salad
planting for the winter
I’m trying to make sure that we have
vegetables this winter and so I’ve been planting up swiss chard
(Fordhook Giant), lettuce (winter crop) and spinach (giant winter).
I’ve also planted a row of mixed salads, including rocket.
We’ve just eaten the last of the broad beans, I’ll definitely sow some more late this autumn for next year.
This year July is wet but sunny and hot when not raining.
We’ve just eaten the last of the broad beans, I’ll definitely sow some more late this autumn for next year.
This year July is wet but sunny and hot when not raining.
|
digging and planting
It has been very mild with little
rain. This meant that digging chicken waste into the new potato
plot was hot work. That bed is now ready and I thought about
planting some potatoes in it, but decided against it because
they’re predicting frosts next week. Instead I planted 3 ‘Swift’
potatoes into a bucket in the greenhouse so that I can have some
early potatoes. I also tidied up the small bed and covered it with
netting to keep the cats out. Last year’s spinach is growing nicely
and looked better for a bit of a tidy up.
I did plant some spinach (‘American Giant’) in the bed outside. The propagator got more pepper (‘Sweet Romano’), lettuce (‘Blonde Maraicheri’) and dwarf french bean (‘The Prince’). I moved out the carrots (‘Paris Market’) because nothing seemed to be happening with them and I want to get as much of a throughput as I can through the propagator.
I also bought another gooseberry plant to go with the other one behind the greenhouse. I picked a red one (‘Hinnomaki Red’) which had a lot of shoots showing.
I did plant some spinach (‘American Giant’) in the bed outside. The propagator got more pepper (‘Sweet Romano’), lettuce (‘Blonde Maraicheri’) and dwarf french bean (‘The Prince’). I moved out the carrots (‘Paris Market’) because nothing seemed to be happening with them and I want to get as much of a throughput as I can through the propagator.
I also bought another gooseberry plant to go with the other one behind the greenhouse. I picked a red one (‘Hinnomaki Red’) which had a lot of shoots showing.
digging the new bed
More planting. I’m trying to grow a great variety this year (so, four types of tomato, for example). I also got cracking and dug the new bed. And, yes, it is on a slope (from left to right). I’ve ended up terracing the vegetable plot bit by bit. I put a lot of the turf to the right of the new bed, that used to be a semicircular bed. I’m planning to put potatoes in it (they’re chitting nicely in the greenhouse). I’m pretty confident my back’s going to ache tomorrow.
The tip for the propagator that I read was that once 75% of the seeds are up, take them out. Last year I managed to nearly destroy several plants on sunny days. They also go pretty leggy if left in. The seedlings (as you can see) are fine in the greenhouse, it’s got a heater that prevents it going below about 5C. This weekend the outside temperature has been about 7C, pretty warm.
Yesterday and today, I planted tomatoes (‘Moneymaker’), more Primo cabbages (the first lot have come up and I’ve taken them out of the propagator). I moved last week’s cauliflowers into the propagator and the seeds were sprouting within a day - shows the power of the propagator. I’ve sown some more ‘ring of fire’ chilies and some sunflower seeds (I’m determined to grow some this year, they’re lovely even if they’re not edible). I planted up some more carrots (‘Paris Market’). The first lot (‘Nantes 2’) are in the toilet rolls on the right of the picture - hopefully they’ll not mind growing there until they’re planted out. So far, no sign of the leeks, but I’ve put these into the propagator, so maybe something soon. The beetroot ‘Detroit 2’ are all up, so I’ve taken them out of the propagator (strangely, not much sign of the ‘Boltardy’.
All of the seedlings that are now out of the propagator are doing well - I just have to keep them watered, but not too damp and wait for the right weather to plant them out.
I sowed some lettuce (‘Blonde Maraicheri’) into the cold frame. The mixed lettuce that I sowed earlier is coming up (but no sign of anything else, still, it is an experiment).
sowing after snowing
The snow has almost gone now and the
weather is warming up. This year I want to grow as much from seed
as I can so I want to treat the propagator as a bit of a conveyer
belt, getting stuff out of it and new seed in as fast as I can.
Somewhere I read that when 75% of your seeds have germinated, take
the containers out.
Tomatoes
I’ve taken most of the tomatoes out of the propagator. Both types, Alicante and Gardener’s Delight have sprouted. I sowed a batch of the ‘Garden Pearl’ (which I got from a magazine) into pots (three to a pot) and put those into the propagator. You can grow these in pots or in hanging baskets.
