Another season nearly over

We had our first frost here on November 2nd. I've taken the remains of all the flowers out now and put them on the compost heap. As we head into winter there's still plenty of vegetables to look forward to from the plot: carrots, leeks, brussels sprouts and winter cabbages. In store I've got potatoes and onions, plenty of frozen peas and beans and jars of pickles and jams. Thinking about next year I need to get my Kings seed order in and order a load of muck for digging in. I'll also be sowing Aquadulce broad beans this week for an early spring crop.

This is how things turned out this year:

Records by plant name 2006

Antirrhinums "Bright Butterflies F1" and Freesong F1" - sown in heated propagator 11.3 , 1/2 seed tray of each. Germinating 16.3. Moved to greenhouse 25.3. Pricked out 9.4 to medium modules x24, 1 tray of each. Potted on to 9cm pots 23.4. Moved to coldframe 6.5. Planted out 13.5, 30cm apart.

Broad Bean "Aquadulce" - Sown 9.11.05, started picking 8.6.06. Sown 23.11.06 for cropping spring 2007.

Brocolli, purple sprouting - bought in 4.6, planted out 18.6.

Brussels Sprout "Cascade F1" - sown 9.4 in greenhouse in small modules x10. Germinating 14.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 30.4. Moved to coldframe 6.5. Planted out 13.5, 60cm apart.

Cabbage "Golden acre-primo (II)" - sown 14.5 in short nursery row. No survivors - slugs?

Cabbage "Greyhound" - sown 9.4 in greenhouse in small modules x20. Germinating 16.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 6.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 20.5 30cm apart. Harvesting from 7.7.

Cabbage "Hispi" - sown outside in seed tray 10.6. Planted out 8.7. Harvesting from 2.9.

Cabbage "January King" - Sown 15.4 in small modules x10 in greenhouse. Germinating 22.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 13.5. Moved to coldframe 20.5. Planted out 27.5.

Carnation "Sprite Mixed" - sown 26.3 in small modules x50 in heated propagator. Germinating 30.3. Moved to greenhouse 4.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 22.4. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 20.5, 30cm apart, 1 double row.

Carnation "Giant Chabaud Mixed" - sown 1.4 in small modules x50 in heated propagator. Germinating 4.4. Moved to greenhouse 9.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 29.4. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 20.5, 30cm apart, 1 row.

Carrot "F1 Flyaway" - Sown 22.4 11/2 rows, 30cm apart. Gaps resown 20.5.

Carrot "James Scarlet Intermediate" - sown broadcast 1 row 27.5.

Cleome "Serrulata Solo" - sown 26.3 in 1/2 seed tray in heated propagator. Germinating 30.3. Moved to greenhouse 4.4. Pricked out to large modules x30 15.4. Moved to coldframe 7.5. Planted out 13.5, 30cm apart.

Cosmos "Sensation Mixed" - Sown in greenhouse 23.4, small modules x30. Germinating 27.4. 10 plants potted on to 9cm pots 13.5. Moved to coldframe 20.5. Planted out 27.5.

Courgette - bought in, planted out 10.6. Harvesting from 3.7.

Dahlia "Cactus Mixed" - sown 1.4 in heated propagator, x30 small modules. Germinating 5.4. (Germination only 30%). Moved to greenhouse 8.4. Potted on to 9cm pots x10 19.4. Moved to coldframe 6.5. Planted out 13.5, 60cm apart.

Dahlia "Figaro" - sown 9.4 in heated propagator in small modules x30, only one germinated (old seed?), more sown 15.4. Germinating 18.4. Moved to greenhouse 21.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 6.5. Moved to coldframe 20.5. Planted out 27.5.

Dimorphotheca "Sinuata Mixed" (African Daisy) - sown in greenhouse 1.4, x30 small modules. Germinating 8.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 23.4. Moved to coldframe 6.5. Planted out 13.5, 30cm apart. Picking from 10.6

French Marigold - Sown 15.4 in heated propagator, small modules x30. Germinating 18.4. Moved to greenhouse 21.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 6.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Sold at open day 4.6.

