[skanky]

Big Dave, on 15 July 2012 - 21:08, said:

Well done - I think this sunless summer has been sent to vex gardeners! Potatoes are never all a nice uniform size unfortunately, mine are always like that, a few big un's, many egg size and loads of littl' uns.

I stuck a couple of French beans in the ex potato containers, theory being that even if the plants come to nought with a crop they will give some nitrogen back to the soil ready for next year.

Thanks, that's a goo idea. It's a raised bed and the peas are now coming along - lost a couple of plants to slugs, though in part that was because they got lost under huge potato growth. We had one bean plant my daughter brought back from school that got attacked, but now it is growing bigger, there are signs of new growth at the top, so I'm leaving it in for a while. More peas and beans might be best and easiest for now. The kids will eat the peas off the plant, and as you say, it helps the soil.

[Dave K]

Tried the first of my sungold toms that have been growing outside today, very sweet - I think I just prefer the taste of gardener's delight but they are both delicious. Quite impressed with the Tamina big toms too, more and more starting to ripen now and while they don't have the big flavour of the cherry/bite sized ones they do have a good taste and soft skins.

So far this year, only the radishes have been a disappointment which is odd as you'd think they'd be less demanding of fine weather. Given that it has been a poor period of weather since April with the exception of maybe 20 days throughout as yet, container growing has probably been a boon although we haven't been as thoroughly drenched as many other places.

[Dave K]

Vey pleased with my little crop of carrots, the first time I have ever grown them. These are baby carrots all (as well as three pulled out before and already eaten!) from a single pot about 12 ins across by 9 ins deep, which shows that you don't have to have a lot of space or be an expert (or have perfect weather!) to give it a go. Also growing them like this in a pot off the ground helps to keep carrot fly at bay.

[skanky]

Look good, ours vanished without a trace.

[Nigel Bolton]

skanky, on 24 July 2012 - 10:28, said:

Look good, ours vanished without a trace.

So did mine. The bloody pigeons scoffed the lot.

Hedgehog in the garden this morning. I wish him bon appetit on my slugs.

N.

[skanky]

Hedgehog can't get onto our bed as the fence to keep the cats off stops them.

Don't know what ate the carrots (seeds) but pretty sure it wasn't the pigeons.

[Dave K]

I don't have a problem with pigeons here really, it's too urban for wild wood pigeons and only a couple of feral wood pigeons are in the area and presuably have better pickings elsewhere. Everything I grow is too close to the house for the numerous collared doves to risk, though the house sparrows are always flitting around. Anyway I covered up the carrot pot at seedling stage (as much to keep excess rain and hail off as anything!). I know nothing about carrot varieties so I just chose 'Ideal' at random, which had a very high germination rate despite the cold April and they have a good sweet taste.

[Jason Smith]

I returned from trip last week to find the allotment had been attacked with weeds galore! The onions all needed pulling due to them being saturated, shame this sunny spell wasn't a few weeks earlier. They're all drying well now and around 30 used in a French Onion soup, tasted and frozen for future meal starters. The potatoes are justvturning so have begun pulling these too, made 15 pasties with potatoes, cheese and onion and they taste amazing. All stored in freezer for quick meals. Courgettes are just flowering so await my first Courgette Curry of 2012. Overall the growing has been a whitewash but you got to make the most of each season, I may consider Polly tunnelling the plot for next year but not sure how the association will view this but it would certainly help growing conditions and extend the seasons. Bon Appetite fellow growers.

[Nigel Bolton]

Boiling some freshly pulled beetroot. The house now smells lovely, despite having all the windows open.

Broad beans now harvested. Had plenty of meals with them, but have loads in the freezer.

Hopefully will have time for one more crop sowing of beetroot and radishes. Must sow some spinach for the winter, and get in the last of the leeks.

Onions and garlic almost ready for lifting.

Runner beans are crap. Thin foliage and few flowers. One or two weaker plants affected by blackfly. May just pull them if no improvement.

N.

[Nigel Bolton]

Blackberries are now starting to ripen. My normal patch up the field looks to be putting on a poor show this year, but my next door neighbours thicket has snuck in over the fence and has lots of fruit forming, so can pick closer to home. A bit of jam making no doubt, during the next few weeks.

N.

[Dave K]

My toms seem to be at their peak now, must have picked 40 - 50 Gardeners Delight and Sungold this week. Last fortnight has been quite sunny with no run of really dull days unlike the firat half of summer. First of the dwarf French beans I planted 8 weeks ago has about 10 - 15 very small pods on it now, couple of other plants sown rather later just showing flower buds now.

