Friday 24 April 2015

A Busy Time of Year for Veg Growers …

 

Well, it’s been almost six months since I posted – I guess you could say that I am a fair weather blogger as far as the kitchen garden is concerned.  But I haven’t been idle – oh no – there has been lots going on in the background.  Plans have been made and carried out, the raised beds have been cleared and are ready for planting and it’s all systems GO.

One bed has been planted with potatoes - Charlotte earlies and another sown with Hurst Greenshaft and Kelvedon Wonder peas.  I decided to direct sow this year, trying to keep the work load down and simplify the gardening tasks.  The third bed is reserved for two Courgette plants and the fourth for PSB.  Anything else I want to grow will be in containers – Runner Beans, French Beans, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Lettuce, Leeks and Chard.  Have you noticed that I have reduced the variety of veg that I shall be growing this year – I am only growing veg that is obviously better tasting than shop bought or more expensive to buy.

These are a few pictures of what is happening so far. 

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PSB, Greenhouse Toms, Sweet Peppers, Cucumbers, Courgettes, Leeks, Lettuce and French Beans.

Most of these will be potted on before they are planted out – waiting for the last frosts.

It’s good to be back in the swing of things again isn’t it and I hope we all have a successful veg growing season.

To see what is happening in the flower garden pop over to the latest post on Rosebank Ramblings

23 comments:

  1. We've actually found that for us peas that are direct sown do much better than those that are transplanted. The plants seem to grow stronger.

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    1. I haven't direct sown for the last few years - they are already germinating - just hope the mice don't take a fancy to them.

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  2. We've tried growing some supermarket dried peas this year as an experiment and they've all grown - not sure how they'll taste but it's worth a try! Your tomatoes are looking well on - mine are still babies but I'm looking forward to potting them on - have you just got one layer of grow bags there - I was thinking of having a double layer - no idea why just thought they might do a bit better? It is a wonderful time of year in both the vegetable and flower garden. Enjoy the weekend x Jane

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    1. Hi Jane
      I grow the tomatoes in pots with no base that sit on the grow bag so the roots can reach down. I have grown them like this for several years now and it has proved very successful.

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  3. It's all go here too. This year I'm leaving all my winter greens (kale, chard, cavolo nero, sprouts, etc) until about june/july. I'm sure I've been planting out too early. My fingers are crossed that we'll have no further frosts.

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    1. Make sure that you don't leave it too late though - I delayed planting mine last year and it took them ages to catch up. We are due a frost tonight I hear - still to early for planting out the tomatoes that desperately need to come out of their pots. Guess I'll just have to pot them on again.

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  4. It's all looking and sounding good. Flighty xx

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    1. So far so good - I noticed that my potatoes are just poking through and the peas have germinated - I love this time of year when anything is possible.

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  5. Welcome to Summer, Elaine! Those veggies look in fine form. I have some of those cane-supports that you are using for your tomatoes, even though I have never had any grow-bags. I have bought loads of similar things over the years, in an attempt to provide support for my container-grown toms, but many of them are rubbish! (or inappropriate for the purpose for which I bought them).

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    1. Thanks Mark - it has been a while hasn't it. I find those tomato supports are excellent used in conjunction with grow bags of course being in the greenhouse I am able to push the canes through the grow bags and into the ground.

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  6. All your veg is much further on than mine, especially the tomatoes! Mine have just germinated. The chard is looking really good too! I have reduced what I'm growing veg wise too, I just dont have the room.xxx

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    1. The reason my tom plants are further on is because I cheated and bought plug plants - smacked wrists - I did it mainly because I only wanted one or two of different varieties so it worked out cheaper than buying loads of packets of seeds and only using a couple of seeds. Having enough room is a problem for me now I don't have my allotment so cutting back seemed the only thing to do. Shame but there it is - we do what we can with the space that we have.

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  7. 6 months has flown by to another busy Spring/Summer. My direct sown seeds have been slow so far but this evenings rain, (the first for many weeks here) should speed things up a bit.

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    1. Hi Rooko
      Nice of you to visit - we didn't have much rain at all which is a shame so it's back to the watering can for me. Hope you have a successful gardening year.

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  8. Everything is looking very healthy Elaine... I love this time of the year :o)

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    1. Me too Julie - nice to see everything growing again.

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  9. You'll be looking forward to an early yield of yummy veggies soon.
    Have you planted your potatoes already and use a poly tunnel?
    We're still enduring very cold temps overnight so everything from seed is still undercover. At least 3 to 4 weeks for seedling plants direct to the garden.
    Susan x

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    1. The potatoes are in the ground and just showing through - no I don't have a polytunnel only a greenhouse. The temperature is still chilly at night and we are still having the occasional frost so there is a lot of stuff I still can't plant out - won't be long now though.

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  10. Spring is always such a busy time of year - but the work can be so rewarding.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Yes it is a busy time of year Jan - but I love working in the vegetable garden and trying to grow as much as I can - it is always worth it in the end.

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  12. Your plants are looking healthy and happy. Hoping this is a good growing season.

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