Leeks are a winter staple. They are hardy plants and require very little attention apart from watering in dry weather. They do however, like a sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Continue reading
How to grow Leeks
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Yearly Archives: 2014
The Vegetable Growing Year: Jobs to do in August
Traditionally, August has the best of the summer weather. However, autumn and winter is only round the corner, so it’s time to start planning ahead. Continue reading
It’s been a while…
It’s been a while since I last updated my blog. Things have been busy the last couple of weeks and the allotments have taken a back seat. Despite this, I have managed the odd hour or two down there keeping on top of things. Continue reading
Dealing with Carrot Root Fly
Anyone who has grown carrots will know the damage carrot root fly can cause. The fly’s maggots can kill off seedlings and also burrow into the root of mature plants leaving brown unsightly tunnels behind. Carrot root fly also affects parsnips and even celery. Continue reading
The Vegetable Growing Year: Jobs to do in July
July is generally one of the driest months of the year so most of your time will be spent watering. Generally, a good soaking every two-three days is better than a little bit of water every day. You can save yourself a lot of time and water by mulching with organic matter.
Steve’s Allotment Episode 9 – Welcome to Plot 10a
If you’ve been following me on twitter, you may have noticed a tweet last week about a new allotment. Well here it is…welcome to plot 10a.
The Vegetable Growing Year: Jobs to do in June
The risk of frost will have passed and so if you’ve yet to plant out those tender plants, now is the time to do it. There is still plenty to do on the plot but with the extra daylight available, you should have plenty of time to get on top of things. Continue reading
Steve’s Allotment Episode 8 – May’s Tour
It’s almost the end of May and the growing season is upon us. The plants in my cold frame are really coming on. The fruit cage has now got netting around it to stop the birds from eating the fruit. My peas were eaten by mice so I went to the garden centre and bought a few pots. My carrots are coming up nicely although a few went to seed. And finally my onions are doing fantastic.
How to grow Runner Beans
No vegetable plot is complete without runner beans. They are probably the most productive vegetable you can grow and you will often give them away. Because they are so productive, they require humus-rich soil, and it is often a good idea to build a bean trench.
Tomatoes and chillies
My tomatoes and chillies have moved from the kitchen windowsill to their final positions; some in my old man’s greenhouse and some in the coldframe on the allotment. I’m growing three varieties of chillies, as mentioned here, and I’m also growing three varieties of tomatoes. These are Tigerella, Red Star (from the Heritage Seed Library a couple of years ago), and a variety called Tumbler for some hanging baskets on the allotment.
It will be interesting to see how the plants in the greenhouse compare to those in the coldframe, so I’ll keep you updated.