Update
for 2007.
Update
for 2007.
Here we are in early February. 2006 proved to be another good year, with only a
few problems (i.e. the parsnips, turnips, and Swedes), but you live and learn by
mistakes.
Taking some drastic action this year to ensure we've got good paths across the
plot. I've managed to acquire some gravel and wood, and as I write this (early
February), I'm in the process of laying down gravel paths. This is being done to
protect the soil, and stop my family and myself carting some much soil to the
car/back home all the time. Back to this year...
Seeds for this year are as follows -
Cauliflower - All The Year Round
Runner beans - Enorma variety (taken from last years crop)
Lettuce - Little Gem and Mixed
Parsnip - White King (short rooted type)
Beetroot - Pronto and Boltardy (small globes)
Radish - Scarlet Globe
Cucumber - Burpless F1 Tasty Green variety (tried and tested, that's why I stick with them)
Turnip - Snowball variety (trying yet again this year) and Purple Top Milan
Cabbage - Early Durham
Swede - Best Of All
Carrot - Red Intermediate, Paris Market Baron (globe type), Chantenay Royal (short rooted type), Autumn King and Health Master F1 Hybrid
Spring onion - White Lisbon
Melon - Unsure of the variety, used pips from one I bought.
Onion - White ones, can't remember the name
On the potato front we have -
Earlies - erm...can't actually remember. Bought them in late January, and stuck in the wardrobe to chit, but lost the wrapper, so I don't have a clue what they are! I can't even remember if they're reds or whites!!!
Maincrop - Same problem in that I can't remember. My Father-in-law bought them for me, back in February, and I've forgotten what type they are. Sure these are reds though.
Oh well, time will tell on the potato front, as to what type they are.....
EARLY ON...
As you can see, I'm trying a lot of short rooted vegetables this year, because I'm convinced my soil is still too full of clay to produce nice long rooted vegetables. I've also cut back on the amount of manure put on over winter, as this can cause many of the root vegetables to fang (click here for an explanation into fanging).
4/2/07 - Started work on the paths I've spoken about. Also had the families help with digging, and planting of the first earlies. Only problem is, it's turned very cold as I sit and type this, so I'm not sure if they're going o be okay or not. Got the heated propagator going already. Got about a dozen Cauliflower - All The Year Round variety on the go, and Aaron wanted to try some sunflowers (far be it for me to stop him), so he's got about 8 on the go.
Middle of April - The entire plot is almost full, with the
exception of the Runner Beans, and Aaron's sunflowers. Aaron's own area is also
full. Click here to view
his own section. Yet to get any tomato plants (hopefully do a trade with my mum
or sister in exchange for a couple of cucumber plants).
The early potato crop are now showing through well, and we've even noticed
the maincrop potatoes starting to show. It would appear this year may turn out
to be another good year.
LATER IN THE YEAR....
Early June, and already we're doing well. Had the first taster of our early potatoes about a week ago, and they where very nice. To improve matters more, they were WHITES, not reds. Lovely hot, with a knob of butter. Got lettuce growing everywhere (nothing new there really), and turnips that look to be the size of bowling balls, not golf balls. Click here for pictures. Got the cucumbers in a few weeks ago, and the runner beans went in at the end of May. Managed to get hold of some tomato plants, and they went in a while ago. Parsnip are a no-show again, even though I tried a different variety.
Strawberries (I know, they're not a vegetable, they're a fruit) have come on in abundance, and I can't eat them quick enough (costing me a fortune in fresh cream as well). See here for pictures. English strawberries as well, better than those Spanish things you buy from the supermarket. Shame they only fruit for a few months...
Late October, almost November now. Everything is now dug up (even the strawberry plants), and most of the ground is dug and covered over for winter. Only got the paths to finish, then that's it until next year. Got all my seeds on order, I'm starting with brand new seeds next year. Lets hope for a better, dryer year. See you in 2008.