The Veg Plot.

[garynortheast]

Fed up with fighting mud and rain, and doing no more than dashing out to the greenhouse to sow a few more bits.

Did manage to prepare most of a bed and get three rows of beetroot in yesterday afternoon. Also had the first few leaves from my cut and come again lettuce.

Got so much stuff to plant out now, the greenhouse is chokker and so is the paved area around it with stuff hardening off.

[garynortheast]

Just snatched a half hour lull in the rain to nip out and start digging the weeds and grass out of the plot earmarked for sweetcorn. Bloody hard going as the ground is too wet to allow me to stand on the bed without compacting it to the hardness of concrete.

Now back indoors again as it's peeing with rain once more. :-(

[Seeker]

I like poppies so at the end of each season I collect several seed pods, gather the seeds and sprinkle them over the ground next season (and cover them with soil) -result: no poppies. Meanwhile on my stonebond driveway (small pebbles epoxied in position) I have poppies attempting to grow despite the lack of soil.
I'd read that poppies like disturbed soil (hence the poppy fields after WW1), so I tried turning the soil over - nope, no poppies. Maybe I need some explosives?

I made the mistake of trying to grow wild flowers 3 years ago and now have to admit I have totally lost control of the garden and the lawn. I have all sorts of weird looking sh*t popping up which was not on the seed label. I suspect that gardening is not my forté.

Finally: foxglove. Watch out they said, they'll spread everywhere they said, they'll take over the garden. Not with my paraquat fingers they won't - haven't seem them for 2 years.

[redtrummy]

The fun of gardening! Been away in the van for a few days, would have been a few days more but we waved the white flag, came home, only to find the slugs have had a field day, despite my best efforts with the slug traps, and the cold has persuaded the courgette plants to give up the ghost. (Funnily enough the marrow plants look fine. )

[Seeker]

Does anyone have any idea what these are? I had a couple last year but many more this year. They're 3-4ft tall, dark red/purple stem, dark green leaf. I can't remember what the flowers look like.

[garynortheast]

There’s a phone app called Snap which will identify plants for you based on the leaves or the flowers.

I think it may be purple toadflax, Linarea Purpurea. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/purple-toadflax

[Seeker]

There’s a phone app called Snap which will identify plants for toy based on the leaves or the flowers.

I think it may be purple toadflax, Linarea Purpurea. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/purple-toadflax

Thanks. :) I don't have a smart phone so can't get the app - although I looked for it to see if it would run on a pc.

Purple toadflax (who names these things?) looks similar although the stems on mine are more red/purple but maybe that's because it hasn't flowered yet.

I'm fighting/losing an endless battle with cleavers (Galium aparine) this year bigger and more prolific than any prior year.

[shiftin_gear98]

Seeker,

I don't use faceache much, but I did join a gardening group on there, Gardeners world - people are always posting plants pictures to get identified.
If you have faceache then it'd be a simple way to find out what your plant is.

[Seeker]

Seeker,

I don't use faceache much, but I did join a gardening group on there, Gardeners world - people are always posting plants pictures to get identified.
If you have faceache then it'd be a simple way to find out what your plant is.

thanks, but now I'm going to sound like a technophobe - I don't have facebook or any other social media. I think the problem lies with the word "social" as in; I'm not! :(

[shiftin_gear98]

Me neither, I have 1 friend on faceache and that's my missus.
I only got it as I needed it for a running event a couple of years ago, I can't remember why that was though.
I never post anything on there, in fact I thought I'd simply put your picture on their and ask for you.
However I have just realised I don't even know how to!

[shiftin_gear98]

Just figured it out. I have posted your picture.

[shiftin_gear98]

Seeker, Gary would be correct - according to faceache - Linaria/Toadflax.
And apparently bees love it.

[Seeker]

Seeker, Gary would be correct - according to faceache - Linaria/Toadflax.
And apparently bees love it.

Excellent. The reason I first sowed wild flower seeds a couple of years ago and keep trying to get poppies to grow is to attract bees. I have a lavender bush which they like and I planted a hawthorn tree which is just blooming, so my bee cafe is open.

[garynortheast]

I have to confess, from a gardening point of view I was pleased to see that rain this afternoon!

[dizzyblonde]

Years ago I had an allotment. It's a lot of hard work.
Now I just have my garden with my iris' and lavender, a few clematis and a Jasmine that takes over everything.

