gojilottie

Friday August 8th 2008

2008-08-08T01:26:00.000-07:00

Just for a change from vegetables a few pictures of the lillies in the garden.

Wednesday 9th July 2008

2008-07-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

Have taken a new batch of photo's, not to pleased with the results as I don't think I have managed to capture the scale and size of growth on some of the plants.
The first photo is of the five hanging baskets of tumbling tomatoes, they cover the back wall of the covered area completely. Between the plant on the left and the tomatoes on the right should be a central aisle. It has got to the stage where I have to almost fight my way through to get to the greenhouse.

This picture is the greenhouse from the outside. As you can see it is well full, mainly with tomatillo, cucumber and pepino with a few tomato plants for good luck.
This next one is another one of the tomato baskets.
And the tomato baskets taken from the other end.
Inside of the greenhouse showing the tomatillo, plant just on the left is a pepino. Don't know how big tomatillo fruit grow thw ones in the green husks are about the size of a large grape still green at present.
One of the cucumber plants with a nice cucumber ready for picking. It is an Italian one Slangen di China, or something like that.
One of the new rhubarb plants which has put on a nice amount of growth. Will be planted out into final position in Sept/Oct.
Out on the lottie, This is the achocha and although it has grown well there is no sign of any fruits as yet.
Another unusual plant is this rats tail radish. Has produced hundreds of fruits, but I have found limited use for them. Don't think I will grow as many next year as they are very uncontrollable, and I don't need that much of a crop.
Winter sprouts and kilaton cabbage, both should be a good size by the time winter comes. Only hope they don't mature before winter gets here as they are already starting to form hearts.
Red cabbage interspersed with mares tail which is quite abundant throughout the lottie. Just learn to live with it and keep it under controll so that it does not interfere with veg growth. Red cabbage are forming some nice hearts and I should get a good crop.
Raised carrot bed, with no sign of any carrot root fly, have been harvesting carrots for about 6/8 weeks now and there will be enough now to see me through till next Mar/Apr. Size at the moment is slightly thicker than a large finger. I think there is about 8 rows going across the picture. All different varieties, the autumn king look to be doing the best.
One of the strawberry beds, have two at the moment and intend to make another one for next year. The ordinary strawberries have finished now but in the front of this bed is alpine strawberries which were grown from seed this Jan, they are just starting to flower, and should give a good crop.
Small narrow bed between the strawberries, filled with leeks and lettuce.
The tomato house on the lottie, you can just make out some of the tomatoes with some of them at full size. Don't know if it is possible to make out but this is the one with all the leaves curled up.
The bean bed with runner and french climbing beans. Have had 4 good sized runner beans so far. May be some more by now but weather has not been good enough to go and have a look.
Tried to get a picture of the seed sown onions. Hasn't really rorked as you can't see the size of the bulbs. They are Buntons showstopper and I am impressed with them. Have just sown some Hi-Keeper onions for over wintering. May get some Japanese set to overwinter as well and see which ones do the best.
And finally for this session of photo's one og the potato beds. There is Pink Fir, Charlotte and Sarpo Mira in this bed. Pink Fir on the left have produced plenty of growth but no potatoes yet. In the centre is the charlotte which I have started to harvest, which is why there is a gap there. The Charlotte have been very proliffic with an average of about 5lbs of potatoes per plant. In the foreground is some winter cabbage I needed to get into the ground.

Sunday 22nd June 2008

2008-06-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

Well into the season now with plenty of success and some failures.
Potatoes :- Had some nice early ones grown in tubs and managed to almost follow on with lottie ones. Need to have some first earlies next year and plant a few mid Feb. Charlotte have cropped very well and the first of the sarpo mira look to be good, the pink fir are very slow and to date there is nothing under the haulms. Well now have potatoes right through the summer and well into winter.
Peas :- flowered well but just would not fill out, only just getting some peas now. Need to space them better for harvesting.
Carrots :- great success with carrots and starting in greenhouse in pots definitely gets an early crop. The pot sown ones are also doing well and we are starting to use them. Have been using thinings for about a month now, There are some decent sized carrots now and will be able to have carrots whenever we need them now.
Parsnips :- Tops look really great and if bottoms are as good as tops it will be a bumper crop. Could maybe have done with sowing another couple of rows, but time will tell if there is enough.
Cabbages :- spring cabbage have seen us through the last few months, summer cabbage are not doing to well due to club root. Will have some for harvesting in a week or so but they are small. Red cabbage are doing well and don't seem to have been affected by club root. Have planted out some of the winter cabbages including kilaton, will see how it does. Kale and summer PSB have been a complete waste of time and space. Sprouts are planted the last lot went in today. Some early ones are doing well and should give us sprouts in Sept.
Onions :- Seed sown doing very well, sets are a big dissapointment. Shallots are almost a total failure and I noticed today that the few that there is have stared to get mildew on them. Leeks are doing well and about 3/4 have been planted so far, just waiting for ground now to get the final lot in. Continuing to plant the spring onions, will be trying to overwinter some under covers.
Salad Items :- easy to grow and no problems with any salad stuff. Just need to remember to keep on sowing. Have sown some winter radish today. Rats tails are producing profusely. Have had some beetroot already and will be picking some this week.
Strawberries :- have cropped very well and are continuing to do so. Well make another bed for next year and get some late crop strawberries.
Raspberries :- have not started cropping yet but not expecting a big crop with the change over of beds. Autumn fruiting ones are putting on plenty of growth and should give some raspberries this year.
Rhubarb P:- only gave a med crop so will probably lift in Oct and replant. Two new crowns to go out as well.
Fruit Bushes :- new bushes of gooseberry, red and black currants, goji berry and blackberry are all growing well. Will expect a small crop from them all next year.
Beans :- broad beans have done well both overwintered and spring sown ones. Will only do spring sown next year as they both started cropping about the same time. Dwarf french have not done very well and are poor looking plants. Need to nurture and get them to a better plant before planting out next year. Or cover with fleece to start with. Runner and french climbing are doing good although yard long beans failed to get going and had to be replaced.
Spinach and Chard :- both difficult to grow early on due to bolting but we have had a few meals from them, continuing to sow both for autumn and winter use.
The lottie is full and as space becomes available the is stuff to go in either seed or plants. Harvesting has well started and we will hopefully not need to purchase any veg for some time now. Will do another update in the next day or so on the greenhouse.

