Have not been on this for a good while,my Mum was taken in to hospital on the 13th of July 2014 and passed away 9 days later,my world was shattered,love and miss you always, Mum. Was not going to continue this but you would not agree with that.so I'm starting the new growing year this month.

Quick evening visit

Quick visit as I was busy yesterday,hope to do a good bit of work over the weekend.Watered tunnel picked some courgettes lots of beans ready for the weekend,cucumber ready to pick also,think I see the first melon on the melon plant so excited as I have never grow one before,everything looks great in the tunnel growing like mad in this weather. First pumpkin appearing also,the red kuri are starting to swell so thats great,mangetout finished outside and need to come down and I have some peas to pop in there.Did'nt get time to lift garlic so will do tomorrow.Picked 80 raspberries they are doing great for there first year.Stawberries ready, this will be the last crop I tkink,will trim leaves and feed,I have kept it to one runner per plant and I'm going to do some vertical growing next year with these :) Runners seem slow I am probably expecting to much from them this early,usually is August,but getting some early has spoilt me.Anyway there there are so many french beans it freezer time.Swwetcorn is growing like mad,I wonder if its the seaweed I put as a mulch on them.All the cabbage I planted are doing well.Will do a lot of feeding this weekend.

Water,water everywhere

Went up to the plot night before last,so a bit late updating,but here goes, tunnel temp not as hot as I thought, got to about 36 degree everything was ok,but lettuce that was planted Saturday was a bit limp.Pick 1lb of beans 2 courgetts from tunnel,next cucumber flying along should have it for the weekend.Picked a mini cucumber not sure if I like they they look like a gerkin.Row of carrots up but forgot to put slug pellets down so hope they are still there when I go up tonight,thats the June row so ging to sow the July row this weekend. Everything got a good water but decided it was to hot to pick much so just some bits and pieces.The strawberries need to be picked,Im going up tonight mainly watering again and Im thinking of taking up the garlic as they have lots of rust on them and are close to my lovely leeks. Jobs for the weekend July carrots sow Spring cabbage sow Pull up dwarf beans in tunnel Weed celeriac and parsnips Plant out peas and over winter cauliflowers Sort out melon it growing like mad.

Another sunny day

All the fennel is up and the beans,got some chilli plants from a friend they are really hot ones so looking forward to see what happens with them.Im going up to the plot tonight as its very warm and the tunnel must be very warm.

Some pickings from plot

This is half the pickings as my father and myself split the harvest.

Sunny Saturday 6th July

It's a beautiful morning and I can't wait to get to the allotment. I'm going to make two visits today and go up tonight to water. I have decided I'm going to weigh all the French beans I get from the tunnel this season and see what the yield is. All the purple French beans are up and the broccoli seedlings are through. The courgette is just starting to show. No sign of the fennel yet.

A visit to water

I popped up last night to water as the next few days are going to be hot.Strawberries look good will pick lots at the weekend.The corn looks happy with the seaweed mulch I think they have grown over night. Pulled some small garlic that where planted late and they will do until main crop comes in.Squashes still slow hope the warm weather gets them moving.Cabbages that I transplanted are doing well. Carrots in raised bed are small finger size so gave them a good wartering.Celeriac looks good golf ball size going to trim lower leaves this weekend.Big crop of mangtout waiting to be picked.Going to pick broccoli and cauliflower for freezer this weekend and make more courgette provencal as it look like 8 courgettes are ready to pick yellow and green. First cucumber should be ready this weekend as well. The beans are growing like mad in tunnel and will have my first big crop this weekend,pulled my first Kohl rabi to make coleslaw last night.Melon is growing and growing but cant make out flowers yet,I will be very happy if I get a melon this year.

Purple french beans

Half of my purple french beans are up this morning,so happy enough,got a brain wave about carrots,i want to plant some more at the allotment but have no room or so I though.I forgot that I will be pulling cauliflowers soon that are under enviromesh tunnel and was going to plant cabbage but im going to put carrots there and cabbage can wait until garlic is out. The year seems to be flying along really only 3 months of growing left thats only 12 week :( I'm thinking of next year already I need to make sure i keep certain areas free for my rotation to work next year. When my cauilflower in raised bed is finished I'm keeping that bed free for over winter onions.I'm planting less garlic for next year and that will free up a big raised bed for something else.

