Allotment Vegetable Growing in June 2008

Click on the photos to pop-up a larger image

Large Greenhouse with Peppers, Carrots and Marigolds

Large Greenhouse with Peppers, Carrots and Marigolds
05/06/2008

This is the left hand side of my large greenhouse. At the rear of the border are the peppers and in the front of the border some early Nantes carrots.

The carrots are starting to provide us with the odd feed now as I thin them out. On the path you can see the marigolds Val grew for me to ward off the whitefly.

Potatoes Bed on Plot 5

Potatoes Bed on Plot 5
05/06/2008

The potatoes are doing rather well, touch wood. After the dreaded potato blight of last year, this year I'm hoping for better.

Still, if the crop lives up to promise it's showing now I can see us opening a chip shop.

 

Pumpkin by First Early Potatoes

Pumpkin by First Early Potatoes
05/06/2008

I'm getting really tight for space so was stuck for somewhere to plant the pumpkin. It's gone in by the coldframe with the first earlies in and I'm hoping to have them out before the pumpkin starts its takeover bid for the whole plot.

 

Whitefly Control

Whitefly Control
05/06/2008

These are the peppers in the small greenhouse with the whitefly catching yellow cards hanging above them. Hopefully I can control the little beasts before they go wild.

You can see a marigold planted by the glass in the foreground.

Outdoor Plum Roma Tomatoes

Outdoor Plum Roma Tomatoes
05/06/2008

Here we have my plum Roma tomatoes on their eco-mat. The mat stops weeds from growing by the stems and makes it easier to defend against the slugs, whilst keeping the tomatoes off the soil.

See: Growing Tomatoes Outdoors

The black pots between the plants enable me to get water and feed in to the roots. I've cut the bottoms out of them. To the right are the onions and leeks and to the left the Sarpo potatoes.

NVS Evening - John Carver with Show Leeks

NVS Evening - John Carver with Show Leeks
10/06/2008

This is John Carver, chair of our district association of the National Vegetable Society with his show leeks in his polytunnle.

In the background you can see his prize onions growing away.

See: Growing Onions for Show

NVS Evening - Chatting in the Greenhouse

NVS Evening - Chatting in the Greenhouse
10/06/2008

On the right, John Carver and centre John Bebbington with a nice chap whose name I didn't catch, chatting in John Carver's super double glazed and centrally heated greenhouse.

We're off to John Bebbington's allotment next month where he grows a few show stoppers as well.

NVS Evening - Kale

NVS Evening - Kale
10/06/2008

This is Gaynor, wife of our allotment rep. Larry, in the greenhouse. You can see some smashing kale in pots to her right.

Who says you can't grow in containers?

See: Container Growing

 

NVS Evening - Carrots and Parsnips

NVS Evening - Carrots and Parsnips
10/06/2008

Here we see John Carver's carrots to the left and parsnips to the right growing away in barrels inside another of his polytunnels.

These are the four foot plus long ones he grows for the show bench.

See: Vegetable Show Growing

NVS Evening - Refreshments

NVS Evening - Refreshments
10/06/2008

Some members brought along sandwiches and these were laid out on a table in the workshop for us. Mrs Carver has, unfortunately, her back to the camera as she's sorting the tea out.

I think the boards to the right of shot are destined for Tatton show.

NVS Evening - Chilli Pepper

NVS Evening - Chilli Pepper
10/06/2008

I spotted this chilli pepper in the greenhouse which already has small fruits swelling on it. The surprising thing is the small pot it's growing in. I think it was just a 5" pot.

 

NVS Evening - Leeks and Onions

NVS Evening - Leeks and Onions
10/06/2008

Another shot of the polytunnel with the leeks and onions in the raised beds.

Almost industrial show growing!

Strawberry Barrel Netted

Strawberry Barrel Netted
12/06/2008

The strawberries are starting to ripen and the first two were ready so the birds had them!

I've netted the barrel now and hopefully we will get the crop, not them.

Bean Frames on plot 29

Bean Frames on plot 29
12/06/2008

On the left are my borlotti beans, they're leaping away now. The right hand side has runners to the left and climbing French beans to the right.

In the middle I've laid down eco-mat as a temporary path. Helps save weeding and trampling the ground.

Brassicas in their cage on plot 29

Brassicas in their cage on plot 29
16/06/2008

This is my pigeon defence system protecting my young brassicas on plot 29. The sides are fixed lengths of netting on frames made of 2x1. Above is a large net I acquired with the shed, cross supported with some more battens and bamboo canes to stop it drooping onto the plants below.

Pigeons have a habit of sitting on netting and eating the plants through it, so it's important to keep them out of pecking distance.

Judging the Allotment Competition

Judging the Allotment Competition
24/06/2008

Dave Hampsey in the green shirt and John Carver, both fellows and judges for the National Vegetable Society seen conferring on one of our plots.

It's a tough job but somebody has to do it!

 

Prev >> May 2008: | Next >> July 2008

Check out the Allotment & Garden Diary to see what we're doing now and our Monthly Growing Guides

Monthly Free Newsletter

Now Read the Book!

Our Growing Books

Our bestselling books for growing success!
More Information
FREE SEEDS SPECIAL OFFER