Wednesday 28th May 2008

2008-05-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Some sort of solitary bees nest, as yet unidetified, size is slightly smaller than a golf ball and the colour is teracotta. Reason it looks white is that it is in a well shaded place and the automatic flash came on.

Tuesday 27th May 2008

2008-05-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

Seems to be that I am going to be updating about every two weeks, obviously at this time of the year a lot happens in two weeks. The weather has been quite bad the last few days with heavy rain and very strong winds. The wind has flattened and snapped off about half the globe artichokes, still I did want to reduce the size of the bed. It has also snapped three of the tomatillo but high enough up that they should regrow from lower down. Also snapped off one of the new shoots on the goji berry, still stuck the new bit in a bit of compost and with a bit of luck it will root.
The robins managed to finally raise a family after the first nest was raided by a rat and the babies eaten. Below is one of the four babies, would not recognise it as a robin if I didn't know the parents.

Green house plants are doing alright, although I have lost about half the cucumbers due to low temps and wet soil. Still have 6 on the go so still plenty for two people. Tomatoes are doing very well and should have some set in the next week. Below is the five baskets of tumbling toms, both red and yellow. As you can see flowers are starting on them
Below is picture of one of the remaining cues, also in the picture is an achocha just right of centre, and in the foreground some aubergines, as yet no flowers on them.
Two tomatillo with flowers.
Someone on the GYO forum was asking about potatoes in tubs. Below is a tub which should be ready for harvesting in about two weeks, the foliage is about two feet above the top of the tub.
Trays of brassicas waiting to go out once the potatoes on the lottie make room for them
Spring sown garlic, which looks a lot healthier than the autumn sown garlic. However no swelling of the bulb on these where as the autumn sown ones have some plump looking bulbs.
One of the brassica beds with summer cabbage early sprouts and some kale. At the far end is some courgettes
The other brassica bed with hispi and greyhound cabbage, summer PSB and two types of red cabbage.
The bean bed with 6 rows of beans 3 climbing french and 3 runner.
Home made tomato house with 8 tomatoes 5 aubergines a cape gooseberry and a golden berry.
One of the new beds with pumpkins and climbing pea beans. At top just out of picture is currant bushes, goji berry and huckleberry.
The carrot bed with January sown carrots furthest away, they are ready for a little thinning which will be usable as a veg (about the thickness of a pencil)
Far end of the bean bed with 3 rows of peas, furthest feltham first, middle jaguar and closest kelvedon wonder. In foreground is some dwarf french beans.
Picture of one of the red cabbages kalibos which is a new one to me.
Root vegetable bed showing some parsnips, doing very well. Lets hope there is something underneath when we come to harvest.
Some of the potatoes are doing well, my big problem was that I planted to close and have had problems in trying to earth them up.
Solved the problem to a certain extent by using collars (tubs with bottoms cut off) and earthing up inside the collars with compost, in other words growing in bottomless tubs. Seems to be working alright.

Well I think that is enough for today.

2008-05-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Have had some really warm dry days but back to rain the last two days. Still it had got to the point where we need a bit of rain. If nothing else it will make the weeds grow even quicker.
Pleased to have recieved some decent goji berry plants and after a couple of weeks in a pot I have planted the most vigorous one out on the lottie picture below. The other two I will keep in pots for the time being.
The carrots continue to grow well and as you can see from the picture below the ones started in pots and then planted out will not be to long before I can start taking a few thinnings.

Peas are now well in flower and one row has a few pods formed so they are only going to be a few weeks now before we can start picking. The ones in the centre of the picture are feltham first and just in the fore ground you can see a row of kelvedon wonder. In the background is the three bean frames which are all planted up now. There are three varieties of french climbing and three of runner bean. Am also growing a couple varieties of dwarf french.

Have two beds of brassicas growing at the moment, in the one closest is greyhound cabbage. some early sprouts. Some perpetual spinach and some courgettes. In the far bed are hispi cabbage, two varieties of red cabbage, a summer solid type cabbage, summer PSB and some ironman broccoli. The fleece is over the cabbages mainly to try and keep the pests off.

Greenhouse veg are going great guns although reading the forum I could have been just a shade earlier with the peppers and aubergines. The picture below is one of the baskets of tumbling tom, I have both red and yellow this year. Three baskets of red two of yellow. They are just starting to flower, so not to long before tomatoes. Cucumbers planted out on the lottie and a couple in the greenhouse. Tomatillo are just flowering. Achocha have been planted out on the lottie and are about two foot high.

Third tub of potatoes have been harvested, result below. Enough there for two good meals and well worth the effort, will definitly increase the number of tubs next year. Will now have to wait a few weeks before any other potatoes are going to be ready. Want to make sure that next year I have a more appropriate potato for early growing.

Al in all this is, so far, a very successful growing year with less than usual fatalities. Have had at most half a dozen plants dampen off, have had one row of swiss chard go to seed which we had for tea tonight. Onion sets are not doing as well as the seed sown onions so will do more seed sowing next year. Shallots not doing to good in that they haven't split at all well, with some still as a single bulb, and most of them have thrown up a seed stalk which means that they wont keep.