Oh, and a greenhouse with a Lemon tree, yet to produce, an orange tree, that's full of flowers and produced three fruit last year. I've a new addition from a fellow orger this year. A fig tree called Figlet!

[garynortheast]

Just recently lost my large veg garden of 25 years Diz, for various reasons. I'm now on a friends 7 acre small holding with lots of veg space and for the first time, a greenhouse!

[dizzyblonde]

7 acres is a lot of work :smt107

[garynortheast]

Much of it is down to trees and wildflowers, but there is as much veg growing space as we all need.

[dizzyblonde]

Technically speaking, we(The royal Pegasus we) own around six acres out in Cyprus that's prime growing land.
Unfortunately, for political reasons we can't use any of it. It's quite astounding how vast that is when I got him to stand in one of his fields a couple of years ago.
We do own one that has its own wall and barbed wire around it. Standing next to that is like standing in our street and saying 'i own this' :shaking:

[garynortheast]

Busy afternoon. Cut back the paths between the raised beds below the greenhouse, and then hoed the whole middle bed.
Then planted 4 rows of Kelvedon Wonder peas, 1½ rows of peas previously germinated in toilet roll tubes, and 2½ rows of peas straight into the ground. I'll plant a few more rows of them in a couple of weeks time, so I get a succession of them.

I was going to plant a few rows of mangetout peas as well but it's started raining so I'll have some dinner now and see if it's going to stop later.

Had dinner then nipped out between showers to put another four rows of peas in, except it started raining again while I was doing it. I'm a bit wet now!

[redtrummy]

Peaing it down was it?

[garynortheast]

Peaing it down was it?

Erm, it had bean earlier. :)

[garynortheast]

Just found this beautiful critter on my lettuce in the greenhouse. It's a Scarlet Tiger Moth. Quite stunning!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51232006601_ff567e7d93_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2m4cqED)
Scarlet Tiger Moth Callimorpha Dominula (https://flic.kr/p/2m4cqED) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

[Sir Trev]

Amazing colours.

[Dave20046]

Sorry, this isn't really the place - but what's the score with cordless lawnmowers? I've been borrowing a lawnmower until I'm on my feet but it rreally is a pain in the urse , looking at reviews of both cheap lawnmowers and expensive ones it says the batteries last 15-30 minutes :smt011 When you start adding extra batteries to swap (pain in itself) it gets really expensive.
Anyone got any experience? It would pain me a bit to buy a petrol one in 2021

[thedrewski86]

Sorry, this isn't really the place - but what's the score with cordless lawnmowers? I've been borrowing a lawnmower until I'm on my feet but it rreally is a pain in the urse , looking at reviews of both cheap lawnmowers and expensive ones it says the batteries last 15-30 minutes :smt011 When you start adding extra batteries to swap (pain in itself) it gets really expensive.
Anyone got any experience? It would pain me a bit to buy a petrol one in 2021

When I had grass, it was only a 1/10 of an acre. Not much but it's what the land developers thought was appropriate for southside city-dwellers just outside of Chicago back in the early 1900s. I had a gas mower for a while and wound up giving it to a neighbor. I picked up a little 20" wide reel mower for under $100 and could never find any fault with it other than it didn't care to cut weeds. The grass was easy though, and it was maintenance-free.
I have a water-conserving yard now and gave the reel mower to a neighbor down the street who has a pretty sizable front yard. She mows it in the same time she did with the gas mower, it just doesn't cost her anything and she doesn't need the carb blown out every time.
Americans think it's all hippie-nonsense but for the life of me I can't see a drawback. The only work I've ever done to it has been a shot of WD40 before I gave it away. Worked to knock a little surface rust off the blades, now it's back to normal.

[redtrummy]

Friend has one (large lawn) and likes it. Have a look at the reviews on Screwfix re the ones they sell. Had a quick look and one reviewer mentions 45 min run time.
When the time comes will probably go battery myself, the risk I suppose is re the battery - If it fails usually very expensive.

[Sir Trev]

A good brand should.d be reliable. I have three Stihl cordless tools and if my petrol Hayter lawn mower ever gives up I'll be looking at the battery options from Stihl. Will be getting a scarifier and blower (the latter partly for drying the bike) at some point soon too as I have invested in the battery and charger.

[Dave20046]

Cheers all. Reviews I've seen say a 4ah battery tops out at about 30 minutes. Two of those will be about £120 and if it degrades over time I might need a third! But perhaps it's down to the manufacturer quality.

