Thursday 20 January 2011

Digging out the compost

Tuesday was a free day and I knew that my compost bins were in desperate need of emptying before I got going this season.
So it started from this:

then had 14 of these:

and then got to this:

I'd had wasps nesting in the bin during last season and fortunately they had all disappeared/died during the cold weather and all that was left was the empty nest:



The rest of the plot is looking rather sorry for itself, but in a couple of months it will be much different I'm sure
Rhubarb

Rasberries 



Black salsify and swede 

Parsnips 

Leeks

Purple sprouting broccoli

Spinach

tiny broccoli florets!


Not a bad haul brought home for mid January!

Monday 17 January 2011

Planting Plan completed :D

Hoorah! Finally got my plot plan completed. Everything should be rotated from last year and the year before.
Just need to check sowing dates for everything then jobsagoodun :D


Broad Beans (Aquadulce)
(The Sutton)



Peas (Junos)



Climbing French beans (Blue Lake)
Rhubarb

Raspberries (Joan J)


Corn (Incredible)




Strawberries

Tomatoes (Alicante and Money Maker)

Potatoes (Aran Pilot)
(Desiree)


Squashes

Roots
(parsnip – hollow crown; Tender and True)
(carrot – Amsterdam forcing 3; early nantes5; chantenay red cored 2, nandor F1)
(beetroot – Detroit 2)


Asparagus

Pumpkins






Courgettes
Brassicas
Early purple sprouting broccoli
Cabbage – greyhound

Cauliflower – All year round

Spinach (Perpetual)


Compost bins
Onions  (Sturon; Alisa Craig; North Holland Blood Red)

Shallots (Golden Gormet)

Shed

Leeks (Musselburgh)










































Hopefully by the end of the week I should be able to get down to the plot and see if any leeks, parsnips and sprouts have survived the winter, and generally how the ground is looking. Its been a long time since I got down there to visit :(






Sunday 16 January 2011

New Year and still no plan!

I've still not got my plot planned for this year. It will be my 4th growing season and I really need to make sure that I rotate things properly.

I have managed to buy some seed potatoes today. Probably way too many for my needs, but I'm sure I'll be able to find someone to take any excess off my hands. Also bought some onion and shallot sets.

Hopefully I'll be able to get to the plot for the first time this year this week, and for the first time since about November as well. Hopefully the leeks have survived the winter and I know that one of the compost bins needs digging out, hopefully getting rid of any remaining wasp nest as well!