Thursday 1st May 2008

2008-05-01T00:58:00.000-07:00

Been a couple of weeks since last entry so loads to catch up on.
Greenhouse is bursting at the seams, but so far managing to keep every thing inside. Need to get some growbags as the tomatoes need planting in their final position. Photo below.

Made a new top for one of the propagators as the other one wasn't tall enough, it is filled with tomato plants at the moment. See photo below.

The rest of the greenhouse stuff is doing alright, the peppers and aubergines are still growing slowly. One achocha is doing really well and is about 6in tall, will get photo for next entry. The tomatillo seem to be surviving and starting to show some signs of recovering. I think I almost cooked them hence the white leaves. Cucumbers and gherkin are starting to put a spurt on now and will need repotting this week.
The vegetables out on the lottie are now romping away. I am now getting to the stage of strugling to find space for plants. This is where I find that the crop rotation goes out of the window as you end up putting plants in where you have space.
Have several rows of parsnips but am concerned as to how they will grow as some have been started in shallow pot and there was a bit of root disturbance when they were transplanted.Will have to wait and see end results. Below is a row that were done in loo rolls and they are looking good and should give me at least one good row of parsnips.

October sown broad beans are full of flowers and at last the beans are starting to set. As you can see from the photo there is plenty of flowers on the beans and so far no sign of the breaded black fly. Will definitely autumn sow again next year.

Now have two good rows of peas, feltham first shown below and under the net is greenshsft. I have a small row of feltham first in another bed and yesterday I noticed the first flower on them. Roll on the first peas.

Carrots are doing really well this year. Below is a photo of some sown in Jan, that I am growing in the pot. Have half a dozen pots at varying stages of growth. The bed out on the lottie is also doing extremely well with 100% germination. No gaps in rows and every row up. First for me.

Potatoes in the tubs are growing well, emptied the first one 10 days ago and got just enough for a meal for two. Plenty of potatoes, which was nice to see, just a bit to small. Must have been at least 30 to 40 potatoes but many were only the size of peas. Will leave for another couple of weeks and then try another one. Have planted up another 5 tubs. Some of the potatoes on the lottie have started to appear, although in the main it is the charlottes. Must remember next year to get some first earlies.
Cabbages and rest of brassicas are growing well and yesterday I rebuilt the fleece frame over them. So far not one loss to the cabbage root fly only hope none got in yesterday while rebuilding went on. Will post photo next time.
Onions are growing well, the strongest look to be the seed sown ones, with some of the sets very slow to start growing. Final yields are the final test to seed or set. First year of growing from seed.

Strawberries are just getting first flowers, and plants are looking strong. Need to take some runners this year. Goji berries arrived last week and have been potted up, one is already showing signs of growth with a good few green leaves on it. Kiwi fruit is well into leaf now but as yet no sign of any flowers.

Tuesday 15th April 2008

2008-04-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

And finally for this entry a final picture of the potato bags planted just before Xmas. Grandaughter (age 11) is visiting this weekend and am going to give her the honour of digging out one of the bags to see what we have in the way of potatoes.

Will try and take some pictures of the lottie at he weekend, in the meantime the above is a picture of the blueberry patch, 5 of them I have had a while and are into their 3rd season with me. I have added a sixth one this year and may well buy one each year just to keep them going.

Continuing to prick out and pot up tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, achocha, pepino, cucumbers, gherkins and tomatillo. Beans continue to germinate and grow. Above picture is of one of the greenhouse benches.

Busy week at work so not much time for any gardening. Have been using a lot of mouse bait in the greenhouse just lately, looking at the picture I can understand why. Rats do not come much bigger than this one which I found dead on the greenhouse floor yesterday.

Sunday 13th April 2008

2008-04-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

This is the second edition, had to come out of the last post as the computer started to play up and I had to restart it.
In the garden and on the lottie every thing has started to show signs of life. Beds are filling up very quickly now. All potatoes and onions are out in the beds had some spuds left so have planted up another 3 buckets with spuds. The ones planted before Xmas look great and I may have a look next week to see if I have any new spuds. All the carrots have been sown, although I may sow some late Autumn King if I get some space later on in the season. Early cabbages are doing well and I redid the fleece yesterday to try and keep the root fly out. The first of the parsnips and beetroot are out and doing well. Replanted the broadbeans that the birds had destroyed and have pot a net over them.
Continuing to pot up boards for raised beds and not many to do now, as boards are put up then the beds are dug over ready for planting.
Robin in the greenhouse is sitting on nest, can't see into nest so don't know how many eggs there are, Hopefully I will find out when the birds hatch.
Seed sowing has really slowed down now, mainly because of lack of space.

Sunday 13th April 2008

2008-04-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

Been gardening every day for at least an hour a day since wed. Now so much is happening that it is difficult to keep the blog up to date with everything.
Greenhouse is bulging at the seems and I am trying to clear non tender veg out as soon as I can. Tomatoes are doing well and I have 2 or 3 varieties in 1lt pots now and some more to do tomorrow, there is also some to prick out into individual pots. Peppers and aubergines continue to grow very slowly, but at least they are growing. Several types of cucumber have been pricked out and are growing well as is the gherkins and achocha. Tomatillo are not doing at all well but I don't know what is wrong with them. Have started off all types of beans and will be planting out the first of the dwarfs in a couple of weeks time I know it will be a big risk as far as the frosts go but as soon as the beans are out another lot will be sown just in case