Quick visit :)

Went up to visit plot last night,watered tunnel,pick some courgetts,huge strawberries, cut runners back to one per plant,pulled up last of the broad beans as birds attacking them.Picked 14 raspberries and lots of broccoli. Fed onion,leeks,potatoes and squashes.First sweetpea is nearly out.Im so happy with the turnips this year they are flying along.Brought up seaweed and covered sweetcorn bed and new broccoli bed.Have more to do the runners and another new broccoli bed,im hoping to have lots for the winter. French beans in the tunnel look good lots to pick this weekend.I have sowed the purple ones to bring up to the tunnel and also fennel it did really well last year in the tunnel.I planted courgette pantheon and hope to put it in a container for the tunnel for late harvest.Loads of mangetout ready for the weekend potato Sarpo Mira really starting to move along now after more manure and chicken pellets. Celery outside has got attacked by carrot root fly and is dying,thankfully I put some in the tunnel as well. Its great to get a good harvest each time I visti now.Kohl rabi will be ready this weekend and going to make coleslaw with my own carrots and onions :)

Pictures of Plot

Courgettes for freezer

Birds!!!

Went up to the plot during the week to net the strawberries and raspberries etc and as i was leaving i noticed pea pods on the ground about 10 of them,done a Miss Marple and the birds where number one on the list,out with more net,checked the broad beans,yes, they had a visit here too,so did the currants as well. Noticed next plot has cabbage leaves eaten that are not covered.So the pests are back for the year,the only things not covered are the potatoes,leeks,garlic and onions. I saw my first nearly ripe raspberry i had thought they where a long way off,so its mine not the birdies. Need to start feeding more,must write out a plan for it.At the moment its really only the poly every Saturday that gets feeding.But with squash moving fast and ALSO my leeks that i really want to look after this year. Sweetcorn are loving the corner behind the poly,cut some more broccoli and it tasted lovely.Lefthand side of plot needS to be looked after this weekend,beans need to bE planted out as well as more broccoli and cabbages. Put bigger net on carrots,hope they are alright.Going to plant carrots in poly this weekend. Started of purple beans that i got in Organic Center.Going to start off some courgettes to put in tunnel for August to have a longer season.

Sunday 23rd June

Went up to plot for 2 hours,it was raining on and off and very windy.Took down sugar snap in tunnel getting to big,tomatoes need the space,the fruit are coming on nicely.Took out one of the courgette plants 4 is to much in there.Removed 3 dwarf french beans,im going to sow a row of carrots in June,July and August to see what is best in tunnel for the winter. Planted up new mangetout plants,aubergine is flowering looks so pretty.Cucumber flying got a mini cucumber plant from a friend so that planted up as well. French beans are about 1/2 to 1 inch long and look really healthy was worried as they had been nibbled are a young stage but are flying along now.Still eating carrots from winter/spring sowing have 2 rows left. Celery are slow to move but look happy the ones outside are slow as well.Rocket potatoes are great in the soil really big.Cauilflower is ready thinking of putting some broccoli plants in tunnel as i have some to spare. Going to net strawberries tonight,hope to put some more tyres planters up tonight have patty pans and pumpkins to plant up.Going to water and feed everything outside on the plot tonight. I cant wait for the raspberries i would say they are 2-3 weeks away at most still very green and tight. Garlic and onions still growing strong it will be a while until ready to pick.Pulling some onions that have gone to seed. Runners are starting to form about 1 1/2 inches long,this will be a first as i have never had runners before August. Sunny here today 25th June and looks like that for the rest of the week.

