Good Friday 2014

First Early Potatoes making good progress. 

Greenhouse tomatoes doing well. 

Peppers coming along nicely. 

Raised beds in April

My reckoning is I'm about a month ahead of last year... 

The first early potatoes planted last week after being stored in the fridge are emerging already.

Raised beds are quite a lot warmer than clay soil around them. Lettuce seedlings already germinating, I'm growing a cut and come again variety, less room and look better in a salad and less waste! 

April Greenhouse

Greenhouse planted up with tomatoes and peppers. 7 April 2014

Summer may have begun...

The potatoes are forming flowers. I had a rummage today and there are some marble sized potatoes forming. 

Potatoes are monsters taking over their bed!

The broccoli and calabrese equally monstrous!

The greenhouse is also growing a treat with first tomatoes setting nicely, cucumbers growing and peppers popping!

Runner Beans

Runner beans have started to run!

The potatoes are growing well...

Tomatoes are setting first fruits...

The raised beds...

Herb Garden...

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. With mint planted in a large pot and buried to stop it running wild!

Before...

After...

First May Bank Holiday Weekend

The Veggies...

As I predicted, no serious rain now for over a month!  Had I have planted or sown at the allotment it would have meant evening watering sessions.  A real chore being able to only use butts and watering cans!  However look at my raised beds...

 

The potatoes (first early) have shot up in two weeks!  I keep a second sowing of seed potatoes (first early) in the fridge for a second crop after the first.  I've successfully done this at the allotment for five years.  Onion sets are taking off.  Pak choi bolted (I've researched this, apparently they are day neutral plants and require equal day and night time so too early to have planted will sow more later in year), broccoli doing well and seedling beetroot, carrot and radish appearing!

 

 

I heard on Radio 2 today (Monday Bank Holiday) that we are a month behind with regard to the weather, and not to plant runner beans out for another three weeks!  It's Location, Location, Location!  In my little sheltered site mine are doing really well!  I may well have to eat sour grapes, but it was 22 Centigrade today!  Broad beans popping up!

 

 

Potatoes and onions mixed together, I wonder who will do best!  Bet on potatoes!

The Greenhouse

With the last few weeks of sun The Greenhouse has taken off...

 

Tomatoes obviously enjoying their sunny aspect!

 

 

 

The cucumber was also a grafted 'Mini' variety.  Grows to about the same size as a gherkin.  First fruits already set and it's only May 6th!  The Greenhouse is unheated by the way!