Wednesday 9th April 2008

2008-04-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

Didn't expect to be able to do much on the lottie this week as the weather forecast at the weekend was not very good. However other than frost at night the weather has been excellent and I have been out on the lottie for the last few days.
Have been doing a bit of digging here and there, getting beds ready for planting up. Have done plenty of clearing up and weeding especially the creeping thistle as soon as it pops it's head above ground. Have created an extra bed at the bottom of the lottie which is usually used as a dumping ground.
Have planted out a few Chinese artichokes but will let the rest grow a lottie more before planting out. Sown 6 small rows of carrots all different varieties. The row of broad beans has been decimated by the crows so will have to use some fleece when I put the next lot out.
Finished off putting up the bean frames, now have three frames with 12 poles on each side. Intend to put a different variety on each side and both runner and french climbing. Will also be growing dwarf french.
Have had to try and restrict my time in the greenhouse as the local robin has decided to take up residence. Can't not go in but at same time want to give Bob every opportunity to raise his family.
The large propagator is being turned off during the day as it only has germinated plants in. Tomatoes are all doing well and am pricking out or potting on as required. Peppers and aubergines continue to grow very slowly and none have got to a size suitable to prick out. Have now sown 5 trays of various beans and as on tray germinates so another is sown (only have room for 4 trays in the propagator).
Am currently having problem with mice in greenhouse, probably due to the first batch of offspring of the year. They haven't done any damage yet but they are costing a fortune in bait.
Potatoes planted before Xmas continue to be doing well and I am tempted to see how well and see if I have enough for a meal. As I have loads of seed potatoes left I have planted up another 4 tubs 1 sarpo una, 1 charlotte and 2 pink fir.
.

Saturday 5th April 2008

2008-04-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

Managed an hour out on the lottie after work yesterday. Pre germinating parsnips were doing well so sowed a row directly into soil as I've run out of loo roll centers. Planted out the few jaguar peas that had germinated. Planted out a row of broad beans.

Friday 4th April 2008

2008-04-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

Should have updated yesterday but got playing games on the computer.
Have had a productive two days and started to catch up again.
Planted out the beetroot boltardy on the lottie and sowed 6 varieties of carrot and two of parsnips. The ground seems nice and dry and warm. Will have to cover them with fleece though as the forecast is for wintery weather.
Was given some PSB and calabrese seedlings so pricked out 15 of each, don't know where they will go once they are big enough as The plot is filling up fast.
Planted out the greyhound cabbage, and looking at the way they are growing I think they will be ready before the overwintered spring greens.
In the greenhouse sowed Zucchini, Jemmer and round Tricolour courgettes. Plus Ormskirk and January King cabbage. Potted on 8 Alicante tomatoes. Pricked ouy a tray of Tatsoi Yukina, Artic King Lettuce and red drumhead cabbage.
Need to sow some more peas as the last lot of Jaguar peas didn't germinate very well.

Tuesday 2nd April 2008

2008-04-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

Another nice day, the third in a row, although it was a bit windy this morning. Sowed some Huckleberry, pumpkin hundredweight, scorzonera and spinach lazio F1 a couple of days ago and due to the nice weather all of it has come through.
Spent the morning in the greenhouse sowed peppers Friggitello and Marconi Rosso and some aubergine Prosperosa. Had a bit of a disaster yesterday when I checked the propagator a tray of aubergines was just a tray of little stumps. A small snail with a bit appetite had got in and seen of the complete tray.
Potted on the Sungella tomatoes into 1lt pots and pricked out the Sub Artic Plenty tomatoes into individual pots.
Sown some beans 18 of each dwarf Purple Queen, runner Enorma and White Lady and climbing Blue Lake. Will be putting some more in when I can find some room.
Parsnips that have been chitting are sprouting well although the Avonresister is doing better then the White Gem.
Time seems to have lept forward and a couple of weeks ago I felt I was well ahead of the game, now I seem to be strugling to keep up.
No work again tomorrow so planning to try and plant out onion sets, beetroot and greyhound cabbage. Also want to sow some parsnips and carrots directly into lottie. Full steam ahead now and going for broke.
Planted out the last of the potatoes yesterday, or what I have room for. Still have loads of tubers. Note for next year "Don't buy so many seed potatoes".
Must also sow some courgettes and marrows tomorrow.

Sunday 30th March 2008

2008-03-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

It's amazing the difference in two days weather. Yesterday was wet and very cold had the heating on in the house all day. Today glorious sunshine all day turned the cenral heating off first thing this morning and still haven't put it back on yet.
Managed to get some more lottie dug over today, it was quite nice digging and even with all the rain yesterday the ground was quite dry.
Cut up some more old carpet to put on the paths. Went round with the trowel and dug up all the creeping thistle that is just starting to show through the soil. Only a couple of weeks now and the mares tail will be starting to show as well.
Planted out the 15 hispi cabbage, 15 broccoli ironman and 15 summer psb. Then made some fleece covers to go over the top of them. Don't usually have any problem with pigeons but there is always a first time and better to be safe than sorry.
Opened the front of the growbag frame that has the pots of potatoes in and they have been subjected to the lovely sunshine all day.
Tomatoes are doing very well and the first batch will soon be ready to go into 1lt pots. Have loads of peppers and aubergines but cant get them to grow past the seed leaves, maybe I'm just impatient.
Also planted out some perpetual spinach and rainbow swiss chard.
Pricked out some bronze arrow lettuce and some cabbage red drumhead.
Broad beans sown autumn are looking good and there is a lot of flower on them, only hope the insects have found them alright. There are bees about as I found a good god almighty size one in the porch today. Did my deed for the day and helped it get outside.
Temp in greenhouse got up to 31 today and that was with the door open, frost forecast for some parts of the country so have put all the fleeces on and lit the paraffin fire.

Tuesday 25th March 2008

2008-03-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Picture of the two tomato/growbag frames in the garden. Don't think the covers are all that strong and am hoping they will survive any wind that we get. Still I've got plenty of repair tape ready. At least when I get the tomatoes in them they will stand a better chance against the blight than if they were out in the open. The one on the left has a tray each of broad beans, cabbage, rats tails radish and parsnips.

