Juliet Tomatoes

I've actually had some tomatoes that have worked well in the greenhouse this year - only a single plant in a pot, but it's cropped well, and the tomatoes have actually ripened. The three other types in pots are still green and have less tomatoes. The one that has worked is called 'Tasty Tomatoes - Juliet'.

Great gardening at home

As I said in the previous post, I've now given up the allotment - the committee just make it too unpleasant if allotmenting isn't you life, and decided to see what I can grow in the garden. It's worked out brilliantly!

I look the raised beds from the allotment, and used them to build some small ones in the garden. Here's the first one in April, then in June when the beans are ready to plant, and then a couple of days ago, when I took the beans up an planted a courgette and some lettuces from the greenhouse.

It's been much more fun with no inspection regime in place (like we had up the allotment), and much easier. I've frogs in the garden, which keep the slugs at bay, and the ground is so much better that stuff just grows.

Giving up... (and starting again).

Well, I can't believe it! We got another letter from the committee. This one was worded a little more pleasantly than the last, but was essentially telling us off for not having everthing ready for the growing season. It was about -6 outside, and Britain was completely snow bound! So I've had enough. Every summer our plot has been full of veg, but it seems this isn't good enough for the committee - you have to do it their way.

But thats not the end. I've decided to see how much I can grow in my garden. Its pretty small, so I'll have to be creative. I've created a 'micro-allotment' in the corner, and have moved most of the fruit bushes from the plot there. I've also got a cheap plastic greenhouse. So I'll try and keep this blog going and we'll see how things go.

Runner beans no good

I grew lots of runner beans, but didn't manage to pick enough, so I've lots of big stringy tasteless ones left. Part of the problem is previously I've just grown white flowering stringless ones, but this year I had some heritage ones, and some red flowering ones, and they've just been too stringy.

Bit hard work..

It's fair to say that I haven't really enjoyed the allotment much this year. Partly because it's been a really busy summer, and I haven't so much free time, partly because of 'the letter', so I'm debating whether to carry on next year. My garden at home has suffered quite a lot as must of my free time has gone on the allotment.

We we also away for the peak bean time, so most of those went to waste.

Lettuces have been really good, and still getting squashes (though had to throw away loads of un wanted marrows).

Sweetcorn has been pretty good, and Jerusalum Artichokes look huge.

Also, managed to grow a really big sun flower!

Everything growing, especially the weeds

Everythings growing well - as you can see from this picture, it's looking pretty good, although there are a lot of weeds around as well.

As usual, too many squash all at once, and also, I think I should have dug up some potatos at lot earlier, as they are now a bit big, and we'll never eat them all.

Also, have dug up most of the onions and put them in the garage to dry (it's another rainy, rainy month), and planted a few carrots in their place - normal ones and some round ones.

Riverford order put on hold

I've just put the riverford veg box order on hold for the summer, as I'm now getting enough from the allotment.