My early sowings have so far yielded: -
5 tomato seedlings: moneymaker, costoluto fiorentino, rio grande, san marzano lungo and roma - which are all a bit too leggy for my liking. I don't think the other 3 seeds will germinate, but my main tomato sowing isn't until next month so I'll just try to keep the ones I already have healthy until it warms up enough to put them in the greenhouse. I had moved them to a windowsill in the kitchen after they came up, and today I potted them on into larger pots and sunk them a bit deeper so hopefully they will be okay.
1 aubergine: black beauty.
and 3 chillis: 2 shakes, 1 apache, all from seed I saved last year so I'm really pleased about that. I'm still awaiting the delivery of some new chilli varieties that I ordered earlier this month... might have to chase them up again if they don't arrive soon.
I also made a few more sowings in the heated propagator: viserba and black beauty aubergines, some more chilli shake, apache and cayenne peppers.
Sunday 23 January 2011
Monday 3 January 2011
More Early Sowings
I couldn't resist joining in the veg growing forum's early tomato sowing thread so today have sown one each of sub arctic plenty, roma, principe borghese, san marzano lungo, rio grande, moneymaker, red cherry and costoluto fiorentino in an unheated propagator and put it in the spare bedroom.
I'll leave the rest of my tomato sowing to February as per my original plan.
I'll leave the rest of my tomato sowing to February as per my original plan.
Sunday 2 January 2011
Early Sowings
I thought I'd make an early start this year... prompted by the early chilli and pepper sowing thread on the veg growing forum, but also because I'm always keen to get the season started.
I have sown 2 each of apache, shake and cayenne chilli seeds in the heated propagator on the kitchen worktop, along with 2 black beauty and 2 viserba aubergines.
I am awaiting delivery of 3 new chilli varieties, and as soon as they come through the letterbox I'll be sowing them too.
I also finished off an open pack of sarian strawberry seeds (there were 11 of them); they are in the unheated greenhouse in an unheated propagator.
And, just because my posts have been lacking in photographs recently, these are the leeks I pulled out of the ground today.
It's nice to still be harvesting my own fresh veg :-)
I have sown 2 each of apache, shake and cayenne chilli seeds in the heated propagator on the kitchen worktop, along with 2 black beauty and 2 viserba aubergines.
I am awaiting delivery of 3 new chilli varieties, and as soon as they come through the letterbox I'll be sowing them too.
I also finished off an open pack of sarian strawberry seeds (there were 11 of them); they are in the unheated greenhouse in an unheated propagator.
And, just because my posts have been lacking in photographs recently, these are the leeks I pulled out of the ground today.
It's nice to still be harvesting my own fresh veg :-)
Saturday 1 January 2011
Planning for 2011
So, I have been through my seed collection, thrown out the old and ordered some new (even though I have more than enough to keep me going).
I'll be trying some new varieties of beans, squash, chillies and potatoes this year.
I have planned it all out and as things stand today, my sowing schedule can be found here.
I will also be taking over more of the garden for vegetable growing. I can't wait to get going...
I'll be trying some new varieties of beans, squash, chillies and potatoes this year.
I have planned it all out and as things stand today, my sowing schedule can be found here.
I will also be taking over more of the garden for vegetable growing. I can't wait to get going...
2010 - Review of the Year
Before I start sowing this year’s crops I thought I’d better undertake my review of 2010. I have categorised everything into Amazing, Good, Bad or Ugly and I reserve the right for it to be completely subjective and probably not very consistent… here goes.
The Amazing
Aubergine – only produced two of these but I was very proud of them.
Tomatoes – took ages to get started, but once they got going they really got going… I still have loads in the freezer and numerous jars of chutney, jam and relish stored away.
Sweet Peppers – even though my seeds failed to germinate, the ones I bought as little plants in the garden centre produced very well and I was able to save some seeds to sow in 2011.
Chilli Peppers – same as sweet peppers, although I did manage to germinate one plant that produced fruit.