Gooseberries - pruned 28.2. Picking 7.7

Leek "Lyon Prizetaker" - Sown 15.4 in 1/2 seed tray in greenhouse. Germinating 28.4. Moved to coldframe 27.5. Planted out 11.6.

Lettuce "Lollo Rosso" - Sown 15.4 in heated propagator in small modules x10. Germinating 18.4. Moved to greenhouse 21.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 6.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 20.5. Picking from 9.6.

Lettuce "Red Salad Bowl" - Sown 15.4 in heated propagator in small modules x20. Germinating 18.4. Moved to greenhouse 21.4. Moved to coldframe 7.5. Planted out 20.5. Picking from 9.6.

Lettuce "Tom Thumb" - Sown 22.4 in greenhouse, small modules x10. Germinating 25.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 8.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 20.5. Picking from 8.6.

Lupin "Sunrise" - Sown 15.4 in coldframe, medium modules x24. Germinating 19.4. Potted on to 10cm pots 13.5. Sold at open day 4.6.

Onion "Ailsa Craig" - sown in small modules x50 in greenhouse 26.3. Germinating 7.4. Moved to coldframe 30.4. Planted out 15cm apart 14.5.

Onion "Stuttgarter" - sets bought in 8.3, planted out 25.3, 25cm apart in 1 double row.

Pea "Early Onward" - 1 row sown 14.4. Harvesting 25.6.

Pea "Onward" - 1 row sown 6.5.

Petunia "Super Cascade Improved F1" - Sown in greenhouse 23.4. Germinating 5.5. Pricked out to medium modules x2 20.5, planted in containers 10.6.

Potatoes "Maris Piper" - earlies - bought in and set out for chitting 8.3. Planted out 1.4, 30cm apart in 2 rows 60cm apart. Earthed up 6.5. Harvesting 23.6.

Potatoes "Desiree" - maincrop - bought in for chitting 8.3. Planted out 22.4 40cm apart, 1 row, 75cm apart. Earthed up from 14.5. Harvested and bagged 16.9.

Potatoes "King Edward" - maincrop - Planted out 22.4, 30cm apart, 2 rows 60cm apart. Earthed up 20.5. Harvested and bagged 9.9.

Raspberries - summer fruiting - picking from 2.7.

Raspberries - autumn fruiting - pruned 28.2.

Rudbeckia "Irish Eyes" - sown 9.4 in greenhouse in small modules x30. Germinating 21.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 13.5. Moved to coldframe 27.5. Planted out 4.6, 45cm apart.

Runner bean "Enorma" - Sown in greenhouse 7.5 in large modules x78. Germinating 14.5. Moved to coldframe 20.5. Planted out 27.5. Picking from 2.9.

Spring Onion "White Lisbon" - sown 1/4 row 27.5.

Statice "Art Shades Mixed" - sown 9.4 in heated propagator in small modules x30. Germinating 12.4, moved to greenhouse 14.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 30.4. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 20.5 30cm apart 20.5, 1 row. Picking for drying from 8.7.

Strawberries - started picking 8.6.

Sunflower "Pastiche" - Sown 15.4 in coldframe in 9cm pots x20. Germinating 23.4. Planted out 27.5

Sweetcorn - bought in, planted out 10.6.

Sweet pea "Anniversary" - Sown 23.4 in greenhouse, 3 to a 9cm pot, 8 pots. Germinating 2.5. Moved to coldframe 13.5. Planted out 27.5.

Sweet pea "Galaxy Mixed" - Sown 11.3 in greenhouse, 3 to a 9cm pots, 18 pots. (18 pots=2 pkts of seed, buy 3 pkts next year, or save seed). Germinating 29.3. Moved to coldframe 9.4. Pinched out from 14.4. Planted out 7.5. Picking from 17.6.