Completed filling up the second raised strawberry bed with home made compost and topped off with a bag of purchased compost. Planted out what plants were in pots in the greenhouse and need about nine more to fill the bed. Will await for some runners rather than purchase any more plants.

Weather has been great today and I've had a good day pottering around the garden and lottie.
Put up another growbag house and have moved the three bags of potatoes into it. Picture above.

Had the first casualties of the season, one marketmore cucumber has damped off and one seedling of achocha has gone funny and looks a bit sick. No doubt they wont be the last.

Planted out some red sun shallots which had been started off in some 1lt pots. Roots looked good and they should romp away now.

Monday 24th March 2008

2008-03-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Had a busy day shifting topsoil, compost and paving slabs. not as young as I used to be and I'm shattered.
Sown a few more bits and pieces,Tumbling Red tomatoes, Aubergines Chinese Ancient, cucumber an Italian variety, Sweet peppers variety unknown, tomato Tamina and started parsnips off on some damp kitchen paper, White Gem and Avonresister.
Some of the blackeye and flagolette beans have started to germinate, 3 blackeye and 6 flagalette not many but I didn't really expect any so a bonus really.
Pricked out the 6 gherkin seedlings into individual pots.
Started to fill the second strawberry bed and will finish that off tomorrow weather permitting.

Sunday 23rd March 2008

2008-03-23T16:54:00.000-07:00

Had a day out at Trago Mills down in devon on Thursday. Good place for cheap stuff, bought some 1lt black pots 8p each, bought some derris seeing as it is being withdrawn from sale.
Purchased a small kiwi fruit and another blueberry. Potted on both the kiwi and blueberry as they were in smallish pots. Also purchased another growbag greenhouse, only £8.25.

Today built another propagator, just big enough for 64 individual pots. Heated with a soil warming cable. No top on it but it is only for potting on stuff that isn't frost tender.

Spent an hour or so on the lottie, planted out the cabbage Hispi, could have left them another couple of weeks but getting short of space and plenty of other cabbages for backup. Covered them with some enviro mesh to keep the birds off. Nearly forgot to put down the slug pellets.

Hoping to get out there tomorrow and do a bit of digging weather permitting. Also want to get the other strawberry bed up and running.

Pricked out alpine strawberries, moss curled parsley and tamarillo. Sowed some florence fennel.

Wednesday 19th March 2008

2008-03-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

Wed 19th Mar.
Had a seed sowing session today have put in Tomato Black Cherry, Pepino, Kiwi Fruit, Cucumber Burpless Tasty Green, Leek Colossal and Autumn Giant 3, Comfry, French parsley and Lettuce Little Gem. Greenhouse is starting to look a little full and I haven't even thought of marrows, pumpkins, courgettes and squashes.
Also managed to get out on lottie, a really nice day,and planted two more rows of potatoes both Sarpo Mira. Was also given a few shallots so planted them straight into the lottie. Have started the second bean trench, having put the sticks up on the first one. I can get 12 plants on either side of frame. Am aiming at three seperate frames and will put one variety on each of the six sides. Found some dried black eye beans and some flagolette beans in the kitchen cupboard so am trying to get some germinated. Nothing lost in trying.
Had a look around to see what is and isn't growing. Most of the Tomatoes, peppers and aubergines are doing great, all the non tender veg except broad beans are doing exceptionally well. Have 1 cape gooseberry, 1 golden berry and 4 lemon grass, still time for more to appear yet.

Just to show how long the leek season can be with a selection of varieties. These are still standing well and as yet no sign of bolting. Only wish I could remember what variety they were. Am doing a lot better this year with labels. (fingers crossed)

Must try and hold the camera still when I take photo's. This is inside th new tomato house but is currently looking after stuff that is not frost tender. At the back is cabbage and broccoli and at the front lettuce onion and beetroot.

Not very clear but this is garlic Cristo only started about 3 weeks ago and looking really well, not as far on as that planted last Oct but catching up fast.

Broad beans sown last Sept, full of flower and good looking plants, just hope there is one or two bees about to pollinate.

Still trying to play catchup.
Tuesday 18th March
Chinese artichokes arrived from Marshalls, so planted them up in individual pots. Parsley moss curled is growing well so transplanted into individual pots (15) also transplanted 15 cabbage Etoile into ind pots

Wednesday 19th March 2008

2008-03-19T07:54:00.001-07:00

Pot of carrots sown begining of Jan, True leaves have started to grow nicely.

Monday 17th March
Sown seeds of Achocha,Perpetual Spinach Beet. Also sowed two gutters of Peas Jaguar. Have been having a problem with germinating parsnips so have now resorted to trying germination on damp kitchen roll.

Starting to be busy time of the year and a bit of catching up to do on the old blog.
Sunday Mar 16thSown 15 ind pots of Autumn King carrots, 15 pots of broad beans (will keep trying to get some germinated) and planted 50 onion sets (Setton) into indivual pots.
Managed to get onto lottie and dug over the potato bed. Then planted Valour, Cara, Sarpo Mira, Pink Fir and Charlotte. Hope we get a good start like last year and no late frosts. Above picture is of two of the potato tubs in the greenhouse. Working on 12 weeks they should be ready for harvesting min to end of April.