[Nigel Bolton]

Toms not ripening here, indeed maybe the first signs of blight.

Just planted, whilst sun shone, my last crops of the year, some carrots, Spring Onions, radishes, and spinach. Maybe too late for some, but a wam spell in September/October should bring me something.

N.

[Nigel Bolton]

Nigel Bolton, on 04 August 2012 - 12:28, said:

Boiling some freshly pulled beetroot. The house now smells lovely, despite having all the windows open.

Good to know am having some success here. Checked beetroot prices in local supermarket this morning. £1:50 for four time beets AND they will need boiling.

Persistent drizzle stopping courgette flowers from fertilising. Shame. Would have had a bumper crop by now.

N.

[Dave K]

Nigel Bolton, on 05 August 2012 - 15:06, said:

Toms not ripening here, indeed maybe the first signs of blight.

Just planted, whilst sun shone, my last crops of the year, some carrots, Spring Onions, radishes, and spinach. Maybe too late for some, but a wam spell in September/October should bring me something.

N.

What news on your toms Nigel? I hope it turned out not to be blight, my plants have all got some leaf fungus/virus to a small degree but nothing terminal looking.

I have about a dozen very slender beanpods from my Dwarf French bean plants now about 10 cm long - the only trouble is that I don't know when to pick them - when is too soon and not too late! There's always a bit of trial and error when you harvest new veggies to make you you get the best of them - not like this buying them malarkey LOL!

[Nigel Bolton]

Dave K, on 15 August 2012 - 13:36, said:

What news on your toms Nigel? I hope it turned out not to be blight, my plants have all got some leaf fungus/virus to a small degree but nothing terminal looking.

They seem to be holding it off. However, this afternoon's strong winds have blown many of them over, so have had to do some work to secure them. Are cropping very heavily, but only a few are showing signs of turning red. Looks like lots of chutney will have to be made this year, I have plenty of onions growing too. I 'nipped' the tomato plants early this year, perhaps just as well.

N.

[Nigel Bolton]

Have just harvested the onions. They are surprisingly large, so will leave them out in the sunshine today, then rub the (hopefully) dry soil off them late this afternoon. Will then transfer to a plastic greenhouse, where they can sit on a wire trellis for two or three weeks to dry properly. Hopefuly I will have enough to last us until the Spring.

Toms are finally showing a bit more enthusiasm about turning red, and the runner beans are at last covered in red flowers. A few early start beans should be ready for picking this afternoon. Plenty of bees on the flowers, which is encouraging.

I hope to expand my growing area significantly this Autumn, weather permitting, but I can remember saying this last year, and ending up only expanding the bed by a few square metres.

Happy harvesting all!!!

N.

[Nigel Bolton]

Regarding the weather and growing, the unusually wet and cloudy conditions have meant a poor year overall for yields and quality of produce. Some foodstuff such as onions, leeks, beetroot and rhubarb have done well, but generally yields have been low, and in some cases, a complete failure.

Time to start preparing the beds for (a hopefully much better summer weatherwise) next year.

N.

[Dave K]

Nigel Bolton, on 02 September 2012 - 10:24, said:

Regarding the weather and growing, the unusually wet and cloudy conditions have meant a poor year overall for yields and quality of produce. Some foodstuff such as onions, leeks, beetroot and rhubarb have done well, but generally yields have been low, and in some cases, a complete failure.

Time to start preparing the beds for (a hopefully much better summer weatherwise) next year.

N.

Very disappointing for you Nigel. Been rather more fortunate here I think, though now things are looking past their best. Might still get some ripe tomatoes over the next fortnight but the late planted spring onions aren't growing too well. The Florence fennel is on the small side after 12 weeks but should be edible as a "baby". The French beans are a success story though, getting loads more pods than I really expected and they are still going strong. Masses of chillis too although thay have been in the sun porch so avoided the temperamental conditions outside!

[Ed.]

Surely next year couldn't be any worse lol! far too early to be tempting fate..surely!

I'm hoping for a bumper fungi crop, nice stroll in the woods, fresh air and a deliciously prepared meal without the hefty price tag.The much prized Cep mushroom may fetch a few bob, but equally tastes delish so usually ends up on the plate

This post has been edited by Ed.: 02 September 2012 - 10:38

[Nigel Bolton]

Have just harvested the green toms as blight is getting worse. Now turning them all into chutney.

N.