Tomato "Gardeners Delight" - sown 26.3 in small modules x10 in heated propagator. Germinating 30.3. Moved to greenhouse 4.4. Potted on to 9cm pots x8 15.4. Potted on to 15cm pots 8.5. Bottoms of pots removed and planted out in growbags 20.5. Harvesting from 8.7.

The middle of September and I've harvested and bagged the maincrop potatoes and all the onions. Still plenty to eat from the garden: the Hispi cabbages are ready, there's carrots, courgettes, tomatoes and finally plenty of runner beans too. In the fruit department the plums have been cropping really well as usual although the apple and pear crop is down. Still plenty of flowers too: the antirhinnums are over and on the compost heap but now there's carnations, cosmos, rudbeckias, sunflowers and dahlias, and yet another flush of statice for drying.

Runner beans

Spuds harvested

Plums

Statice

Rudbeckia

Dahlias

Cosmos

Carnations

Sunflower

The middle of August now and the heatwave is finally over and we've had plenty of rain. I'm cropping potatoes, cabbages, tomatoes and courgettes as well as sweetcorn and carrots. About half the onions have been harvested for storing and there's plenty of cut flowers. Plenty of fruit too, the autumn raspberries are cropping as are the blackberries, and the plums are almost ready. The only disappointment has been the runner beans, the heat was just too much for them, though there's more flowers on them now so I should get some by next month.

Carnations

Statice

Snapdragons (antirrhinums)

Dahlias

Sunflowers

In July now and still hardly any rain, save for one downpour which broke the heatwave we've just been having. I try not to water my crops, relying instead on incorporating plenty of compost and manure to conserve moisture in the soil, although I have been watering the peas as the pods are forming. The early peas are mostly harvested now just as the maincrop are ready; I've also been harvesting the early potatoes and the first cabbages, courgettes and tomatoes. The onions are a really good size despite not being watered. The soft fruit has also done well, the strawberries are about finished now but the raspberries and gooseberries are ready for picking. None of the cut flower crops have been watered either but despite this both the sweet peas and snapdragons have been producing well and the rudbeckias are just coming into flower.

Planting out cabbages

African daisies

Peas

Raspberries

Snapdragons

Carrots, onions and potatoes

Onions

Sweet peas

By the middle of June most of my crops are doing quite well even though the weather has been hot and dry. The broad beans, lettuce and strawberries have been cropping for about a week now and the early peas will soon be ready. The early potatoes are flowering and the brassicas are coming along nicely, as are the onions and carrots. I've been picking African daisies and the first sweet peas although the hot weather has forced the dahlias to flower early rather than putting on more growth.

African daisies

Dimorphotheca "Sinuata Mixed"

Brassicas

Peas filling out

Onions and carrots

Sweet peas starting to flower

End of May

By the end of May the plot is just about set out, leaving room for a few successional sowings. It's been a wet end to the month, which is just as well because previously it had been very dry. It's a good time to get a mulch on, to feed the soil and keep the moisture in.

Pests

For me the main problems are with slugs and snails and pigeons, particularly on the brassicas. I find that sprinkling a circle of lime around each brassica plant is usually sufficient to deter slugs and snails but this year a heavier infestation means I have had to resort to slug pellets. I create a trap by putting a few pellets under a margarine tub where there is no danger of the birds eating them or the dead slugs and dispose of them each morning, renewing the pellets where necessary. I hang old CDs over the brassica plants, these blow around in the wind and reflect the sun; this keeps the pigeons off, although people with a serious problem use netting.

Plot this weekend

Planting out

By the middle of May it's time for PLANTING OUT, firstly the brassicas and then, once the danger or frost has passed, the flowers.

Outside now at the beginning of May the potatoes are coming through and need earthing up, the broad beans are flowering, the first row of peas is up so it's time to sow another, the sweet peas need planting out; the trees are in leaf and blossoming and all around everything is spurting into growth!

Cherry tree blossom