Pictures of plot and tunnel veg

Longest day

Can't believe it's here already the months are flying by,it's a while since i have updated but i have been busy.at the allotment tonight,sarpo Mira are slow but coming on ok,red cabbages moving along,leeks look great really taking off.runners are getting tall but no beans under the glass.onoins from seed are growing quick and filling out.sweetcorn about 18 inch tall look happy,broccoli about 2/3 inches in head size so I'm happy will let them get a bit bigger before I cut them. Strawberries in outside bed are green about a week to picking,carrots until mesh are looking good,winter onions are about 3 inch wide,cauliflower starting to form small heads. Raspberries are green but getting there,yellow courgette are massive in cold frame a thing of beauty lol.sprouts about two feet high,romanesque are slow four died will fill with cabbage.Picked some broad beans tonight. Purple sprouting pushing up net need to raise it,carrot in raised bed starting to fill out,two butternut showing and some winter squash hope the grow on,garlic looks like it will keep growing a few more weeks,some rust on them.mange tout ready out side peas only in pods,turnip flying as is celeriac sweet pea starting to bud. In polytunnel,sugarsnap cropping last few weeks,courgettes going mad,dwaft beans slow but cropping,mange tout cleared and new plants in,aubergine flowering,some small cucumber forming,melon not in flower,chillies cropping,runner/ French bean growing fast.carrot getting big pulling each week.kohl rabi swelling a few weeks off,potatoes in bed great big yield,cauliflower ready in tunnel as is the broccoli. Will post pictures tomorrow.

Update start of June

It's a while since iv updated,outside on the allotment potatoes all up and rocket starting to flower.Leeks went in about 150 so enough for the winter.Runner behind glass window look ok,top leaves yellow but lower leaves look good and lots of new shoots.onions from seed flying along.broccoli forming heads and sweetcorn planted out and seem ok.pods on broad beans swelling,strawberries in flower and carrots growing great.weeds are manic and it's hard to keep on top of them. Winter onions getting big but some going to seed,garlic looks happy.first butternut showing on squash and red kuri has first fruit.yellow courgette starting to show in pots that are in cold frame.red currents swelling and raspberries in flower. Turnips up, need thinning,same with parsnip.mange tout in flower peas a few. Weeks behind.sprout,red cabbage,caul,romanesce celery all looking good will post pictures at the weekend.sweet pea planted out. Planted up winter squash and butternut outside in tyres,pumpkin only on seed leaves at home. Tunnel,sugar snap ready.courgettes flying getting 2 a week,dwarf beans still slow,mange tout cropping great got first strawberries yesterday. French beans look like they are coming in to flower,melon,cucumber,chillies,peppers,broccoli look good.kohl rabi and celery planted up.carrot are sweeping going to pick some this weekend coming.caul forming heads in tunnel and potatoes flowers dead going to wait until stems die back. Transplanted,cabbage x3 types,winter cauli,purple kohl rabi,broccoli and started to chit some peas for late crop.

My lovely Leeks

Veg pictures

Windy day

Went up to check allotment Wednesday night as it was a very windy day,a barrel had blown on to my newly planted turnip seeds they are only breaking through the soil.so I fixed it back in place.the runners I planted look ok,gave them a drink and put back the glass covering them.strawberry flowers just appearing on the raised bed plants.currants starting to fill out and berries starting to move. Mangetout ready for first full picking from tunnel.first courgette on pantheon plant forming so I hope to have one soon.climbing beans look good.carrots starting to fill out.Climbing bean seed Cobra started direct in tunnel very slow to apper. 2 peas up outside from direct sowing.carrots in tall bed have good true leaves,in the lower raised bed they only have seed leaves.

Broad beans

Broad beans in flower hope to see some nice green pods soon.got some currant and raspberry bushes from fellow grow at allotment.all planted up and look forward to some soft fruit. Runner beans,butternut,squashes planted yesterday did ok over night so let's hope they enjoy their new homes have more for back up if needed.potatoes in tunnel nearly have flowers open.tomatoes plants yesterday in tunnel where happy over night.it was 30 deg in there today,have put up netting on doors to cool it down.it has been fabulous the last 3 days and the French bean are very happy in tunnel.picked so rhubarb today.earthed up potatoes the earlies are popping through.

carrot seedlings outside

Planted in March took until april to come up.that's a weed seedling pulled up in the picture,the allotment is very very weedy.I use slug pellets to start of some things because if I didn't they slug would have more to eat then me.I'm trying carrot in a 2 ft high bed and in a lower bed with enviromesh after the last 2 years of carrot fly something has to be done.the first year was great as they did not know the carrots where there but now its early carrot or none. I hoping the two methods will give me late carrots this year.