Way Too Wet
Managed to miss most of the rain on Saturday to get the onions out. The ground was very, very wet.
Went down to the plot this morning with my mum. I expected it to be wet so we went in wellies. After yesterdays almighty down pours (that I got caught running in) the plot is in parts completely underwater. The greenhouse hasn’t escaped as there is a couple of inches of water on top of the centre path. No need to water the tomatoes for a few days I guess.
The level of the well is the highest I’ve seen it since I took plot 69 on in January. Maybe a foot below the top.
I feel really sorry for those homeowners who currently find their property in several feet of floodwater.
Fruits Of The Season
Well, it’s been pouring down at plot 69 (as well as everywhere else of course)!
Contents of the fruit cage is wild. Raspberries, tayberries (or are they logan berries?) all doing very well and we’ve picked quite a few too. As you can see from this photo (just!) the red currants have been ready for picking, so we’ve had some of them too - my two young daughters had great fun. Gooseberry bush has gone mad and will need a damn good prune at the appropriate time.
Elsewhere on the plot, the potatoes need digging up as the foliage is now dying off. In fact, I bumped into plot 60 owner Jenny this afternoon and she mentioned that George said that potatoe blight could be a problem.
Suspect my onions need to come out now too I reckon, well guess to be honest. I’ve got no idea yet about you plant in the ground where the potatoe and onions have resided for several weeks?
Stuff in the greenhouse is growing well and several tomatoes are now showing. Something is attracted to the cucumber plants, a black tiny aphid or something - not sure if this is a problem, plants still growing well?
Back outside, either my water butt at the front of the greenhouse is leaking, vandals are messing about or someone is helping themselves. I’m guessing it’s kids messing about.
Raspberries To You
Well, it’s looking like there’ll be lots of raspberries in the weeks ahead. In need of rather good trims, the raspberry bushes inside (and sometimes outside too) the fruit cage look like they are doing fine. Red currants seem to be in abundance too.
On the veg side of things I’m not too optimistic for my rows of dwarf peas. I planted the seeds about 2 weeks ago now and I can’t tell if they are sprouting. Maybe I put them in too deep? Yet another mistake perhaps.
I planted some more beetroot and that is starting to appear by the looks. The row of swede seeds are coming through too and I think I’ll use the remainder of the seeds (soon). You can never have enough swede - well okay we don’t (currently) eat it that often, but if it grows well it’ll boost my novice confidence.
I love the colour of this aubergine plant in the greenhouse. Just have to wait and see how it grows.
No flowering yet on the tomato plants. One of the little fellas isn’t looking very well compared to his taller brothers and sisters.
Plot wise, I am trying to get a grip on the weeds that seem to thrive with ease. I’ve got some way to go yet as it’s a big job unfortunately. I’ve taken some old pieces of carpet down and I’m using them for ground cover.
A couple of plotters have been burning weeds this week - think I’ll do the same too.
Pressing job is to get a gutter on my side of the main greenhouse. There’s loads of rainwater dripping off the roof and currently going to waste and I need to be saving it. I’ll be completely stuffed in the well dries-up. Not sure how I’m going to fix a gutter - need to buy my mate Si a pint and hope that he can dream up some fixing method.
Inside The Greenhouse
Here are my very first (ever) tomato plants inside the main greenhouse. Remember that I’ve only got a half share in the big greenhouse - my neighbours, Simon and Sabina have the other side.
Seemingly, the tomatoes are doing okay so far. No flowering yet - I wonder when that will happen? Aubergine plants (2 of) are looking okay and are a wonderful deep purple colour. Can’t remember the last time we ate aubergine so we’ll be scouring the recipe books out in a few weeks.
I’ve also got about 5 cucumber plants in too. Now I’ve been wondering if they are doing okay because some of their leaves have turned brown but they’re all growing so I’m not sure what the problem is - if at all.
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Seed Shopping
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