45 mins run time might do me if so . It probably takes about an hour at the minute but a lot of that time is messing around with cables. TBH I wanted a cheapo to see me through until I can afford to fork out on a robot one - I think if I'm spendin £250 - I may as well spend £400 and save on labour!

[Bibio]

i have a robot grass and hedge cutter.. its called my neighbour :-)

[Dave20046]

i have a robot grass and hedge cutter.. its called my neighbour :-)

Ya sweet talking ****e ya. How'd you arrange that?!

[Bibio]

Ya sweet talking ****e ya. How'd you arrange that?!

in my little part of the street we all get along with each other. my next door neighbour asked if he could do it many years ago and he has kept doing it ever since, i have said that he does not need to but he does. this same person also cuts a few of the other peoples hedges and the bowling green grass, hedges and maintains things there as well.

i spray the weeds twice a year and put the buckets out every week. one of the other neighbours brings the buckets back in.

[Dave20046]

in my little part of the street we all get along with each other. my next door neighbour asked if he could do it many years ago and he has kept doing it ever since, i have said that he does not need to but he does. this same person also cuts a few of the other peoples hedges and the bowling green grass, hedges and maintains things there as well.

i spray the weeds twice a year and put the buckets out every week. one of the other neighbours brings the buckets back in.
What a street :flower: That's how it should be really!

[redtrummy]

Just an update re my no dig bed. Its been very successful up to now. The lettuce are the best in the garden. I left a couple of shallots in the no dig the rest planted in the existing garden. They look just as good as each other. The beetroot in NDB are looking really good, soon be ready for harvesting.
On the main plot, where appropriate I now compost then put cardboard down and plant through the card.
Cuts down on weeding which I detest.

[garynortheast]

Just an update re my no dig bed. Its been very successful up to now. The lettuce are the best in the garden. I left a couple of shallots in the no dig the rest planted in the existing garden. They look just as good as each other. The beetroot in NDB are looking really good, soon be ready for harvesting.
On the main plot, where appropriate I now compost then put cardboard down and plant through the card.
Cuts down on weeding which I detest.

Pleased to see the no dig approach paying dividends, good for you for sticking with it.

The weeding is something I don't mind, especially if it's hoeing. I find it quite relaxing really.

We've done quite a bit of planting through cardboard here on these beds I'm working with at the new place. Where possible I've added a layer of mixed soil and horse manure and planted through that. There wasn't enough compost ready here to build up the beds to a no dig level this year, but I've made composting as much material as possible a priority now ready for next year.

There is a very large veg growing area here spread over 12 beds, all of varying sizes. Some of the smaller beds I mulched with a thick layer of horse manure as soon as I started working them, so next year they may be ready for the no-dig approach. The rest may take a couple of years to build up.

[garynortheast]

Two more of the Scarlet Tiger Moths have turned up on the veg plot here. They're a male and a female and they are mating, so we may see more of them next year.

They're not supposed to be found this far north in Wales but a number of people in the area have seen them over the last few weeks. I suspect it's something to do with the changing climate and resulting weather.

[thedrewski86]

I'll play, just because my soil is a bit different from what most are dealing with. I have only had luck here with my date palm, queen palms and various succulents, although our young pomegranate tree seems to be doing well. Here's my latest attempt: nopales catcus. Now let's see if I can figure out how to link from Google photos...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PNk2crwjbgTaLO_0O6lUUK8ocO_CHWUHxxmD_mpnJRkvCicUAe pgNrY7F8vnTSxP6BQG1RgXeTnHSFRLEJsvRkWJa0cvphohcLxt yMsbQ0BM4C9CEPUPxNSsSYo-2E0pCcV0JCSzClEatQbcSZNHsjSP7NLcJyYxZhgEXXWTUJhefe 6ETgDJJaO10619f59nHwM7SBKAMf91lZtysuoidAQAoHBlrn10 VAbx8DzCxqquKeMFvn04QSVYWevjQ3sTOTcfJHlxPQ52F06K0S 0TKjA99mdCay1AINNcpFK_0KALNXjGb5TqV8E76CkRo04AwFxG bpxCm6RRD2GyaMunbmtB-1aSmLfimyhMdq5V8jf5Q-4H_Yo3Z7JpC64nDWhsb7k4r8kXyV8__WYb6Pp6zZeGhBtf7ebo leueXUCA22G-NyGufdq4Gfolwq5BczVjowxmAKRIMcLMlnEr_NXO5LUKLq_b6W H8M_9dp0hIn8Mp3QdMBeNy3aAgZpMd2JlnZsqM6mNmuJkW4oRq fTW75Gpv8TyGaCriaxa311XaQ_PyYjreeafp3YvixiS9s9XsHO 1JJzDrZc-NUwXZwt9tgfS4z1oQKfvf_FRXfWHl91dtns8id8pzbm67TWqMG fy3cHG8I_nVPc_Xerweu82PYvulNyVtgk-naQOh2uo6PS8ktcxQ0ID-e2lbjXNYU1M-ouBmu6zorBFkfukJbWdvVlg=w528-h937-no?authuser=0

