Well, let's just say everything is out of the greenhouse and in the ground. Here are the runner beans planted out and climbing their supports - one or two have been nobbled by slugs already.
The squashes have survived so far, I didn't have the room to plant them as far apart as I would have liked, but we can't always have what we want.
The potatoes aren't as vigorous as they normally are - but if you remember - I have experimented with them this year - not earthing them up with soil - just covering them with straw.
The peas are quite short as the moment but already in flower, which is a bit disturbing, just hope they put on a spurt of growth whilst we are away.
The French Beans and Spinach are still the same size as when I planted them - don't know what's going on there.
The Broad beans behind last years' Chard are full of flower - but again, not very tall - behind them is a cloche covering some lettuce which seems to like it in the shade at the back of the bed.
And if anyone is interested - this is what a Parsnip looks like when you don't dig it out. I have decided to leave it and see what is looks like when it is in flower.
This long view of the veg patch makes it look as though it is pretty full of stuff - but it is probably all the weeds you can see - I can't quite seem to get on top of them at the moment.
It's a great feeling to finally have everything planted out isn't it! Lots of my stuff just refused to grow in the colder weather, but seems to be catching up now. Nice view of your patch :) xx
ReplyDeleteYes - it was a slow start to the season - it's amazing what a little warmth can do.
DeleteOoooh I love looking at your veggies :)
ReplyDeleteI miss my runner beans. I wonder can you grow them in tubs ?? I have always planted them in the garden, but the rabbits absolutely destroy them.
It has been a strange spring don't you think? My garden is all over the place.....the up down weather has a lot to answer to :)
Runner beans do well in pots as long as the container is reasonably large - they need to be kept well-watered and fed as well. Why not give it a go.
DeleteJust a thought - there is a variety called Hestia that is specifically bred for containers - it is a dwarf plant that doesn't need staking but still produces lovely runner beans.
DeleteTku Elaine, very much,
DeleteI will give that I go :)
By the look of it your garden grows very well indeed.
ReplyDeleteMy potato foliage is noticeably less vigorous as well so far this year which I think is down to the weather.
I don't know about you but I never really get on top of the weeds (so to speak)! Flighty xx
The potato foliage was even worse last year and the harvest was rubbish too - I'm hoping for better things this year - or there will be trouble! You're right about the weeds - it's a never-ending story.
DeleteThe vegie patch looks great Elaine, it is always a battle with the weeds, it is the same here in Aus. We have planted potatoes and we are going to cover outs with sugar cane mulch as they grow, great to experiment using new methods. This time of year over here is our best time for growing edibles as when the summer heat arrives everything either bolts to seed or shrivels up. Challenges no matter which climate we live in but there is nothing quite like growing ones own food.
ReplyDeleteShirley http://themakingofparadise.blogspot.com.au/
You are right Shirley - every climate has its problems - we have had a lot of cold and rain so far this year- at the moment is is hot, hot, hot - but the end results are always worth it - come what may.
DeleteNow c'mon Elaine! What's your secret to Chard success? 3 times now I've tried to grow it, first time, eaten the minute a leaf tried to appear.Second time nothing. This time I have a leaf (well 2, if you count the one on the other side of the stem!!)
ReplyDeleteAll tips V.Welcome!! x
Do you start the seeds off in modules in the greenhouse - I don't sow them direct in the soil. I must admit I have never known the slimey ones to go for chard and spinach - they must have different tastes where you live.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see I'm not the only one whose photos won't rotate when I want them to.
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of your peas!
So you don't think my unrotated pics are artistic then? The peas have taken ages to get going - I have some in containers in the Rosebank garden and they are twice the size.
DeleteYour garden looks great Elaine - lots of healthy plants, and so many flowers on the broad beans. Are your photos very carefully composed, or do you really have no weeds?
ReplyDeleteNo my photos aren't carefully composed - and I can assure you there are plenty of weeds but I do keep the growing areas well hoed - luckily in a long shot the camera can't distinguish between the two.
DeleteYour garden is progressing nicely. I'm a bit envious of your runner beans, mine have been slow to start.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the slugs and snails have taken a liking to them even though I put pop bottle guards round them. Heaven knows what will happen when we go away for a break shortly.
DeleteIt all looks wonderful, and those Broad Bean flowers; you should have a glut. Delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt's coming along nicely now after a very slow start - I can't wait for the beans to start forming, shouldn't think it will be too long to wait now.
DeleteWho ever gets on top of the weeds? Certainly not me, I have a lovely patch of buttercups at the bottom of my plot! Your plot is looking lovely, weeds don't look a problem to me in those lovely photos. I'm suffering the same problem in that plants seem to be stop/start into growth. The cold weather has really slowed everything down in my plot this year. Think they enjoyed the warm weather we've had really and trying to get started again!
ReplyDeleteIt has turned a little bit colder today - the plants won't know whether they are coming or going - but at least everything is up and running now.