Wednesday 12th March 2008

2008-03-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

Greenhouse and lottie are going along nicely at the moment. It has been rather wet of late and I haven't been able to do much in the way of digging or planting on the lottie and most of the work has been done in the greenhouse.
Germination of parsnips have been erratic even in the controlled environment of the greenhouse, however I have now got enough for a small row to be transplanted on the lottie but will wait a few more weeks till the seedlings get a little bigger. Peas and carrots are however doing a lot better and I have three short rows of peas already planted out and I have sown some more (Jaguar) this afternoon. Carrots I have two pots with good seedlings in onoyher two pots sown but not yet up and I have two short rows planted out on the lottie.
The three trays of brassicas transplanted into individual pots are doing well and will be ready to plant into the lottie in about three weeks. Summer PSB, Broccoli Ironman and Cabbage Hispi.
Received the apricot tree from Marshalls and also purchased another apricot from Wilkinsons. Will be interesting to see which one does better as one was £5 the other £19.
Some of the tomato seedlings have been potted on into individual pots (6 Sungella and 1 Tamina) I will have to resow Tamina as only one germinated. Transplanted into seed tray lettuce salad bowl.
Planted out the garlic cristo into lottie. Managed to do a bit of digging today ready for the parsnips.
Picked the last of the brussel sprouts, only thing left on lottie now is leeks, PSB and a few cabbage (winter and spring)
Three tubs of potatoes in the greenhouse are looking good and greenery is well over the tops of the bags, still need to do a bit of topping up with compost yet.

Tuesday 5th Feb 2008

2008-03-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Had a good day today, the apricot tree from Marshalls arrived but havn't had time to plant it up yet. Visited lottie but ground was to wet to do any digging, watered the seeds in the tomato frame. Will have to get the rest of the garlic planted out at the weekend as it is taking up to much room in the frame.
New soil warming cable also arrived this morning so changed the short one for the new longer one. This will hopefully give a better a better heat distribution. I will make a new smaller frame of the old cable.
Sowed a few more seeds. I am pleased with the results of the first sowings of carrots so had sown three tubs with Adelaide F1, Kingston F1 and Jeanette F1. these will be grown to maturitu in the pots.
Sowed two 1/4 trays with Alacante and Sub Arctic Plenty tomatoes, 8 seeds per tray. also did a 1/4 tray each of Gherkin Parisian Pickling and Pepper Chili Pinocchio's Nose. Sowed a cell tray with beetroot, Chioggia Pink and Red Ace F1, 20 seeds of each.
Had to get parafin for the greenhouse heater today but it seems to lasta fair while.

2nd March 2008

2008-03-02T12:40:00.001-08:00

Had a good day today, only spent an hour on the lottie putting in some more boards for the raised beds. Planted out one tray of Garlic Cristo, left the rest under cover for a few more days.
Sowed 15 pots of broad beans, the previous attempt in root trainers was 100% failure (very old beans). Pricked out 15 each of Broccoli Ironman, Broccoli Summer PSB, cabbage Hispi and cabbage greyhound. It is one of the jobs I really love doing.
Sowed a 1/4 tray of Sweet Pepper Worldbeater and 1/4 tray of Pepper Hot Jalapino. The sungella tomatoes have germinated well with 7 out of 8 growing. Have had a go at germinating some parsnip but its last years seed and germination is poor, so will have to break out a fresh packet. All the seeds in the greenhouse and cold frames are doing very well with no losses so far.

Another picture of the tomato house, which is filled with small seeds at the moment.
This is the new tomato frame that I have built out on the lottie, I had no success last year as the blight got all the tomatoes. Decided that the only option was to make a rain proof shelter. Think I should be able to get 4 tomatoes and 6 peppers in there.
Peas Feltham First out on the lottie the row closest was sown a week after the ones in the background. Will have to get plants to a larger stronger stage before putting out as the latest ones are looking a lot better and stronger.

29th February 2008

2008-02-29T01:45:00.000-08:00

25th Feb sowed some Comfry and sweet Basil. Want the comfry for plant feed.
28th Feb couldn't resist any longer and planted 14 charlotte potatoes on the lottie. I have more potatoes than I have room for so not to bothered if I lose them. The ones in the greenhouse are doing OK but 2 of the 9 tubers have caught the frost at some time.

24th February 2008

2008-02-24T03:54:00.000-08:00

Sowed a tray of individual pots of Beetroot Boltardy and Onions Bedfordshire Champion.
Potted on Onions Buntons Showstopper, were not doing very well so hoping the bigger pots will help. Will have to remember next year not to use the small cell trays.
The Lemon Grass, Cape Gooseberry and Parsnip Tender and True sown on the 5th Feb have not shown any signs of germination so may have to resow. Will give them another week yet though.
All the seeds that have germinated are doing well and apart from the greyhound cabbage none of them look stretched or leggy.
Parsnips look as if they are going to be as notorious to grow in the greenhouse as they are on the lottie, will just have to keep trying.

Thursday 21st February 2008

2008-02-21T03:50:00.000-08:00

Weather is still cold and there is a bit of moisture in the air today. The ground is nice and dry though and I have dug over one of the raised beds ready for some spring planting.
New raspberry bed is now full and plants are showing some good signs of growth. Looking forward to harvesting later in the season.
Some of the autumn planted broad beans are looking a little bedragled due to the recent cold spell. Dont need the space at the moment so will leave to see if they pick up.
In the greenhouse every thing is doing alright and no losses to the frost yet. Still only one aubergine showing but hopeful the others will follow. Sown a different sort yesterday not named but from Seeds of Italy. Also sowed cabbage Copenhagen Market, Radish Cherry Belle, Ruby Chard, two gutters of Feltham First Peas and a root trainer full of broad beans.
Planted out the shallots from Cadbury GC as the roots were starting to come out the bottom of the pots. Don't think the alloted space for the onions etc is going to be big enough will have to look at the master plan.