The flagging is to keep my dog from marking them. He likes to "claim" anything that decides to protrude in the yard; he's a very discerning mutt.

[thedrewski86]

Actually, I had good luck with the roses this past Spring too. They've gotten less enthusiastic what with the 110-degree heat this Summer, but the plants are still healthy.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rV0NH5e9Nio13tlgNpJQLGmfFrzPTASCss2Y8NYQ1CIA4K1LWs RFVy862SptlSRQM-3thcD03jDFv43G1fNFOylgRH4I8VjO_OE0ln1TO40iEWDZ79wG MiyjCWPqmvE0_YyoJwXEMFR9liTreEfk_15rr4_n7g02sdVPSN 8FJQ_UAzJzZ5hCsaBuVsbVUETJUm8Z0W3lopIVvMgS_zBU3RDI KaLIx0eOOkenExkZc2YHv4jQWZ2Cl_ABk0DW2zznB0CZ0ywz6h fHU3HnYfKT2KWK6GbRXiexb2dxQ3xonkvATycBgYVs5o8ROs8K flxriGl3LJdNGmc0FX_MCDmB4bf18sbtRKLVDkeKTkjihnCBDs IvehBcqYT8Rou7plJ53LBsfvX6LTAO61tC5YWOzw4CCl7g0OtQ MfLeuwjw_AGvGEK5V_6hZH2-Yal65_oRRhLFHs0Nx-MQWQdKGE-RAT__KC_HuLmJJ5itZgx1TsZSL_WMM0uuyTiE0RpsuIrZ8hjLc i1m6kxr-Ba8JnnA7lGeMwFtJE14BY67824YRTDc-T4R6svXxsIOVock0-Lo-o6x57tPSb3FxOX6i0_QwX_CSdqX5AMjngb75gMqZoy7vcABA5C pfKD5oDhnPCsDHZ1nnMKPZqq9LR9iZEL92ui6zCxtZ9xVwgtTZ o1QWiVWl5cxlpIk1Cc6r9zkLi8FQueM0_fhMxKBok_PQCZ6T2U =w528-h937-no?authuser=0

[shiftin_gear98]

You might need to try reposting those pics, as none are showing when I look at it.

[garynortheast]

Nope, can't see the pictures I'm afraid Drewski.

[thedrewski86]

Huh, my photo skills are lacking on this forum. They show up for me but that could be a Google Photos issue.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gN8FQCkJ32sA64C79

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qoXwHdMjuuawh6Dx8

[shiftin_gear98]

I believe you need to use something like Flickr. And then post a BB code on here.
I've never tried direct from Google.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51284613723_0f9fdd4b07.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2m8R3VZ)2021-07-02_07-45-15 (https://flic.kr/p/2m8R3VZ) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr

[shiftin_gear98]

On topic.

Loads of strawberries in my garden at the moment. Almost too many.

[Seeker]

I'm growing a thistle. I didn't intend to grow one but it appeared next to my shed so I became curious as to how big it would grow. It's currently just over 3 feet with multiple flower heads (not yet in flower).

Each autumn I gather poppy seed heads and then sprinkle the seeds (hundreds, maybe thousands) where I'd like poppies to grow the following year, apparently they're not enthusiastic on this idea and refuse to show. I have a "stonebond" driveway which is little pebbles set in epoxy - this is where some of the poppies have decided will be perfect to grow despite the absence of soil. :rolleyes:

[Adam Ef]

We have some Greek Oregano doing the same thing in a patch of dry pebbles in our garden. It found it's way there from a plane pot 10 feet away.

