Thinking About Climate Change
Following on from unusual weather, some thoughts on climate change and the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Allotment Garden Diary
Growing Your Own, Gardening and Allotment Advice
Yearly Archives: 2018
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Compost Mountain Arrives!
We've had a load of compost. When I say a load I mean a LOAD! Ten tonnes of compost delivered in the biggest trailer I've ever seen.
18 oz Black Russian Tomato! Greenhouse Clearing
A pair of huge, delicious Black Russian heritage tomatoes on a single truss surprise me, de-leafing the tomatoes and starting to clear the greenhouse
Farmer in the Sky – Growing in Space!
My childhood dream of becoming a farmer in space is getting near to reality for some as NASA experiment with growing food on the International Space Station
Leeks, Lettuce & Lumberjacking
Leeks doing well, but is it a new method or just the wonderful summer? Pruning panic growth from the trees and trouble with the shredder.
Autumn Blues
Getting a bit down with autumn but looking at the harvest and processing the crops to store for the rest of the year. Even fallen leaves are useful.
Using Woodchips in Allotment & Garden
How best to use woodchips on a vegetable plot or allotment. Woodchips are a really useful resource but you need to use them properly for best effect.
Tomato Glut, Comfrey Cut & Time for Bed
Blight hits the outdoor tomatoes but we've a glut from the greenhouse crop. The comfrey bed is cut for the compost heap. Putting the raised beds to sleep.
I thought I had it tough!
I moan about our weather but this market gardener has it really tough. She manages 2500 square metres, 600 metres above sea level with a 3 month season
Tomatoes Galore – 2018 Tomato Crop Results So Far
The tomato crop is still coming in but the results are fairly clear for 2018. This year I've grown 7 varieties; in the greenhouse, polytunnel and outdoors.
Sacrificial or stale seed beds
Sacrificial or stale beds are an old but effective method of getting seeds growing weed free. They're very simple and easy to do.
Better Germinating Seeds!
Fothergills introduce a primed seed range under the name Optigrow which offer better and faster seed germination and stronger seedlings.
Peppers, Potatoes & Brassicas
Giant Jumbo Peppers if not many of them, cabbages survive the caterpillar hordes in the net tunnel and potato harvesting results.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
A bit of a mixed bag on the plot. Some things are doing really well but not everything is perfect on the plot which is the bad.
Normal Welsh Summer Resumes
The weather is back to normal now; cool, overcast, drizzle and rain with the odd few minutes of sunshine. Still lots to do when we can.
Greenhouse Gluts & Improving the Soil
The greenhouse crops are amazing this year, loving the hot sunny weather. Reducing surplus plants and improving the soil in polytunnel and greenhouse.
There may be trouble ahead..
This heatwave and the drought has been causing problems for farmers and growers across the northen hemisphere from California to Japan.
More Market Garden Experiments
I've been taking some tips from market gardeners to see how helpful they are for home growers like me. I think it's fair to say that as we get older we become set in our ways so trying out new ways of growing helps keep the brain young too!
New Beds – Market Gardening Methods
I've been looking at how the current generation of small farmers and market gardeners are doing things in the hope of learning a few tricks. Considering a new bed size.
Aubergines, Salads, Weather Changes
The weather changes with a drop of rain, aubergines ripening as are the Ailsa Craig tomatoes and planting out lettuce in containers.
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