Cucumbers – mini whites were unstoppable… not all varieties produced as well, but collectively they were great as can be proven by the numerous jars of pickles in my store cupboard.
Courgettes – once again unstoppable… all varieties were prolific and tasty.
Lettuce – a number of varieties produced consistently throughout the season.
French Beans – another prolific cropper, kept producing even when I thought they were finished.
Mange tout – sweet, prolific and need hardly any attention.
Pea Shoots – first attempt at these was very successful, easy to grow and a tasty addition to salads.
Garlic – every single clove produced a bulb.
Gooseberries – very impressive haul which made some very nice jam.
Raspberries - an amazing haul of sweet, juicy berries that just kept on coming.
The Good
Strawberries – very sweet and even managed to propagate some new runners… just wish I had more of them.
Blackberries – didn’t have very many, but the ones that did ripen were lovely.
Onions – I’m including shallots with the onions and they grew very well and lasted well in storage. Pickling onions didn’t amount to much though.
Spring Onions – I didn’t sow many of these, but I was happy with the ones that grew.
Radish – I’m not really a fan of radish (although they are better cooked than raw), but I managed to produce a few decent enough crops.
Turnip – the first batch produced really well, but successional sowings failed to do anything.
Peas – I’m slowly mastering the art of when to pick these, but managed to get a few decent pickings… did much better with shoots though.
Sweetcorn – the baby variety produced very well, the fully grown cobs were not so good but I think that was my fault… I got them mixed up with the baby ones and ruined the crop by picking them too early. Should probably keep them completely separate next time.
Cabbage – I was just impressed that I managed to get any to fully mature based on my previous attempts, the cabbage white butterflies and the fact that all my brassicas were planted too close together… must do better next time.
Pumpkin – didn’t have many of these but was pleased with what I did grow and made some delicious chutney out of them.
Leeks – still have a few of these in the garden… should have sown more really
The Bad
Redcurrant – the bush didn’t produce anything at all.
Blackcurrant – only had a handful or two of these.
Broccoli Raab – was very disappointed with this… I didn’t even realise it was ready as the florets were so small when it started to bolt, and it had a bitter taste to it – remaining seeds went straight in the bin.
Kale – this did produce quite well, but by the time I thought it was ready for picking I only got one decent meal out of it and the rest was infested with caterpillars and bugs.
Pak Choi – managed to produce one or two of these, but they were quite small when they started to bolt.
Swede – only managed one of these, which was very nice but disappointing that I didn’t get any more… must do better next time.
Squash – from three plants I only had two fruit… not sure why, the plants were healthy enough and rest of the cucurbit family did pretty well.
The Ugly
Cauliflower – not a single seedling produced anything.
Carrots – very poor production of very small roots.
Parsnips – even worse than carrots… got absolutely nothing.
Cape Gooseberry – didn’t even germinate, but I’ll be trying again in 2011
Purple Sprouting Broccoli – probably my fault that they came to nothing… planted too close together I think.
Brussels Sprouts – the ones that survived the caterpillars did produce little sprouts but then blew… must pay more attention next time.
Beetroot – not a single root… no idea why.
Chard – not sure what went wrong here… didn’t really grow much before the leaves started to turn yellow.
Spinach Beet – same as the chard really.
Gherkin – think I only had one actual fruit.
Ginger – complete disaster, just sat in the soil and did nothing… only tried this as a one off and I won’t be trying again.
Okra – don’t know why this didn’t grow, the plants got to a decent size and then just gave up, no flowers or anything… I won’t be giving up on it though.
Overall, I have no major complaints… I still have frozen tomatoes, frozen beans, leeks in the ground and a cupboard full of preserves to get through. I managed to have fresh potatoes, beans and tomatoes for longer than previous years, so am making progress towards being self-sufficient.
The Amazing
Aubergine – only produced two of these but I was very proud of them.
Tomatoes – took ages to get started, but once they got going they really got going… I still have loads in the freezer and numerous jars of chutney, jam and relish stored away.
