Update
for 2006.
Update
for 2006.
EARLY ON...
Well, got the seeds ready for this year. I'm going for -
Beetroot (Boltardy variety) - trying again this year
Turnip (Snowball variety) - trying again this year
Swede (Angela variety) - trying again this year
Lettuce (Great Lakes variety)
Spring Onion (White Lisbon variety)
Carrots (Autumn King variety, Healthmaster variety and Early Nantes variety)
Cauliflower (All year round variety)
Cabbage (Spring Cabbage variety)
Leeks (Musselburgh variety)
Parsnip (Imperial Crown variety)
Runner Beans (Enorma variety)
Cucumber (F1 Burpless Tasty Green variety)
Tomato (Outdoor Girl variety)
and of course,
Sunflowers (Earth walker variety, Giant Yellow variety, Sunburst variety, Teddy Bear variety and Velvet Queen variety)
On the seed potato and onion set front we have -
Seed Potato (early) - (Red Duke of York variety)
Seed Potato (Maincrop) - (Desiree)
Onion Set (Not sure on the variety)
LATER IN THE YEAR...
Update (25/02/06) - Got the potatoes in the kitchen chitting (see here for chitting explanation). This process takes about 4-5 weeks to get really good stems. Further update (19/03/06) - Aaron and myself planted the potatoes today.
Update (26/02/06) - I've got myself a small heated propagator. I decided to try growing Cabbage, Tomato plants, Cauliflower, and some Sunflowers in it. A week later, and plants are growing...seems to be going well. Further update (19/03/06) - Lost ALL the tomato plants and got 3 sunflowers. On a good note, all the Cabbage and Cauliflower plants seem okay.
Update (5/4/06) - Everything is now planted (apart from the runner beans and maincrop of potatoes - they're still chitting at the moment). Lots growing in the greenhouse, and in the heated propagator, but nothing ready to be put in the ground yet. Aaron has shown more interest this year. Could be because he's now got his own bit of plot (only a piece about 6' x 4'), and he's planted all his bits by himself. Time will tell to see who has the better green fingers out of me and my son....
Here we are in late June/early July (click
here
for site pictures), and what a bumper year so far. All the maincrop potatoes are
in , and are looking good. Also planted 2 courgette plants, 1 marrow
plant, 1 melon plant, 3 more tomato plants, and 3 more cucumber plants back in
April. Never having tried courgette or marrow, thought it would be nice to give
it a try. (Didn't realise just how big the marrow plant would get though).
Already lifted some turnips and beetroot, swamped with lettuce, had a cabbage up
as well Also had plenty of courgettes (click
here
for picture), but haven't tried one yet. Runner beans
have just started to crop.
Parsnips have been a disaster again. Only got 3
showing, and they're not even growing where I planted them!
Also had a good crop of
potatoes so far. This year, I've made more of an effort to try and sell my wares to work colleges.
Managed to recoup some of the money I used on seeds last year, so all in all,
it's going well.
Right, end of the year (actually 24th December as I do this). Only thing left growing now is some lettuce and a few leeks. All the potatoes have been dug up. A good year for all vegetables including -
Over 2 sacks of potatoes, swamped with courgettes, and plenty of runner beans, radish, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, carrots, beetroot, cucumbers. Also got a handful of cabbage and cauliflower. Didn't have much luck with the parsnips, turnips, or the Swedes (most of the Swedes went rotten, as did the turnips. Got a better variety to try next year). All in all, a successful year again, and we can't we until next year.
Also thought it would be a good idea to set up a page just so you can see how Aarons vegetables are doing. Click here for a link to the page.
Click here for some pictures of this years crop.