Plot 1 Planted Up

Finally got plot 1 planted out, with spinach, sorrel, lettuce, tomatoes, parsnips, sprouts, broc, cabbage, kale and parsley, as well as a tidy and mulched perennial strawberry bed and other permanent fruit.

Lost to Frost

I checked my seedlings yesterday and unfortunately an air frost has killed my melons and cucumbers and a few runner bean plantlets. I know I was probably a bit eager to get things out and planted but I'm still surprised, in the middle of London, to loose plants to frost on the 20th May. Also frosted, a large-ish courgette plant at one end of a row, it's counterpart at the other end, same size, was completely untouched. I find this intriguing.

Chitted potato

The variety here is the International Kidney - otherwise known as a Jersey Royal, except you aren't allowed to call them this if they are not grown on Jersey. So there.

Potatoes

Most of the potatoes have been planted by digging a trench, about a spade width and depth, plonking the chitted potatoes in, eyes up, and scooping the soil back over the top, leaving enough soil in the ridge for earthing up in about a months time.




Below are pictures of the first earlies going in, Pentland Javelin, I decided to plant this row by digging an individual hole per potato, just an experiment to see the benefit of trenches.

Onions

Also in April - the onion sets and shallots got put in - all 43thousand of them. If I never see another onion set in my life it'll be too soon.




Fed the Japanese onions that went in back in the Autumn - Senshyu Yellow. Used chicken pellet manure.

Planting parsnips

I decided to use a slightly different method of germination with my parsnips this year. Back in March I scattered the seed on wet paper towels to speed up the process. The ones that germinated got planted in rows of sand sprinkled on a prepared bed at the beginning of April. This just means they've hit the ground running rather than sitting in cold soil deciding they may or may not germinate. Anyway I'll let you know how this experiment works.

Lavender path edges and native hedge

Gave the lavender a trim, first time I've been able to shape the low hedging since I planted it. There are two varieties, a dwarf called 'ellegance sky' and a run-of-the mill English lavender, which is much more vigorous. I also planted a hedge using native species, at the back of the plots. I used small trees I've grown on from seed - Hawthorn, Field maple, Oak, Holly and Elder.

Broad beans

Planted out 3 more trays of broad beans, so I've got a succession of plants. I may still sow some again in may for a later crop.

strawberry bed

Had some strawberry plants that needed a place in the world so I dug out a section of the polytunnel bed, making the edge raised and chucking in some well-rotted manure.

Planted out broad beans

This weekend, which was pretty good weather, I managed to get to the plot twice, I planted out two trays of broad beans. one tray of dwarf beans The Sutton and one tray of Claudia Aquadulce (sown 12th Nov 07). Listening to Terry Walton, Radio 2 allotment expert, he mentioned that he would sow 100 broadbeans because he loved them so much. Last year we ate every single bean grown and ran out. This led to me sow another 3 trays about a week ago which brings my total up to 150 ish.

Check out Terry Walton's interesting blog http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/gardening/allotments/TerryWaltonAllotment.asp

Pumpkin bed and tomato progress

Planted out 4 squashes and 2 corgettes as seen here on the left and the first tomatoes to be planted out last month are coming along nicely here on the right.

Beans and brassicas

Climbing green beans

Suede, sprouts and white cabbage

Other stuff

First tomatoes go in 20th May, should be ok now, no more frosts.



Zuccini custard white planted with a shallow dip in the surrounding soil to direct the water more accurately.



Bean and pea bed - Barlotti beans, early peas setting pods prolifically now, heritage peas and later sowing of broad beans.

Climbing plants and shade lovers

Tied string around this hazel wigwam for the climbing plants at the base including, a lovely red rose, everlasting sweet peas and clematis. Also planted a vebena bonariensis in the centre which will be supported by the frame too, as it can get quite tall.

Foxgloves and sweet rocket planted in the shadey line of the fruit trees.

This years veg list

I was asked what I'm growing this year on the plot so here's a rough idea, I've tried to make it as condensed as possible:

• Beans and peas including; broad beans, runner beans, climbing french beans, peas, barlotti beans, butter beans, mangetout
• Onions and garlic including spring onions and leeks
• Potato varieties include foremost, rocket, charlotte, kestral, romano, maris piper, king edward and pink fir apple
• Other root veg like; parsnips, carrots, beetroot, radish, salsify and scorzonera
• Sweetcorn
• Celery and celeriac
• Loads of brassicas, including; cabbage, kohl rabi, 6 types of kale, broccoli, romanesco calabrese, purple sprouting broc, suede, sprouts and cauliflower
• Salad stuff like lettuce, spinach, cress, rocket, pak choi, chard, purslane, sorrel and chicory
• Summer fruiting veg including; tomatoes, peppers, chilli's, cucumber, aubergine and melon
• Butternut and cobnut
• Corgettes and patty pan
• Pumpkins like Turk's Turban and Marina di Chioggia
• Gourds for decorative purposes; caveman's club, speckled swan, dipper, hedgehog, snake, birdhouse bottle and luffa... yes actual luffa.
• Herbs; coriander, basil, parsley, camomile, sage, fennel, majoram, borage, comfrey, thyme and lavender
• Also growing lots of flowers among which plenty of marigolds for making calendula cream later on in the summer.
• Oh ok might as well list the fruit; blueberries, cranberries, gooseberries, loganberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, red and blackcurrants, grapes, kiwi, pears, plums, apples and greengage - I think thats it.
• Hazel nuts and, if it counts, I've got a small walnut tree in a pot, be a while before I get walnuts though.

I've got Seakale, hurrah!

Gonna look after this little fella.

Potatoes

Last weekend planted last of the maincrop potatoes on plot 1 and continued to earth up first and second earlies.

April jobs done

Amongst other things: Second earlies in; cabbages and leeks potted on; my neighbour gave me two currant bushes which I've planted out; and I've sown more parsnips and beetroot in situ.

Cabages, onions, leeks and potatoes.

My seedlings are all up and running due to the warm spring so far.

Also, planted 4 short rows of early potatoes on 18th March.