Sweet Peppers – even though my seeds failed to germinate, the ones I bought as little plants in the garden centre produced very well and I was able to save some seeds to sow in 2011.
Chilli Peppers – same as sweet peppers, although I did manage to germinate one plant that produced fruit.
Cucumbers – mini whites were unstoppable… not all varieties produced as well, but collectively they were great as can be proven by the numerous jars of pickles in my store cupboard.
Courgettes – once again unstoppable… all varieties were prolific and tasty.
Lettuce – a number of varieties produced consistently throughout the season.
French Beans – another prolific cropper, kept producing even when I thought they were finished.
Mange tout – sweet, prolific and need hardly any attention.
Pea Shoots – first attempt at these was very successful, easy to grow and a tasty addition to salads.
Garlic – every single clove produced a bulb.
Gooseberries – very impressive haul which made some very nice jam.
Raspberries - an amazing haul of sweet, juicy berries that just kept on coming.
The Good
Strawberries – very sweet and even managed to propagate some new runners… just wish I had more of them.
Blackberries – didn’t have very many, but the ones that did ripen were lovely.
Onions – I’m including shallots with the onions and they grew very well and lasted well in storage. Pickling onions didn’t amount to much though.
Spring Onions – I didn’t sow many of these, but I was happy with the ones that grew.
Radish – I’m not really a fan of radish (although they are better cooked than raw), but I managed to produce a few decent enough crops.
Turnip – the first batch produced really well, but successional sowings failed to do anything.
Peas – I’m slowly mastering the art of when to pick these, but managed to get a few decent pickings… did much better with shoots though.
Sweetcorn – the baby variety produced very well, the fully grown cobs were not so good but I think that was my fault… I got them mixed up with the baby ones and ruined the crop by picking them too early. Should probably keep them completely separate next time.
Cabbage – I was just impressed that I managed to get any to fully mature based on my previous attempts, the cabbage white butterflies and the fact that all my brassicas were planted too close together… must do better next time.
Pumpkin – didn’t have many of these but was pleased with what I did grow and made some delicious chutney out of them.
Leeks – still have a few of these in the garden… should have sown more really
The Bad
Redcurrant – the bush didn’t produce anything at all.
Blackcurrant – only had a handful or two of these.
Broccoli Raab – was very disappointed with this… I didn’t even realise it was ready as the florets were so small when it started to bolt, and it had a bitter taste to it – remaining seeds went straight in the bin.
Kale – this did produce quite well, but by the time I thought it was ready for picking I only got one decent meal out of it and the rest was infested with caterpillars and bugs.
Pak Choi – managed to produce one or two of these, but they were quite small when they started to bolt.
Swede – only managed one of these, which was very nice but disappointing that I didn’t get any more… must do better next time.
Squash – from three plants I only had two fruit… not sure why, the plants were healthy enough and rest of the cucurbit family did pretty well.
The Ugly
Cauliflower – not a single seedling produced anything.
Carrots – very poor production of very small roots.
Parsnips – even worse than carrots… got absolutely nothing.
Cape Gooseberry – didn’t even germinate, but I’ll be trying again in 2011
Purple Sprouting Broccoli – probably my fault that they came to nothing… planted too close together I think.
Brussels Sprouts – the ones that survived the caterpillars did produce little sprouts but then blew… must pay more attention next time.
Beetroot – not a single root… no idea why.
Chard – not sure what went wrong here… didn’t really grow much before the leaves started to turn yellow.
Spinach Beet – same as the chard really.
Gherkin – think I only had one actual fruit.
Ginger – complete disaster, just sat in the soil and did nothing… only tried this as a one off and I won’t be trying again.
Okra – don’t know why this didn’t grow, the plants got to a decent size and then just gave up, no flowers or anything… I won’t be giving up on it though.
Overall, I have no major complaints… I still have frozen tomatoes, frozen beans, leeks in the ground and a cupboard full of preserves to get through. I managed to have fresh potatoes, beans and tomatoes for longer than previous years, so am making progress towards being self-sufficient.
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