DeleteBe careful when you do dig up that parsnip especially if it is sunny - the sap combined with sunlight causes nasty burns which leaves the skin photosensitive.
ReplyDeleteI always wear rubber gloves Sue just to be on the safe side.
DeleteIt's all looking great. Just goes to show that even with a slow start because of the weather, things do catch up.
ReplyDeleteI think all gardeners start to panic when the weather doesn't behave as it should - it all usually turns out okay in the end though.
DeleteThings look to be progressing well. I like the long view of your veg area. It does look like you have loads!
ReplyDeleteI suppose it does, but everything is pretty small at the moment - I love to see it when it is full to the brim and I can start harvesting fresh veggies every day.
DeleteYou have a fantastic vegetable garden. I always look forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary - I find vegetable growing very rewarding especially when I can start gathering the crops for the table.
DeleteSince my last comment Elaine I am pleased to say that my mangetouts have all emerged looking very healthy, one good sized runner bean plant has emerged and climbing up a pole and what looks to be another two or three are also lurking! I'm feeling happier now! Of course the sunshine did wonders - in fact my rocket bolted in no time so I need to sow another couple of lines.
ReplyDeleteYour plot looks fantastic. I look forward to seeing how your potato 'experiment' pans out.
Jeanne
x
Hurrah for mangetout - we are all a little impatient when we want our plants to grow - nature takes its course and gives a helping hand - all in due course. Rocket is notorious for bolting isn't it - luckily it doesn't take long for new seeds to get going. I will eventually do a post on how successful (or not) my potato experiment worked.
DeleteEverything looks excellent to me. You said some time ago, in a previous post, that you were getting behind with things and I said you would "catch up", well done.
ReplyDeleteYou were right Rooko - I do have a bit of a pessemistic streak in me as far as veg growing goes - you would have thought I would have learned my lesson by now.
ReplyDeleteyour plot is looking great!
ReplyDeleteI am always fighting a loosing battle with the weeds on my allotment... everything I have seems to be a bit little but i thought that this was due to me loosing my first lot of seedlings!
hopefully everything will catch up at some point!!
Sun and rain in small measures is what is needed now to help things along. The plants are progressing very slowly but once the soil is warm enough everything will catch up I am sure.
DeleteYour veg are looking good, Elaine.everything is behind this year and mine isquite a bit more behind than others. I haven't even got some of the veg into the ground yet...
ReplyDeleteCome on Janet - what are you playing at - pull your finger out and get planting - we are going away for a few days - dreading to think what the slugs will get up to whilst we are away.
DeleteHow come your squashes grow sideways?? :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a new growing technique Mark - only people with the knowledge are privilege as to how it's done!
DeleteI am envious of your beans. I had to hold off planting my bean seeds because I did not have any room in the garden. Soon, as the weather warms and things begin to bolt I will have room for my beans.
ReplyDeleteI know the problem it is always a bit of a squeeze at this time of year - I do a lot of succession sowing - so I always have something in reserve.
DeleteIt all looks like it's coming along Elaine - don't despair. Each year is different isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing how you do with using straw over your spuds. My hands are calloused from earthing up several rows of them last month! It would be nice to find a method that's a bit easier but which produces the same harvest.
Things are a bit better here but my first lot of purple podded french beans aren't liking this spell of rainy weather we've had this week. I planted them out in the heatwave last week but already they're looking a bit knackered. I've just sown a few replacements in case they don't make it...
Just got back from holiday to find everything flat on the ground after the recent gales - Nature gives with one hand and takes away with the other
DeleteYour garden is beautiful, Elaine. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have been away on holiday for a week and the garden has turned from neat and tidy into a mass of weeds and looking very unkempt - back to square one.
DeleteEverything looks great to me Elaine. I understand all too well if one takes a day off from gardening it's back at it again.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a nice week off. I loved the long shot of your garden.
Hugs Rosemary...xx
On return from holiday to find plot weed-infested and wind damage been hard at it since I got back on Friday, staking weeding and generally trying to put things to rights. I sometimes wonder if it is worth going away.
DeleteHi Elaine; welcome back. At least you won't need to do any watering! I wonder if you have been anywhere dry for your holiday??
ReplyDeleteYou won't believe this Mark but Norfolk was dry (except overnight) and sunny - kids on the beaches in bathing suits - al our meals eaten outside - a bit of a come down coming back to wind and constant rain - but the veg garden fared pretty well -- at least my neighbour didn't have to do any watering whilst we were away!
DeleteHi Elaine,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. Yes everything seems to have taken a tumble in the rain and wind. Only things which seem to have done well out of all this is surprise, surprise-the weeds!!
It has been full steam ahead since we got back trying to put the garden to rights after the awful wind etc. Some plants are beyond redemption - flattened like a steam roller went over them. Hey ho - gardening is certainly challenging at the moment.
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