We paid a quick visit to the plot on Sunday - mainly to replenish our vegetable stocks. We're still harvesting a reasonable amount of fresh pickings.
The ground is still far too muddy for us to do any sort of gardening - everywhere is soggy and squelchy so it looks as though we could be in for a busy spring playing catch-up.
The sogginess didn't stop me from wandering around taking stock and taking photographs.
I was really keen to find out how the garlic planted directly in the ground was faring. As I mentioned previously, the garlic planted in a tub in the cold greenhouse has shoots. I planted two varieties Early Purple Wight (hard neck) and Provence Wight (soft neck) and on closer inspection it is just the Early Purple Wight that has shoots. I suppose being one of the earliest varieties to crop this was to be expected. And was there any sign of garlic shoots on the plot - yes there was!
Time will tell whether the plot grown plants will survive in the boggy conditions.
In the same bed we have our autumn planted onions. The sets, like the garlic, have been planted through weed control fabric. This is really an experiment and I was keen to find out whether. if the onions had managed to shoot, they had found there way through the slits in the covering. They had which was a bit of a relief.
Last December our autumn planted onions looked like this.
Last year we planted sets on 4 October compared to 14 October this year. This year we planted in wet soil and last year the soil was dry.
We would have planted sooner but having ordered the sets online we had to wait for them to arrive. Now that it seems there are the same varieties available in garden centres next year we'll buy locally which should hopefully allow us to make an earlier start.
Just to complete the allium round-up here's a photo of our leek bed.
Still plenty to go at here - don't look at the weeds!
So will we/won't we have a successful allium harvest? Who knows?
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I notice a red cabbage amongst your harvest: did they do well this year? I planted 4 but only one made it to maturity. One of them completely failed to form any sort of heart.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't get many planted, Mark but those we planted - Huzaro - grew to produce a head. The heads weren't very big but I don't think the variety do grow large as they are advertised as suitable for close planting.
DeleteI've got leek envy, I wish mine would grow to the size that yours have. It's funny how the onions know to grow through the slits in the fabric, I suppose they see a bit of light, however small, and go for it.
ReplyDeleteI did plant them in the slits, Jo so I helped a little and then hoped they would do as you said and head to the light. I am assuming the black fabric will warm up the soil a little too especially in spring.
DeleteWhat fabulous looking carrots Sue. Mine totally failed this year - either didn't germinate or were nibbled as seedlings by the darn slugs. And how so you get your leeks so big? When do you sow/plant out??
ReplyDeleteThe leeks were sown on 8 March in large pots, Jules. We had a pot of each variety, Giant Winter, Blue Solaise and Lyon 2 (Prizetaker). They were planted out on 13 June into deep dibbled holes with just the tope showing. No trimming of tops or roots just popped the young leek in the hole and filled the hole with water. Then it was up to them!
DeleteI have leek envy too ;-)))and the carrots...wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe carrots taste wonderful Bren
DeleteYour leeks look great. I have done well with mine this year too. I haven't checked to see if I have any shoots coming through on the allotment but I planted a lot later than you so I think it might be too early to get my hopes up.
ReplyDeleteWish I had carrots to dig up too.
I did spy lovely looking nails in the onion photo Sue...you really weren't planing on gardening were you!!
I have to paint my nails even for gardening, Tanya as I made a bit of a mess of them tugging up weeds. A large amount of nail was pulled back from the nail bed and after over six months still looks a sight!
DeleteLooks like you are staying very busy in the garden. I like the harvest photo at the top with the leaves in it... looks nice and Autumny rather than like Winter. I think it feels much more like Autumn than Winter but suppost that could quickly change. Hope you had a good Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing we are doing in the garden is harvesting and taking photos, Kelli.
ReplyDeleteAs for Christmas I'm afraid that this year it didn't arrive at our house.