[garynortheast]

Today I have mostly been digging mint out of a bed! Never, ever plant mint in anything other than a container!

[Adam Ef]

You'll never get rid of it Gary. It will be back before long.

[garynortheast]

This is serious digging Adam, every last bit of the root is coming out. It's only a small bed, about 3yds x 3yds. I've been on it most of the day and I'm only just halfway across.

[Sir Trev]

Tarragon is almost as bad, plus it's a fast growing thug that pushes everything else out of the light. Took me three years of relentless digging and weeding to finally stop it coming back. Good luck on your quest Gary.

[Adam Ef]

This is serious digging Adam, every last bit of the root is coming out. It's only a small bed, about 3yds x 3yds. I've been on it most of the day and I'm only just halfway across.


I did that with Bluebells in our old house. They were back fairly soon just from the tiniest invisible amounts of root. We ended up having to dig all the soil out of the borders and replace it.

[Seeker]

My 4 ft tall thistle is now flowering and the bees have found it. It's fascinating to watch them dig in. I also discovered that a miscellaneous plant that appeared this year, at the front, is a common ragwort which is slightly poisonous but since I don't graze any horses, I should be ok :) Most of the colour in my front and back gardens (they're both small) has not been from anything I've done, birds/foxes/wind? I consider it serendipity gardening.

I thought I'd dug out my one potato plant but apparently not, so I've harvested a few spuds too, another fortunate accident. :D

[redtrummy]

Got a bumble bees nest in my garage next to the work bench - its a bit disconcerting trying to do a job with buzzing in the left and right ear at the same time! One interesting snippet is they fly in and out by the same route e.g the keyhole on the side door! Trouble was they arrived back from collecting pollen and were then too fat to get back in. The door slides so there is an inch gap they can get through without any trouble. I have now fitted a cover over the keyhole.
I would strongly recommend not letting the ragwort go to seed its a devil to get rid of once its established without resorting to chemicals. If you get the Cinnabar moths caterpillars to colonise your ragwort its quite spectacularly coloured, yellow/black like a wasp (to warn predators that its concentrated the ragwort's poison in its body.)
Years ago my cousin ended up seeing the Doc after an extensive strimming session on his small holding cutting Ragwort

I do like your gardening style!

[garynortheast]

it seems that everything on the veg plot has suddenly got going! Over the last couple of days I've been picking peas, runner beans, french beans, broad beans, cucumbers, courgettes, chard, and beetroot. I also ate some of the ripe boysenberries on the new, small vine in a pot on the yard. Very tasty!

[svenrico]

Decent few raspberries, but my neighbour pointed out my apple tree has fluffy aphids which will kill the tree if not treated. Can anybody recommend a good treatment ?

[garynortheast]

Decent few raspberries, but my neighbour pointed out my apple tree has fluffy aphids which will kill the tree if not treated. Can anybody recommend a good treatment ?

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=724

[Seeker]

Two facts that I didn't know were connected.

1) We had hundreds of gulls circling this afternoon
2) Ants were swarming again.

Gulls, apparently, like to eat flying ants (I googled it).

[garynortheast]

There we go then, nature balancing itself.

[redtrummy]

I had woolly aphid on a cooking apple tree a few years ago for a couple of years. I seem to remember using a blow torch over the affected areas. It then just disappeared. It seemed to get established on scars where I had cut branches off. Gave it a scrub then used bitumen paint to seal the scars.
Some advice on here
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=724

[svenrico]

Thanks for the replies. Range of pesticides is confusing, don't want to do anything that harms bees though .

[svenrico]

I had woolly aphid on a cooking apple tree a few years ago for a couple of years. I seem to remember using a blow torch over the affected areas. It then just disappeared. It seemed to get established on scars where I had cut branches off. Gave it a scrub then used bitumen paint to seal the scars.
Some advice on here
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=724
I like the blow torch idea, I could use my gas flamed weed killer.

[Sir Trev]

In a break in the rain this evening after work I lifted my main crop spuds. Quite a nice crop so happy days.

[garynortheast]

In a break in the rain this evening after work I lifted my main crop spuds. Quite a nice crop so happy days.

All the spuds here went in quite late so are 2nd earlies are just coming ready to lift now.

No scab or wireworm damage I hope Trev?

We're now eating masses of stuff from the veg plot; runner, french, and broad beans, maincrop peas and sugar snaps, beetroot, swiss chard, spring onions, lettuce, courgettes. Tomatoes are ripening, celery is coming along nicely.

