Corn

Finished work a little early to pick up a new poster, for the 3 exhibitions coming up (Wrexham/Chester on 8th - Sheffield/Chesterfield on 9th - Leeds on 15th June)

The new 'fresh' logo tops an image kindly supplied by Zebra Photography.

This early finish allowed us to enjoy a hot sunny evening at the allotment and catch up on some planting out.

Sweetcorn planted into bed B2, and French Beans into C2.

Ground still very damp from last 3 weeks of wet weather but watered strawberries in any case, along with pots.

Another couple of hot days forecast so should get a few more things planted.

Blow Me

With a severe storm due to hit northern britain on Monday - a quick visit to baten down the radishes...

April's warmth a few things particularly the fruit trees and bushes are a little more advanced than usual and with strong winds already hitting ahead of tomorrow's tail end brushing through.

Assuming they don't all fall off it is looking like a massive redcurrant and black currant crop this year.

Took corn down to acclimatise and will plant out soon but a cold May retains regular threats of frosts.

Salad Days

A sunny Saturday visit to plant out 20 sweetcorn (now a pathetic 3-5" high) along with a test Butternut Squash. Interplanted with little gem lettuce to distract slugs (all in bed F). Scattered Bonemeal and watered in - as run out of dried blood... have used blood last couple of years and seems to give them an excellent fast nitro burst of growth.

Checked a potato plant in E2, but none forming yet - very late this year!

Cleared leeks and salsify out of A1 - save for a row of leeks that will be flowering - and planted peas in their place. French Bean seedlings decimated by a slug in mini polyhouse, only 3 left!

Planted last of leek seedlings into D1.

Although a bit of rain expected in next couple of days, looking like it will be dry after so gave everything a quick water.

Cropped mustards, little gem, radish (some upto golf ball size and not a lot of mouse damage) to make up an excellent salad for tea.

May

Brassicas and Beans coming along nicely and should be ready to go in ground shortly.

Thurs 6...

Belated bought some sweetcorn and planted today (in attic) along with a few pots of basil.

Weds 6...

Cropped forced rhubarb today and left uncovered now. Broke off developing flower heads that were just starting in all 3 patches.


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Catching Up

June was a warm month and everything has been growing well so now seems an appropriate time to review where everything is at.

Bed A1 (Alliums)
- 2 salsify (2008) grown on for seed - has beautiful seed heads (hundreds collected already)
- Parsley (2008) also grown on - still edible if a little tougher
- 6 clumps of red spring onions
- Leeks, still very small so it may be baby leeks for Christmas dinner.
Bed A2
- Around 60 Stutgarter white onions
- 2 surviving garlic (2008)
- patch of sunflowers (giant russian)
- side row of Little Gem Lettuce

Bed B1 (Legumes)
- Broad Beans (had first early crop for tea last night)
- patch of sunflowers (giant russian)
- row of leeks (2008) - bit tough to eat but fine for flavouring stocks and hopefully will flower for seed
Bed B2
- Peas
- Dwarf French Beans
- Sweet peas for a splash of late colour and food for bees

Bed C1 (Brassicas)
- Khol Rabi - now swelling fast, still no idea what they taste like or what to do with them! Originally intercropped with oriental mustards for salads but now all eaten.
- Swedes (originally intercropped with radish, now eaten)
- Turnips (originally intercropped with radish, now eaten)
- Summer/Autumn Cabbage (with 1 last spring cabbage remaining)
Bed C2
- Brussel Sprouts (intercropped with summer cabbage)
- Red Cabbage (intercropped as above, and 1 savoy)
- Cauliflowers (eaten half so far, and intercropped with radish)
Bed F1
- radish
- oriental mustards
- little gem lettuce
these will all be eaten over the summer to leave just:
- broccoli
- kale nero

Bed D1 (Roots)
- Carrots
- Beetroot
Bed D2
- Charlotte 2nd early potatoes (first taste laste week!)
Bed E1
- Jersey Royal 1st early (about half plants eaten so far and absolutely delicious)

Bed E2

Sweetcorn (growing strongly, but not quite so good as last year as July has been so much cooler)
- a border of dwarf sunflowers on 3 sides
- side row of Little Gem lettuce (under a cloche to keep tender)