18th February 2008

2008-02-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

Been to Aldi again today and bought another pack of fruit bushes with 2 gooseberry careless, 3 raspberry malling jewel, and 1 blackcurrant ben lomand. have planted gooseberries and currant into pots and kept under cover. Raspberries have been planted out on lottie.
First of the aubergine has shown its head, hope the others follow. Although there has been some severe frosts the carrots and peas out on the lottie are doing well
Sown a couple of pots of sweet peas, and a tray of parsnip, in loo rolls, white gem.
Went to Caerphilly GC and purchased a tomato house just big enough for a full sized growbag. Will put it up and fix it to the patio wall for some tomatoes close to hand. It's about 5ft tall so will be good for some of the taller tomatoes.

17th February 2008

2008-02-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

Visited Pugh's Garden Center yesterday and bought 5 Raspberry canes Glen Ample. Have a few spaces in the new raspberry bed to fill in. Also purchased a packet of garlic as they had a very good selection. Bought Cristo for £2.49, it had 4 bulbs inside and when I broke them down into cloves I had 64 which I then planted up into small pots which I will keep in the greenhouse till they have started shooting.
Also went in InStore and bought a plum tree Opal and a pot to put in in all for £9. That was followed by a visit to Aldi where I got three fruit bushes, Blackberry, Gooseberry Careless, Redcurrant Jonkheer Van Tets, for the grand total of £1.99. Planted the 3 fruit bushes up when I got home. Planted the plum into container today.
Put a lid on the tomato house on the allotment, only got to sort some sort of door out now. All the shallots are now in the tomato house till the weather improves a bit.
Have had a frost every night for the last week last nights was quite severe, probably -4. But at least it is dry. Supposed to be warming up again next week.

14th February 2008

2008-02-14T02:21:00.000-08:00

Havn't posted for last ten days and need to get caught up with all the news.
Seed sowing to date :-
first of the shallots were planted into pots in Dec with more in Jan. Peas and carrots started begining of Jan with follow up sowings later in Jan. First peas and carrots now on lottie.
12 Jan Cabbage Greyhound.
14 Jan Onion Buntons Showstopper, Cabbage Hispi, Broccoli Ironman, PSB Summer.
2 Feb Aubergine Calliope, Carrots Nantes, Peas Feltham First, Alpine Strawberry, Tomatillo, Parsley Moss Curled.
5 Feb Lemon Grass, Cape Gooseberry, Lettuce Arctic King, Lettuce Salad Bowl, Radish Rats Tails, Tatsoi Yukina, Pak choy, Leek Mussleburgh, Parsnip Tender and True, Micro Greens Beetroot and Red Cabbage.
10 Feb Leek Malabar, Sprouts Brilliant, Cabbage Estoril, Lettuce Bronze Arrow, Cabbage Kalibos Red, Carrots Sirena, Banana Plant, Tomato Tamina, Tomato Sungella, Golden Berry, Pepper Apache.

Peas and carots have responded well to early sowing. Brasicas need to come out of propagator as soon as they have germinated or they get leggy. Lettuce don't need any heat to germinate. Rest are looking good at the moment.

Have continued to work on lottie when possible. Have edged a few more raised beds, have got three sides on new tomato frame just need to make door and a top. Weeded and mulched, with multi purpose compost, the asparagus and new raspberry beds. Blueberries and raspberries are showing signs of waking up. A few gaps in the raspberry bed which will have to be filled in the autumn.

Tuesday 5th Feb 2008

2008-02-05T07:54:00.001-08:00

My first daffodils of the season, looks as if the spring bulbs are going to do well this year.

Shallots potted up just before Xmas waiting to go out on lottie

Tuesday 5th Feb 2008

2008-02-05T07:10:00.000-08:00

Weather still not showing any sign of improving. Not cold but so wet.
Checked the peas and carrots out on the lottie and both looking very healthy. The second batch of peas need to go out on the lottie as they are starting to look a little stretched, was hoping for a bit better root formation. The tall plant pot of carrots are doing well, they will be grown in the pot and kept in a nice sheltered place in the garden. Have sown another batch of peas, this time in two pieces of guttering about 9" long. Never used this method before so keeping fingers crossed.
Have sown two containers of micro seeds, beetroot and red cabbage, these will be used as required once they get to about 1" to 2" high. Lovely in a sandwich with a mature cheddar.
Found a bag of red sun shallots that I purchased from Wilco and forgotten I'd got. potted them up in multi purpose in 3.5" pots to get them going. Have some that were potted up before Xmas that I want to get out on the lottie this week.
Have had a seed sowing session today and have started the following.
Lettuce Salad Bowl and Artic King
Parsnips Tender and True
Leeks Mussleburgh
Radish Rats Tails
Lemon Grass
Cape Gooseberry
Chinese Veg Pak Choy and Tatsoi Yukina

Only sown small amounts to get earlier crops. Grew both lemon grass and cape gooseberry last year but didn't start them early enough to get bumper crops. Rats tails I'm having another go at last years were a miserable affair. The main sowings of leeks and parsnips will not be done for some time yet.

Sat February 2nd 2008

2008-02-02T09:22:00.001-08:00

Peas and carrots on the lottie are doing well, have lost 2 pots of the carrots probably due to to much disturbance on knocking out of pots.
Have started to build a tomato frame on the lottie. Should be large enough for 4 tomatoes and 6 peppers. Will post a picture when it is finished.
Seed potatoes have finally arrived and have been put in greenhouse to chit. Varieties for this year are Sarpo Mira, Sarpo Axona, Sarpo Una, Cara, Charlotte and Pink Fir. (providing I can find the space)
Number of packets of seed still seem to be growing, received two lots of free seeds from last months mags plus some on this months. Have also ordered some more unusual seed from T&M that I can't seem to find in any of the garden centers.
Have sown a few tomato, alpine strawberry, aubergine and moss curled parsley in the propagator, have also sown another 15 small pots of carrots to put out on the lottie once they have germinated.

