My Baby Leeks 19 May, 2008

Well it was another productive weekend at OPSP. My little leeks, that I potted on last month, have finally been released from their loo roll prisons, to enjoy the freedom of the beds. I managed to plant 19 leeks altogether in 4 rows, planting them slightly closer together than you would in more traditional larger beds; about 20cm apart with about 30cm between rows. It was rather tricky getting those long roots into the holes, especially as I’d never done it before, but I think my technique got better as I went along, so the ones planted out last may come out better! As you can see from the photos, I have two rows on either side of my onions, which are also coming on great. Above the leeks are my two garlic plants which are just starting to show signs of dying back. Towards the end of the bed are my brassicas, intercropped with beetroot and radishes. They too are growing at top notch speed and look very tasty indeed!

 

            

 

As I was pottering around the garden, my neighbour, who has two very impressive allotments in front of our house, asked if I would like a giant leek and a giant onion, show ones no less. Well I couldn’t say no, so along he came later that day with two whoppers. Um, now where was I going to plant them? As space is quite short they have gone into my seed bed. Hopefully this will help keep the local cat out of it. I only hope I don’t kill them as that will be very embarrassing indeed!

 

                

Yahoo!!! 14 May, 2008

I just wanted to post a big thank you to everyone who has helped put OPSP into the Top 100 sites at no. 90 - thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!

A Quick Update 13 May, 2008

Ooops, its been over a week since I last posted anything so I think I better add a quick update. Thanks to the brilliant weather last week we have managed to get a great deal of work done in our little plot. The fence between us and our neighbours is finally up and look pretty good if I say so myself (a big thank you to my hubby for that). The netting to stop the hoards of sparrows that visit my garden is now over the main bed, under which the plants have gone crazy. The onions and brassicas seem to benefit from the diffused light under the netting. It looks like the plants have at least doubled in size over the week.

              

The potatoes planted in black bags earlier in the year have now reached the top of the bags and are growing bigger by the minute. The potatoes themselves should be ready for harvest next month at the earliest. I’m surprised how well these have done given that I have never grown them before, they are definitely a great choice for anyone with a small garden.

                                                     

My ‘free’ strawberries from Peters boss have been planted up in a pot, with a couple added in the small bed. They too are doing really well, with the flowers starting to die back ready for juicy strawberries… I can’t wait!

        

Also this weekend I managed to get most of the weed fabric down ready for the paths, planted up some flowers (calendula, french marigolds and lobellia) in amongst the veg, potted up my sweet peas and planted my baby pumpkin (Wee B Little) against the front wall of the house. I also managed to sow some more radishes, as well as my carrots and beetroot.

                                          

It’s quite astounding the difference a week of sunshine makes to a garden. Everything suddenly comes to life, looking more vigorous and healthy by the day. It has meant extra care and watering, but the results are already out weighing the work. I even managed my very first harvest, it was only a couple of salad leaves for my sandwich yesterday, but they were very yummy indeed!

 

So far I have no regrets at turning my front garden into a veg plot. It is such a joy to see the plants grow and to see the wonder in my baby Emmas eyes when she sees and feels whats growing. I hope that everyone else is having as much fun as me!!

Planting out my brassicas 4 May, 2008

I’m feeling slightly embarrassed today. After having a good old rant about not being able to get out in the garden due to the rain, guess what… the sun has come out! Isn’t that typical…

So what to do in these few hours of sunshine -  well lets go planting.

 

My little collection of brassicas have come on brilliantly, they are nice and hardy and ready to go out in the plot. In preparation of planting at some point this week I added some general fertiliser and after making sure the bed is nicely compact it’s ready for the plants. I planted out 8 plants altogether, 4 broccoli (Samson F1), 2 red cabbages (Ruby Perfection F1) and 2 trial cabbages (visit Trial Page) from SE Marshall’s. I would have loved to plant more but there just isn’t enough room.

In Carol Klein’s book she recommends that the plants are ‘puddled in’. To do this you put your plant in the hole, add water and let it drain away, do this a couple of times, then add the soil and firm well. I think this minimises root disturbances which they really don’t like. Once they were settled I surrounded them with home made carpet collars to keep cabbage flies away. They still look rather small, but as they take a long time to mature I’m not too worried and the space around them will be ideal for salad leaves which will help keep the weeds at bay.

 

 

Up to my eyes in clarts… 3 May, 2008

OK it’s now May and what have I got in my plot??? Not much is the answer to that one. The rain this week has put pay to carrot sowing and to the planting up of my cabbages, broccoli and marigolds that have travelled from my dads cold frame. My strawberries are practically screaming to be planted, but short of getting out my waterproofs, they’re going to have to wait a little longer. At least I haven’t had to worry about watering!

 

On a more positive note my potatoes, onions and peas are coming on really well and my pumpkin seeds planted inside last week are growing like made. And hidden under some fleece my sowing’s of radishes are shooting up, and if I get a break in the rain they will be thinned out. It’s so encouraging to see my little seedlings coming through. At one point I didn’t think I would actually get anything growing in the plot, but it seems I must have green fingers after all!

 

 

         

 

Whilst flicking through this months gardening mags I came across this water butt I just had to share with everyone, I can definietly say this one won’t be gracing my garden!

 

And just a little note for all those who don’t know what clarts means – its a geordie word for mud, but I think you might probably have guessed that already!!