Top performers

For the final post in my 2012 summary, I have saved the best 'til last. My star plot performers may not be the crops that have produced the most but the first batch I am awarding a B for better than expected. This in many cases means better than expected considering the weather conditions and how that affected my expectations.

Firstly there were the runner beans. These didn't perform any better than normal but they seemed to shrug off the poor weather and just carry on  flowering and cropping as though it was just an ordinary summer. As usual we gave up picking before they gave up producing.

Then there were the potatoes which everyone was predicting were going to literally be a wash-out. In our heavy clay soil we figured that even if the weather didn't finish them off that the slugs would have a field day. In the end, although the individual tubers may have been been a bit smaller, we ended up with an average sized crop. For producing a fairly average crop this year, potatoes deserve a B. I think the fact that we only grow first and second earlies and not maincrop varieties may have helped. A summary of how the varieties performed is here.

We were pleased with our cauliflower harvest - every plant produced a head which isn't always the case and the curds were surprisingly clean despite the battering they endured from the rain.

Cabbages too seemed to thrive in the wet conditions. We had expected to be assailed by the smell of rotting cabbages but were fortunately spared this delight.

After last year's carrot disaster we have been more than happy with this year's crop which we are continuing to harvest. 

We started and now end the year harvesting leeks. It wasn't exactly growing weather when the leeks were planted but they have soldiered on to produce a good crop which will hopefully see us into next year. The stems/bulbs may not be the length of prize winning specimens but they are perfect for us.

Then we have the vegetable that is used as a fruit. Last year we thought the really dry season (remember that) had killed off our rhubarb but thankfully phoenix-like it has resurrected itself and provided us with plenty of crumble material. Oh! and not forgetting the rhubarb crumble muffins.

When the fruit first set we didn't think that the redcurrants were going to do very well. They may have taken a little longer to mature and ripen but in the end we had plenty of redcurrants to pick and freeze leaving enough for the birds to tuck into when we had taken all we wanted.

The last B grade performer is our newly planted Loch Ness thornless blackberry - a recommendation from Tanya - thanks Tanya. Being a new plant we didn't expect much of it this year but it exceeded expectations and is full of promise. Picking blackberries is far less hazardous than it is from its thorny cousin.

Now we come to the A listers. A for amazing.

Just two plants in this category - both fruits - only the first is a fruit that we use as a vegetable. I really did not expect a bumper cucumber harvest this year. Not when summer was so cool - well let's face it cold. What is more amazing I am talking outdoor cucumbers here, not ones being cosseted in a cosy greenhouse. The plants produced fruits by the bucketful - so much so that I even had to resort to going door to door in my neighbourhood giving some away.

The other star performers were the raspberries, red, yellow, purple, summer and autumn fruiting. We started picking in June and the fruits just kept on coming. We didn't even protect the canes with netting and often disturbed feasting blackbirds when we approached to take our share. There was plenty for all of us. How the fruits didn't end up battered and bruised by the rain I'll never really understand. The yellow ones were even less spoiled than they have been in previous years. Its just amazing!

Copyright: Original post from Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/ author by S Garrett