All the hard work is paying off now.

[Sir Trev]

My order from Suttons cocked up so I only ended up with a small bag of Desiree this year instead of them and earlies. Got them in three months ago and they've just finished flowering so just right for lifting. I've found to my cost in previous years that hoping they'd get bigger by leaving them in the ground longer means a lot of skin and worm issues but these look fine. I'll let them dry for a day or two in the trug in the dark of the shed then bag them in a paper sack.

My lettuce are all done now (they bolt so fast in the summer so I only do them for spring eating), carrots are ok but "ugly" due to my stony soil, beetroot are doing/eating very well this year, had several meals from the runner beans with lots of flowers still on them, onions are bulking up well, the pumpkins have gone mad with some of the runners over ten feet long now with some of the fruit the size of small footballs already, and I've never had such a good growth of parsnips - we'll be eating those for months later in the year! Toms are not quite ready yet so I've lost my annual race with dad as he's been eating his now for a couple of weeks.

[garynortheast]

Carrots this year I planted in two full sized enamel baths filled with a 60/40 mix of soil and builders sand. Growing them in the baths has meant no carrot fly as they are too high up for the fly to reach. The sieved soil/sand mix has resulted in lovely long tapering carrots with no misshapes. I'm pulling baby carrots as thinnings now and they are beautifully sweet and crunchy.

[Sir Trev]

I can just imagine the looks I'd get from the neighbours if I started bringing old baths home from skip raids and growing things in them :)

[garynortheast]

I can just imagine the looks I'd get from the neighbours if I started bringing old baths home from skip raids and growing things in them :)

Ha ha! That would probably be one of the incentives for me!

[redtrummy]

I find Arran Pilot seem to cope with the slugs well. Left some last year in the ground until September - all ok.
I have grown carrots in a dustbin the last few years - not a large crop but a good taster (as I tell a friend that must feed his ground steroids) Shallots I left in the no dig bed really good. Those in the garden crap.

[garynortheast]

Not sure what variety of spuds we have here beyond being one lot of 2nd earlies and one lot of mains.

Just lifted and dug out the first 3 plants of 2nd earlies. Tonight I shall mostly be eating potatoes! :D

[Seeker]

I think my hawthorn tree is sick :( Some of the leaves are turning brown, others are curling and they feel dry. I'm going to take a couple of cuttings to the garden centre (in a sealed bag) from where I bought it for suggestions.
I planted it last year and it produced nice blossom this spring but I've since discovered that they are prone to various insect infestations (couldn't see anything on the leaves) and a fungus.

[Sir Trev]

Fingers crossed for you. Hawthorn hedging is pretty hardy so hopefully this is just your tree settling in and getting used to your soil and watering.

[Seeker]

Garden centre man, after looking at my cuttings, says it doesn't look like an infestation or fungus :) it's either:

1) Lack of water (I can fix that) :)

2) Since it's a new sapling, it may be living on existing sap and has now exhausted it and will die :( . Oh.

They will replace it if it doesn't recover next spring but I really didn't want my "Paraquat Fingers" reputation to continue.

[Sir Trev]

We're well into harvest time now so how did we do this year?

Tomatoes - I have so many I'm giving them away to neighbours. Never had such a crop. Will be growing Sweet Millions again.
Runners - have been eating them and freezing batches for weeks. The rain has eased recently so growth has slowed.
Spuds - after Suttons messed up my order and sent a small net instead of a larger one, after all the rain I still got half a sack of Desiree.
Onions - lifted them yesterday. Good size bulbs (from sets) that are now drying.
Carrots - set off on the bench in toilet roll tubes as my experiment for the year. They don't like my soil and rarely germinate so this worked better. Very wonky crop but we're freezing the surplus as they grew so well.
Beetroot - also set off on the bench, grew like mad in the wet weather and are eating very well. Nearly finished them.
Parsnips - yet another bench-to-ground experiment instead of direct sow and they look very happy. Will give them another two months before trying them.
And finally the pumpkins. After an argument with Marshalls last year I have a different variety this year from Suttons. Instead of just a few beachball sized monsters I have a dozen fruit sized between grapefruit and a small football. Autumnal pumpkin soup - marvellous.

How about the rest of you?

