'll be disappointed if I don't think they are better.
Leeks can be used to add flavour to lots of dishes. We've found that if they're chopped up and simmered in vegetable stock for about 20 minutes they make a really good acompliment to roast chicken. They are also superb in a risotto and even our children like them cooked like this.The variety above are 'Musselburgh'. This year I'm growing 'Musselburgh Improved'. I'll be disappointed if I don't think they are better.
4th Year
Despite the lack of blog entrees, we have been busy on our plot. The last of the seed potatoes have just gone in. This is a little later than previous years but with the cold winter the soil has taken a little longer to warm up. April was very dry. In fact I don't think we had any rain at all in April. Luckily for the plot the Mayday bank holiday weekend saved the day. As often happens - it poured down.
We've put some onions in. This year we started the onions sets in seed trays at home and then planted them out when there was about 3 inches of green out the top. We haven't had much success with onions so far. They have never got very big. It will be interesting to see if things improve this year.
We've also got all the tender plants started in pots at home. The consevatory and bath room are full of seed trays and pots containing squash, pumpkins, beans and sweetcorn. The seeds have only been planted 10 days but have already germinated and are growing quite well. As I write the forecast is for a possible frost tonight but with it warming up as we go through the week. I won't be tempted to plant these out too early but also I don't want them getting pot bound. It's a balancing act which I hope I can get write.
I've also started off the tomatoes. I'm growing 'sweet olive' again this year as I was really impressed by them last year. The other variety I'm growing is the old tried and tested favourite 'moneymaker'. I've also got some lettuce on the go in front of the garage. This is the most slug proof location I've found. And I've put two spare seed potatoes in an old waste bin with compost.
This will be my 4th year on my plot. I'll try to post reguarly so you can follow how I get on.
We've put some onions in. This year we started the onions sets in seed trays at home and then planted them out when there was about 3 inches of green out the top. We haven't had much success with onions so far. They have never got very big. It will be interesting to see if things improve this year.
We've also got all the tender plants started in pots at home. The consevatory and bath room are full of seed trays and pots containing squash, pumpkins, beans and sweetcorn. The seeds have only been planted 10 days but have already germinated and are growing quite well. As I write the forecast is for a possible frost tonight but with it warming up as we go through the week. I won't be tempted to plant these out too early but also I don't want them getting pot bound. It's a balancing act which I hope I can get write.
I've also started off the tomatoes. I'm growing 'sweet olive' again this year as I was really impressed by them last year. The other variety I'm growing is the old tried and tested favourite 'moneymaker'. I've also got some lettuce on the go in front of the garage. This is the most slug proof location I've found. And I've put two spare seed potatoes in an old waste bin with compost.
This will be my 4th year on my plot. I'll try to post reguarly so you can follow how I get on.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Swine Flu
I'm currently in bed with suspect swine flu. I'm not having much luck this year with getting on the plot. Luckily my father has been harvesting and I've got sacks of potatoes in my garage ( nice and clean, no scab or blight yet ), a fridge full of courgettes and a freezer full of runner and french beans ( despite it being a very poor year for beans on my plot). The beans and courgettes have now finished. There are still plenty more potatoes to dig up.
There are also the butternut squash and pumpkins still growing so I'm looking forward to seeing how they are doing. And I want to see if the sprouts have caught up as they were a little slow to get going.
At home my cherry tomatoes have been excellent. The new for 2009 variety 'Sweet Olive' that I tried have been superb. Loads of fruit and in my opinion the best tasting cherry toms I've ever had. They were better than the cherry toms I had in Italy during my 2 week holiday there and that's saying something.
I'll get some pictures at the weekend to show how things are.
There are also the butternut squash and pumpkins still growing so I'm looking forward to seeing how they are doing. And I want to see if the sprouts have caught up as they were a little slow to get going.
At home my cherry tomatoes have been excellent. The new for 2009 variety 'Sweet Olive' that I tried have been superb. Loads of fruit and in my opinion the best tasting cherry toms I've ever had. They were better than the cherry toms I had in Italy during my 2 week holiday there and that's saying something.
I'll get some pictures at the weekend to show how things are.
Monday, 6 July 2009
Courgettes
We harvested our first courgettes yesterday, and it looks like there are many more on the way.
The early potatoes are disappointing still. There aren't many of them yet. More rain is needed.
The runner beans and french beans are still struggling but this seems to be a general trend across the whole site. I'm still hopeful that they will recover and provide a good harvest. Mind you, runner beans don't like temperatures above 28C, so last weeks 30 plus will have slowed them down even further.
On the home front my 'Sweet Olive' cherry tomatoes have set two or three trusses. I think that if we get some good sunshine this week the first ones will be ripe by next weekend. I can't wait to taste them.
I've still got some sprouts and leeks in my cold frame at home. I really need to get them planted out. Last week was just to hot for any concerted effort. Forecast is for cooler weather this week so we should be able to get the job done.