Friday January 25th 2008

2008-01-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

Not everything goes to plan and in the above picture you will see at the far side of the seed tray a row of greyhound cabbage that were left in the propagator a day or two to long. These will never manage to make strong plants are they have really stretched themselves, there only destination is the compost bin.

Tray of onions sown in modules earlier this month. Will wait untill weather warms up before putting out in allotment.

Carrots sown earlier this month ( early nantes) have germinated well and this is a picture of them just before I transplanted them into the allotment. The soil was covered with a good mulch of newspaper several weeks ago to help warm up the soil, and they have now been covered with a cloche. Will start another batch of the same carrot tomorrow.

2008-01-20T12:32:00.000-08:00

Since the last post I have transfered the peas from the propagator to the lottie. I covered them with double fleece and put micromesh around the two exposed sides of the raised bed. Just going to keep my fingers crossed. Not all the world if they sucumb to the weather as its was only 4doz seeds. Have put another batch (Fetltham First) in the propagator. Also put a few summer cabbage (greyhound) in and they are up and I have taken them out and put them in the cold frame. Have also planted summer PSB, Summer cabbage (Hispi) and Broccoli (Ironman) but no sign of any of them yet, still only been in a couple of days. The onion seed are also out of the propagator but I have kept them in the greenhouse. The carrots sown in individual pots are doing well with some very green shoots showing and as yet are not showing signs of being leggy. I have built a cloche to put them under and the soil is covered with a good mulch of newspaper. All I need now is some dry weather to plant them out. The way the weather has been just lately that could be a few weeks yet. Shallots in pots are doing well and all of the Garden center ones have sprouted. (14)
Sent for the free seeds from GYO, Growit and Kitchen Garden. Still awaiting delivery of rhubarb.goji berries (3) and seed potatoes from Thompon and Morgan. Seed potatoes from Garden Center are chitting nicely. (charlotte, pink fir and sarpo mira.) Bought a fruitsalad mix of seed from Wilco includes melon, watermelon, alpine strawberry and kiwi fruit. Can't see the kiwi doing much good but looking forward to trying the water melon and alpine strawberries.
Cant wait to get started on the summer crops i.e. toms, peppers etc but am managing to hold back at the moment.

14 January

2008-01-15T04:31:00.001-08:00

This is the first year that I have started gardening so early. Usually Nothing gets done till I see other people planting stuff and then I think my god I'd better get a move on. I also think another reason for an early start is the propagator that I have been promising to build for the last couple of years. So far I have sown a tray of peas with a good germination rate, only two failed. Usually its the other way round and I only get two germinating. I have also sown some carrots in pots and I have 100% germination which once again is a first. I also sowed a try of onions in modules, although they didn't go in the propagator till a week or more after they were sown. So far I have a 75% germination on the onions. I have always used onion sets in the past but thought I would try a few seeds this year to see if I got any better and bigger onions.
I have today sown some summer brassicas to try and get a few early greens. Ive sown Broccoli Ironman, Cabbage Hispi and a summer edition of Purple Sprouting Broccoli. Never seen summer PSB before but it is a veg I love so thought I would give it a try.

2008-01-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

The above photo is a view looking straight down the length of the allotment

This is one of my small raised beds with enviro mesh around and has garlic in at the moment

Another raised bed with garlic in.

View of the bottom half of the lottie.

Raised bed with broad beans in.

Globe artichokes which are over wintering quiet well so far.

One of my new raised strawberry beds with 10 plants in. Once the plants have started regrowth I will put down a layer of weed suppressant membrane and cover with a pea net to keep the birds of but allow the bees in.

Looking towards the top end of the lottie

Raspberry bed in foreground. Compost heap on right and some nice leeks in the middle.

Another raised bed with overwintering broad beans.

Some of the Other allotments, there are only 15 full plots but 6 have been split making a total of 21 plot holders. No water but rent is only £8 for full plot.

12th January 08 2nd edition

2008-01-11T09:27:00.001-08:00

This is a picture of my home made greenhouse which has been up for about 5 years. The half on the right is just a covered area for when I want to give plants some protection without actually being in the greenhouse. I usually put the blueberries in there once they have set the berries, that way I get all the berries and the birds get none. However this year I am going to have to have a rethink as the blueberry plants have got to big. I also grow my hanging basket tomatoes under the sheltered piece as well.

Not much of a composition for picture but these are some of my shallots which have started shooting nicely. They were from a garden center and at £1.99 for 14 shallots were a bit expensive. I have a second batch which I bought from a veg shop and they were 60p for 12 shallots. Will be interesting to see which ones give the best results.

This is a picture of some amarillys, on my living room windowsill, that I got cheap from tesco the other day. Reduced from £5 down to £1.50 and that included the ceramic red pots.

12th January 08

2008-01-11T09:08:00.001-08:00

Seems I have just managed to transfer from computer to blog. Just got to remember for other pictures. This is my home made propergator. made with soil warming cable, thermostat and some tanalised wood. Warming cable is in 4 inches of sand. !st tray is the onions (buntons exhibition) 2nd tray is peas feltham first then there is 2.5 trays of transplanted lettuce.

11th January 08

2008-01-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to anyone tuning in to my blog. I am very much a novice at this game and although I have taken a few photos, I have not learnt how to get them from my computer to this blog. So you will have to be patient.
I have started my gardening a lot earlier this year, (don't usually start till March) and so far have sown onions, peas, summer cabbage and carrots. Also had some lettuce to plant on. They are all in the proporgator and most are doing OK. Peas are just poking through the soil and look to have a high germination rate. Onions arn't doing so well and so far I only have a 50% germination rate. Carrots and cabbage arn't showing yet.
Not much happening on the allotment yet, but peas will go out under cloches as soon as big enough.