[garynortheast]

Mixed results here.
Several tomato plants grown in the greenhouse from seeds brought back from Spain have done well. Some stripy ones, some that are purple on top and red underneath, and some yellow ones, all of them large. Tomatoes grown outside are doing well but not yet ripe.
Celery is growing on well.
Dwarf french beans cropped well.
Cucumber plants outside didn't like their location and have been a bit of a disaster, but the same variety of cucumber grown in the greenhouse has already given me five fruits and has half a dozen more growing on.
Runner beans have been good and are still cropping heavily. I've already frozen three bags of them.
Beetroot, both golden and red are good,
Chard has also been excellent.
Onions have, on the whole been poor. Some have made a reasonable size, but lots have made very little growth.
Spuds are good, just about to lift the rest of the 2nd earlies, the maincrop spuds are still growing well.
The carrots we grew in a mix of old, sieved soil and builders sand, contained in two full sized enamel baths are great. Long, tapering roots from all four varieties, and no carrot fly.
Courgettes are unstoppable and we have lots of pumpkins and squashes doing very well.

[redtrummy]

My efforts
Toms in greenhouse poor - surplus plants outside doing better. Chillies now ripening nicely in the G/H.

Garlic was good, onions grown from seed good but only 9 made it.
Lettuce were good
Spuds ok but not as good as last year.
Carrots poor, cucumbers good, beetroot coming along. Brussels looking good and managed a couple of nice cauliflowers.
Marrows doing ok, hoping they will fatten up a bit more yet and courgettes have been steady.

French dwarf beans were good, climbing ones not bad and runner beans not so good but did not set in the ideal position - had run out of room

Moved the raspberry canes last year so not much good this.
Red currants fantastic, blackcurrants good, apples loaded and one pear tree good the other an Asian pear absolutely delicious but only five fruit - have eaten two. Cherries managed one before the birds had it, and the plums very few. Enough Damsons on although the tree keeps losing its main branches in strong winds

I have gone for continuous cropping this year so have a second row of peas in as a trial



Last year I set Fennel for the first time and it lasted well into the New Year so hoping for the same this.
Have been pleased with the no dig bed and have opened up an extension to it with quick growing lettuce to see if we can get a crop before the weather does its worse.


Never used the Rotavator this year and I hope to go more no dig next.



I have a friend with great soil, I take a bottle or two of homebrew once a fortnight or so so and come away with a cycle pannier or two full of produce so our veg bill has been negligible this summer.

[Sir Trev]

Nice. Good to hear of everyone's potterings. Dinner tonight will have my carrots and beetroot in it which is always nice.

On a related note my new battery-powered scarifier was used in anger yesterday - two hours to do my whole grassed area (about 250 square metres) instead of the usual half day plus with my old corded one. Result.

[Bibio]

i'm reaping the rewards of my neighbours massive poly tunnel :-)

once the house is finished i might just think about some raised beds in the front and back gardens.

[redtrummy]

Gave up scarifying years ago, the moss always wins and I don't use chemicals if I can help it. Now we have a clover field in summer and the bees love it.( Possibly instigated by the fact I am to tight to buy an electric/battery one and the wife has had enough using the lawn rake! )

[Seeker]

I have an electric scarifyer - it removes the moss to allow room for the other weeds to grow. :(

On a different note: I intend buying some plants/bulbs but I'm curious about your experiences. Is Bakker better than Gardeningdirect, is there a better on-line company?

[Sir Trev]

Things like bulbs, seed potatoes and packet seeds are fine from any of the mail order companies I would have thought. Plants however... I've had bad experiences in the past where boxed plants have clearly been roughly treated and arrive in a real mess. My folks have received dead plant after they were sent to the wrong depot by the courier and spent a weekend there before setting off again. For plants I suggest looking out a local nursery or even a chain one - you may pay a little more but they're more likely to grow.

Have chat to the staff as they may be able to get what you want. My local indie garden centre (alas now closed down as the land was sold for housing) were happy to get in the variety of cherry tree that suited the space I had and the dwarf buddleia plants to encourage more butterflies.

[redtrummy]

I have started buying a lot of seeds off e-bay and not been disappointed. Several different companies. For bulbs the wife has used lidl/Aldi not something I have had experience of (the only flower I understand is a cauliflower!)


I bought a couple of pear trees from Lidl, one an Asian variety - the fruit is glorious - the most tasty pear ever. Unfortunately I moved it expecting building in the fields behind us and its not produced much since.