Carrots
I’ve taken the ‘Nante’s 2’ from the propagator as pretty much all of them have come up. I planted these in toilet rolls and, when the weather is warm enough, I plan to put them into the ground as is. I need to sow some more, but the propagator is now full.
Leeks and Beetroot
These have gone into the propagator.
Radish
I’ve sown ‘French Breakfast’ in the cold frame (where mixed salad leaves are starting to sprout. No sign of the carrots in the cold frame yet, but there has been a lot of snow and freezing temperatures.
Cabbage and Cauliflower
Despite last year’s doing really badly (the cauliflowers came late and rotted, caterpillars decimated the cabbage, only Savoy cabbages are left) I bought some more seeds and sowed them today. Cabbages were ‘Primo’ which are apparently ideal for small gardens and the cauliflowers are ‘All Year Round’ (Britain’s most popular). I want summer ones, these grow quickly and you can eat them in June / July. These will be grown under netting!
Tomato ‘Garden Pearl’
An outdoor tomato with big crops of very tasty sweet cherry tomatoes with pink-red fruit. It s (determinate) bush habit makes it ideal for pots tubs window boxes or borders.
Radish ‘French Breakfast’
Elongated, rosy scarlet with a white tip. The crunchy flesh has a pleasant flavour.
Tomatoes
I’ve taken most of the tomatoes out of the propagator. Both types, Alicante and Gardener’s Delight have sprouted. I sowed a batch of the ‘Garden Pearl’ (which I got from a magazine) into pots (three to a pot) and put those into the propagator. You can grow these in pots or in hanging baskets.
Carrots
I’ve taken the ‘Nante’s 2’ from the propagator as pretty much all of them have come up. I planted these in toilet rolls and, when the weather is warm enough, I plan to put them into the ground as is. I need to sow some more, but the propagator is now full.
Leeks and Beetroot
These have gone into the propagator.
Radish
I’ve sown ‘French Breakfast’ in the cold frame (where mixed salad leaves are starting to sprout. No sign of the carrots in the cold frame yet, but there has been a lot of snow and freezing temperatures.
Cabbage and Cauliflower
Despite last year’s doing really badly (the cauliflowers came late and rotted, caterpillars decimated the cabbage, only Savoy cabbages are left) I bought some more seeds and sowed them today. Cabbages were ‘Primo’ which are apparently ideal for small gardens and the cauliflowers are ‘All Year Round’ (Britain’s most popular). I want summer ones, these grow quickly and you can eat them in June / July. These will be grown under netting!
Tomato ‘Garden Pearl’
An outdoor tomato with big crops of very tasty sweet cherry tomatoes with pink-red fruit. It s (determinate) bush habit makes it ideal for pots tubs window boxes or borders.
Radish ‘French Breakfast’
Elongated, rosy scarlet with a white tip. The crunchy flesh has a pleasant flavour.
first seeds sown
I heard about sowing carrots and
lettuce early under a cold frame from the Alternative Kitchen
Garden blog (akg).
Apparently, you can eat them by the end of March. Worth a try, so
I’ve sited my new cold frame on the south wall of the garage (where
I’ve grown tomatoes for the last two years). The carrots came with
the Grow Your Own magazine.
I’ve also sown carrots, chili pepper and tomatoes in the propagator. Good old Gardener’s Delight which was really good last year. The other type were ‘Alicante’. The peppers are ‘Ring of Fire’ (wonder what that means?).
Carrot ‘Paris Market’
One of the best all rounders, as the sphericall ‘baby’ carrots are unlikely to grow more than an inch in length.
Tomatoes Alicante
Cordon (Indeterminate). Ideal variety for beginners. A superior variety possessing all the things we look for in a tomato. Alicante produces a heavy crop of greenback free fruit early in the season and the flavour is excellent.
Chili Pepper Ring of Fire (Heat Level 6)
Cayenne type chilli this is ideal for drying and grinding into powder. 4 inch long thin chillies, red when ripe after 80 days. Very abundant 2 foot plants form a perfect shape. (Capsicum annuum)
The carrots were Nantes 2. I’ve grown these for a couple of years and they grow really well and cook well too.
I’ve also sown carrots, chili pepper and tomatoes in the propagator. Good old Gardener’s Delight which was really good last year. The other type were ‘Alicante’. The peppers are ‘Ring of Fire’ (wonder what that means?).
Carrot ‘Paris Market’
One of the best all rounders, as the sphericall ‘baby’ carrots are unlikely to grow more than an inch in length.
