Friday is fertilling day surely?

 

Well, I’ve finally fertilled – the potatoes that is – and you can see the results of my initial groping about in the allotment bed above.  Alongside 2 of the largest courgettes I’ve ever seen, which clearly are basic actual marrows, and my fav veggie so far, more beetroot.

I’ve harvested 2 potato plants so far; and I’m aiming to harvest the rest over the next dew weeks.  I’ve a question however for my more experienced readers.   I thought the seed potato – the one that was chitted and then planted – would end up withered and exhausted.  But as each of the potato plants I’ve harvested so far have had a brown potato along with the little gathering of pale, blond, new looking potatoes I’d like to ask – is this the original seed potato???

The beetroot have been great; so much so that while harvesting this little load I’ve also planted out some more seedlings, hoping for a further harvest before autumn really sets in.  The weather has been really hot, and really dry, so much so that the tomatoes have suffered – quite a few crisped off leaves despite a regular session with the watering can.

The other beds are looking good: beans and sweetcorn competing to fill up not only the bed, but the air-space above it.  The sweet-peas that I planted just because …. are adding a nice touch of colour at the end of bean alley, and the netting has proved very successful at keeping pigeons off the brassicas.  I’ve also planted out some swede seedlings, and another set of PSB / cauliflowers / Kale.  But the onions seem to be hiding ….  I think next year I need a dedicated allium bed.

Now – it’s finally raining – so I’m off to watch some tennis!  Here’s the cooked result of the marrow / courgatte tasting.

 

 

Getting my harvest head on…

Somewhere under the leaves are lots of courgettes!

Well, the heat of the last week has paid dividends; and I’m stuck into harvesting courgettes in good order.  I’ve gone for Tristar, so I’m getting pale green, yellow, and classic dark green fruits.  Seems an abundance of pale green at the mo, and as the experienced squash fans will know, if you leave them any time they grow from courgette to blimp, just as your back is turned. 

Also managed to start picking the rocket, so I’ve planted more to keep me fed this summer,  and the beetroots.  Roasted, with rocket (!) and some squishy goats cheese I think.  Everything is coming up big time.  Just to show you, here are two pictures: the kale etc 2 weeks ago:

And here they are yesterday. Amazing, and one of the reasons I’m really enjoying this.  

The tomatoes have made similar progress, so I’ve pinched out as many side shoots as I can find (love the smell of tomato plants, let alone the taste of tomatoes), and as recommended I’m trying to keep off the potatoes (now flowering), until the requisite 90 days have passed.  It’s worse than the 2 weeks wait!  

It’s voting day…

And last week was very busy catching up with old friends.  So, progress report:  

Brian the brassica bed is planted and looking good.  Two rows of Kale (one is Cavolo de Nero) which I’m looking forward to immensely, 1 row of cauliflower, 1 of Purple Sproating Broccoli, and a row of spring onions.  Lifted out of the seed trays, and popped in with plenty of water.  These have all been germinated in the mini greenhouse first.
 Frankly I’m beginning to think this is the best idea, because I am struggling to spot the seedlings amongst the weedlings in the asparagus bed (Charlie).  

Place your cross where you think the parsnip seedling is hiding!

Spot the carrot seedling!  I can see fat hen, clover, and groundsel, but no sign at all of the parsnips, and only a very limited glimpse of something that might be a carrot seedling or two.  So Mick got a thorough weeding.  

Weather has been only sort of kind, wet and warm, but extremely windy.  Good job the sweet corn is not that tall yet, and the bean support has survived thankfully.  

Tasks for what is left of this week are to pop some more lettuce and rocket to infill Charlie the asparagus bed, start some more brassicas off, to follow the first batch, and to plant the butter nut squash seedling that are looking pretty healthy.  Any views anyone on how soon I should be. Taking a look under the spuds for signs of tubers?  They look promising; should I be waiting for flowers?  

Spuddy Tuesday….

I can’t name all my blog posts after non relevant Stones numbers, but I’m sure more dreadful puns will come.  

So, summer seems finally to have arrived, taken off it’s coat, and started a good long natter.  May trees are out in bloom and clouts have been cast all over the place.  I’m gardening in a skirt for starters.  

Quick inspection of the plot reveals that:

• the potatoes appear to be thriving, so more earthing up (mounding up around the plants) has been done;
• runner and French beans look good;
• 2 of the weaker sweet corn seedlings have bought it;
• using a nice felt tip on plastic labels isn’t practical.  I can’t read the labels on the rows of parsnips and carrots planted a week or so ago.  Fortunately I have pictures, so I can recreate (almost) the correct labelling for the root veg.  

As you can see I’ve splashed out and bought a growbag for the cherry tomatoes.  

These are in and looking good, hopefully 4 weeks in the mini greenhouse (a tiny plastic one!) will have got them off to a good start.  

The beans look pretty perky, a nice row, some pods already on the broad beans to replace the very early one I munched last week.   

The string support for asparagus is working, although the lines are not all strictly speaking parallel.  
I’ve fitted the proper tap to the  water butt; now I can store water rather than relying on help with a hose every now and then, and I’ve sourced a compost bin.  Not generated enough dead plant matter yet to warrant it, but it’s only a matter of time.  
And the brassica seedlings are coming up a treat.  Useful as I’ve finally laid bird protection over Brian (the blond hair now sadly obscured with green horticultural netting) as I’m going to pop them in on Monday.  I must also get the salad leaves in, no point considering them as an infill crop if I never get them into the ground.  

Enjoy the sun!