Allotment Vegetable Growing in April 2005

Plot 5 Comfrey Patch

10/04/2005

The comfrey is springing up now, so I should have a cut to go under some potatoes.

I've taken some root cuttings and hope to double the number of plants this year.

Plot 29 Onions Garlic Shallots and Peas

10/04/2005

To the right in the foreground, onions garlic and shallots planted last year. All seem to be doing rather well.

To the left onion sets and shallots planted this year. In the background, peas started under cloches,

Daikon (Japanese Radish)

12/04/2005

My friend Wali Hawes who was an incredibly talented potter was living in Japan and posted me some seeds. He passed away in 2014 just short of 62. 

Daikon is a variety of radish also known as Japanese radish, Chinese radish and Satsuma radish. They are white with a milder flavor than the small red radish, and can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds, although they are usually  harvested at 1 to 5 pounds.

Daikon can be eaten raw in salad, pickled, or in stir fries, soups and stews. They have a pleasant, sweet and zesty flavor with a mild bite.

Gobo (Burdock)

12/04/2005

Edible Burdock is called Gobo in Japanese. Plants are cultivated mainly for the slender roots, that can grow to 4 feet long and 1 inch across. Burdock root is very crispy and has a sweet, mild pungent flavor, which is used as a delicacy in Japanese food.

Burdock is a hardy biennial plant, but grow as an annual. Seed are sown in spring for havest in late summer or in autumn for harvest in the next spring.

Blue Shiso (or maybe green)

12/04/2005

From what I can gather, blue shiso is the same as green shiso and different to purple or red shiso (Wow, that's a lot!)

I think it is a sort of mint come salad leaf - will report on it if it grows. Apparently it is eaten with sashimi in Japan.

Plot 29, Onions

19/04/2005

In the foreground is the onion bed. To the left are the seedlings in modules for planting and on the right set grown onions, shallots and to the far right, garlic.

Behind the bed, the peas are just popping up

Plot 29, Salad Bed

19/04/2005

At the rear, the radishes are showing and you may make out the spring onions, which are just beginning to show.

On the right, under the cloche, little gem lettuces planted in modules.

Plot 5, Potato Planting

19/04/2005

Comfrey leaves laid in the bottom of the trench, covered with a little soil, then the seed potatoes are placed on top before being covered with about 4" or 5" of soil.

The comfrey provides nutrients for the seed potatoes to get them off to a good start.

Plot 5, Comfrey Bed

19/04/2005

In the foreground, the newly planted potatoes and in the rear the comfrey bed, undergoing its first cut of the year (19th April)

See How to Grow Comfrey