Tomatoes Alicante
Cordon (Indeterminate). Ideal variety for beginners. A superior variety possessing all the things we look for in a tomato. Alicante produces a heavy crop of greenback free fruit early in the season and the flavour is excellent.
Chili Pepper Ring of Fire (Heat Level 6)
Cayenne type chilli this is ideal for drying and grinding into powder. 4 inch long thin chillies, red when ripe after 80 days. Very abundant 2 foot plants form a perfect shape. (Capsicum annuum)
The carrots were Nantes 2. I’ve grown these for a couple of years and they grow really well and cook well too.
salad days
04/05/08 08:31 Categaoriesradish
sowing more seeds (successional planting)
I have spent weeks meaning to create a
planting diary showing me when to plant successional plants. This
weekend I failed (again) and decided to sow some new seeds of stuff
that I want anyway but ran out of time. So, tonight as Gill made
supper, I went out and pottered in the greenhouse. The result was a
row each of green beans (Sonesta), rocket (Suffolk Herbs salad
rocket), beetroot (Detroit 2), parsnip and broad bean.
Having lost a lot of green beans, I first put the soil in, damped it off, planted the seeds and then sprinkled a thin layer of soil over the top. The tray is under a lid in the greenhouse, but not in the propagator. I'll see how it goes.
Having lost a lot of green beans, I first put the soil in, damped it off, planted the seeds and then sprinkled a thin layer of soil over the top. The tray is under a lid in the greenhouse, but not in the propagator. I'll see how it goes.
greenhouse raised seeds doing well (mostly)
20/04/08 17:42 Categaoriestomatoes | green
beans
These are my dwarf green beans. They're coming along but I have a high failure rate. The problem seems to be that I'm waterlogging them and they end up rotting. Still these are being hardened off ready to go out next weekend.
The tomatoes are looking good too. Again, I'm hardening these off. The tallest one is Red Pear, the rest are Gardener's Delight.
These poor souls are also Red Pear. I nearly killed them by leaving them in the propagator one hot, sunny afternoon. Most of their leaves turned brown and died. I've nursed these back to health, but they're way behind the others.
tomatoes looking good
12/04/08 16:33 Categaoriestomatoes
captain's log, supplemental
Lots of gardening jobs today:
Built cane supports for the peas (which are now starting to come through)
Planted first early potatoes ("Rocket")
Planted "slenderette" dwarf green beans
potted up Gardener's Delight tomatoes (next stop outside in the garden at the end of April)
Planted more Rocquencourt (here's hoping)
Added more basil, only one plant came up.
Planted chilli pepper ("Anaheim"), these came free with Gardener's World
Outside
Planted spinach seeds in the small bed.Built cane supports for the peas (which are now starting to come through)
Planted first early potatoes ("Rocket")
greenhouse
Planted "slenderette" dwarf green beans
potted up Gardener's Delight tomatoes (next stop outside in the garden at the end of April)
propagator
Planted more Rocquencourt (here's hoping)
Added more basil, only one plant came up.
Planted chilli pepper ("Anaheim"), these came free with Gardener's World
rocket still climbing
21/03/08 20:42 Categaoriesrocket
propagator
21/03/08 20:26 Categaoriestomatoes | green
beans
spring onions
08/03/08 19:31 Categaoriesonion
sowing more tomato seeds
08/03/08 19:26 Categaoriestomatoes
heated propagator working
01/03/08 13:53 Categaoriestomatoes
rocket sprouting
22/02/08 16:38 Categaoriesrocket
heated propagator
22/02/08 16:35 Categaoriestomatoes | green
beans
lift off: rocket starting to sprout
10/02/08 19:03 Categaoriesrocket
dwarf green beans and rocket
03/02/08 15:54 Categaoriesgreen
beans | rocket
sowing my tomato seeds
26/01/08 15:41 Categaoriestomatoes
In an act of optimism, I've planted out some tomato seeds
(Gardener's Delight and Red Pear ("the gourmet salad workhorse of
the tomato world")). Hopefully the heated greenhouse will keep them
free from frost and I'll be able to plant them early in spring.
Apparently they should take 8 weeks from sowing to being able to be
planted out. I just checked and it showed twice last year, 24th
January and 9th Februray. Today, by contrast it's 11º C! I also dug
some compost into the bed where I'll be putting them. The same as
last year - a south facing plot behind the garage. I think that the
wall helps shelter them and keep them nice and warm.