The 2 apple trees produce a lot as well. The disappointment is the cherry - its not on a dwarf stock so not expecting much as I cannot let it get too big

[redtrummy]

So as the produce rolls in what do you do with the surplus? Wife made the usual 6lb of piccalilli today. Next will be pickling of the shallots - both much better than any bought equivalent.

We make various chutneys and fruit jellies. Had a list of 22 last year so will not need to do so much this year as we have got a lot left so it will be a quiet year. Luckily no BBE dates on any of the jars!

Have got 5 gall of red currant wine on the go and I make a Damson stout/porter using 3lb of Damsons 3 pts of stout/porter (homebrew), two lb of Demera sugar - makes a port like drink at about 16% proof.
Last years chilli pickle was enough to send you into outer space!

[garynortheast]

At the moment I'm busy freezing the surplus runner beans. I have a lot of cucumbers so I may try pickling some of them in a spiced brine. I'm eating most of what I'm picking this year. I'm not as well organised as usual as I'm on new veg plots and only here in this house on a temporary basis. Once (and if) I get permanently housed, I should be able to get much better sorted with the veg growing again.

[Sir Trev]

Freezer for us too, although that port-like stout sounds excellent RT.

[svenrico]

Freezer for us too, although that port-like stout sounds excellent RT.
Sounds a bit too potent for me :drunken:

[redtrummy]

Could have mentioned this elsewhere on here but today I got out the Rotavator which I have not used all year since trying to change to a no dig garden - so it has been in the shed for 15 months unused or so.
After a squirt of Easy start it fired up and ran fine! I am pretty sure I had given it a shot of Briggs and Stratton fuel preserver when last used.
I can only think that it was this that stopped the carb getting gummed up so I am a convert!

[redtrummy]

Hope those gardeners amongst us are up to speed and have started this years planting! - I got carried away and have far more seeds than I have ground prepared. Guess the surplus can be set next year.

[garynortheast]

I'm desperate to get sowing and planting but I can't as I'm still in a state of limbo with regards to housing. i don't want to start stuff off when I don't know what my housing situation is going to be this year.

If I do finally move to somewhere more permanent with a garden, I will be going flat out to get crops in the ground.

[redtrummy]

Hi Gary - Do you think you will be able to go back to your old house?

[garynortheast]

Hi Gary - Do you think you will be able to go back to your old house?

I'm not optimistic although I would dearly love to go back to the village at least. The house has stood empty and untouched for nearly a year since the chapel kicked me out. There's been no work done on the place at all. :-(

[redtrummy]

Sorry to hear that Gary - what a bummer

[garynortheast]

I'm really peed off about it I have to say. The thought of 25 years of effort in my fruit and veg garden just reverting to wilderness is not nice

[Sir Trev]

If the weather holds I'll be doing some prep digging this weekend. About time I pulled my finger out. Need to go get some potting compost but the garden centre will be heaving if it is nice weather...

[svenrico]

I'm not optimistic although I would dearly love to go back to the village at least. The house has stood empty and untouched for nearly a year since the chapel kicked me out. There's been no work done on the place at all. :-(
Sounds like the chapel showing some good Christian spirit !

[garynortheast]

Sounds like the chapel showing some good Christian spirit !

Indeed. :(

[redtrummy]

Bedwen plants Henllan, Llandysul


Is this place anywhere near you Gary - I have had a couple of orders from them and have been quite impressed.

The plant plugs arrived in very good condition and all the packaging was recyclable, including the plastic bags used to keep the moisture in.

[garynortheast]

That's the Llandysul in west Wales RT, I'm in Llandysul/Llandyssil near Welshpool/Trallwng.

[redtrummy]

Welsh geography lesson over for today then - cheers

[Sir Trev]

Parsnip seeds are sown - it begins again.

[Adam Ef]

Do you have success with parsnips? I've never managed to get them to grow from seed.

[redtrummy]

Funnily not tried for many years but this year I have started them in the greenhouse to see how they will do. There is a fault line between us and a keen gardening friend, we are only about a mile apart- His soil is light and friable ours is heavy clay ( as I would imagine it is round Bristol )- he gets really great results but my Dad did here so it can be done. I have gone no dig so it is all a bit of an experiment.
Will have to be super careful in planting the plugs to avoid root splitting.
I once was told to use a crowbar and make a hole in the ground,fill that with compost, then plant - never tried it though.