The early potatoes are disappointing still. There aren't many of them yet. More rain is needed.
The runner beans and french beans are still struggling but this seems to be a general trend across the whole site. I'm still hopeful that they will recover and provide a good harvest. Mind you, runner beans don't like temperatures above 28C, so last weeks 30 plus will have slowed them down even further.
On the home front my 'Sweet Olive' cherry tomatoes have set two or three trusses. I think that if we get some good sunshine this week the first ones will be ripe by next weekend. I can't wait to taste them.
I've still got some sprouts and leeks in my cold frame at home. I really need to get them planted out. Last week was just to hot for any concerted effort. Forecast is for cooler weather this week so we should be able to get the job done.
Monday, 22 June 2009
Neck Rot
I was able to get to the plot today. I took some photos which have been added to the previous post. The most obvious thing was how quickly the weeds had grown up and taken over. It's going to take some serious work to clear them once I'm fit again.
I harvested all our garlic, about 20 bulbs in total. Some seemed to be suffering from neck rot while others had mildewy bulbs. Usually my garlic is resilient to most things but perhaps this variety is not so good. I'll have to rack my brains to see if I can remember the variety I planted. Anyway, the goods bulbs are now out in the sun drying and will last us for a few months.
One plant that I have not had much luck on the plot with is tomatoes. They just have never done very well. I now grow them at home infront of a south facing garage door. It must be an ideal spot for them as they seem to thrive there. I'm growing 'Gardeners delight' - a traditional favourite cherry tomato : 'Money Maker' - a standard salad tomato : and 'Sweet Olive' - a new F1 variety which gives Italian plum shape cherry tomatoes. Sweet Olive is doing very well and I'm quite excited to see what the fruit is like. A good warm, sunny week is forecast and I'm hoping that by the end of the week I'll have my first set tomatoes.
I harvested all our garlic, about 20 bulbs in total. Some seemed to be suffering from neck rot while others had mildewy bulbs. Usually my garlic is resilient to most things but perhaps this variety is not so good. I'll have to rack my brains to see if I can remember the variety I planted. Anyway, the goods bulbs are now out in the sun drying and will last us for a few months.
One plant that I have not had much luck on the plot with is tomatoes. They just have never done very well. I now grow them at home infront of a south facing garage door. It must be an ideal spot for them as they seem to thrive there. I'm growing 'Gardeners delight' - a traditional favourite cherry tomato : 'Money Maker' - a standard salad tomato : and 'Sweet Olive' - a new F1 variety which gives Italian plum shape cherry tomatoes. Sweet Olive is doing very well and I'm quite excited to see what the fruit is like. A good warm, sunny week is forecast and I'm hoping that by the end of the week I'll have my first set tomatoes.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Missing It
Well again I find myself recovering following an operation and unable to work on the plot. I am indebted to my dad for keeping it running. It's very frustrating as it's a key time to be working. There are the weeds to control, watering to be done and the first harvests are under way.
The winter broad beans did well but would probably have been even better with a bit more rain in April and May. By my reckoning they were 3 weeks ahead of some nearby spring planted beans. Once again i'm thinking is it worth planting them in the autumn? Also, no one else in my family likes them so they make not be grown next year!
We dug up some new potatoes 10 weeks after planting but they were about 2cm across. They were not baby potatoes, more like foetal potatoes. Again, the dry weather has probably held them back a bit. I will be trying again this week and I'm drooling with anticipation at the flavour.
The runner and french beans went in during the middle of May. We then had a week of very windy weather. I don't think they liked this and have struggled to take a hold. I want to see how they are this week as they usually seem to recover well and we always have more than enough beans at the end of the season.
The courgettes, squash and pumpkins went in at the end of May and are doing well. The first courgettes are now showing. After growing 18 courgette plants last year and harvesting a Kg a day I have learnt my lesson and have only got 5 plants this year.
T
he asparagus (asparagi?) are all growing and have broken the surface. This is a long term project as the rewards will be seen in 2011.
Hopefully I'll get on the plot soon. I'll take a camera and get some more pictures up on here.
The winter broad beans did well but would probably have been even better with a bit more rain in April and May. By my reckoning they were 3 weeks ahead of some nearby spring planted beans. Once again i'm thinking is it worth planting them in the autumn? Also, no one else in my family likes them so they make not be grown next year!
The runner and french beans went in during the middle of May. We then had a week of very windy weather. I don't think they liked this and have struggled to take a hold. I want to see how they are this week as they usually seem to recover well and we always have more than enough beans at the end of the season.
The courgettes, squash and pumpkins went in at the end of May and are doing well. The first courgettes are now showing. After growing 18 courgette plants last year and harvesting a Kg a day I have learnt my lesson and have only got 5 plants this year.
T
he asparagus (asparagi?) are all growing and have broken the surface. This is a long term project as the rewards will be seen in 2011.Hopefully I'll get on the plot soon. I'll take a camera and get some more pictures up on here.
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