Autumn

We've had a mild autumn until this week, there's even a few dahlias still in flower but the cold has really arrived these last few days. The summer veg are all over now with the exception of a few hispi cabbages which will need eating up before the slugs have them. Brenda has had a bumper crop of apples again which she's been good enough to share with me. The carnations are still going strong, I picked another big bunch today but this cold weather will probably see them off. The clover I sowed for green manure earlier in the year managed to show itself, I even took a mowing off it. I'll leave it in now to bulk up and dig it in in the spring.

So now there's the winter crops to look forward to: sprouts, winter cabbages, leeks and lots of carrots for winter stews. The broccoli has put on plenty of growth so I'm expecting a good crop in the spring and the spring cabbages are looking good too. Soon I'll be starting the winter digging and the cycle will start all over again.

Leeks

Broccoli

Sprouts and winter cabbage

Last of the "Hispi" cabbages

Spring cabbage, carnations and carrots

Records 2007

Acidanthera - Planted out 10.6.

Antirrhinum "Freesong F1" - Sown in greenhouse 6.4, 1/2 seed tray. Pricked out 28.4 to medium modules x24. Potted on to 9cm pots 27.5. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Planted out 25cm apart16.6.

Broccoli "Sprouting Early Purple Red Arrow" - Sown in greenhouse 15.5, small modules x10. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Best 3 potted up to 9cm pots 9.6. Planted out 75cm apart 23.6.

Broccoli "Romanesco" - Sown in greenhouse 15.5, small modules x10. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Best 3 potted up to 9cm pots 9.6. Planted out 45cm apart 23.6.

Broccoli "White Sprouting" - Sown in greenhouse 15.5, small modules x10. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Best 3 potted up to 9cm pots 9.6. Planted out 60cm apart 23.6.

Brussels Sprouts "F1 Cascade" - Sown 22.4 in small modules x10 in greenhouse. Potted on to 9cm pots 12.5. Moved to coldframe 27.5. Planted out 60cm apart 1.6.

Cabbage "January King" - Sown 22.4 in small modules x10 in greenhouse. Potted on to 9cm pots 19.5. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Planted out 9.6 40cm apart.

Cabbage "Greyhound" - Sown 31.3, 1 deep seed tray in greenhouse. Moved to coldframe 14.4. Planted out 30cm apart 10.5. Destroyed by pigeons. 20 more bought in and planted out 1.6. Harvesting from 29.7.

Cabbage "Derby Day" - 20 bought in and planted out 30cm apart 1.6. Harvesting from 20.8.

Cabbage "Hispi" - Sown 10.6 in seedtray outside. Poor growth due to excess rain, more sown in short seed row 7.7. Transplanted 30cm apart 18.8.

Cabbage "Durham Early" - Sown outside 19.8.

Carnation "Giant Chabaud Mixed" - Sown 25.3 in small modules x30 in heated propagator. Leggy seedlings discarded, more sown, as before x50 but in greenhouse 14.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 19.5. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Planted out 9.6 40cm apart.

Carrot "Amsterdam Forcing" - Sown 21.4 in trough outside. Harvesting from 20.6.

Carrot "Autumn King Improved" - Sown direct 19.6, 1 row.

Carrot "James Scarlet Intermediate" - Sown direct 19.5, 1 row.

Carrot "F1 Flyaway" - Sown direct 24.4, 1 row. Harvesting from 20.7.

Cauliflower "All Year Round" - Sown 22.4 in small modules x10 in greenhouse. Potted on to 9cm pots 12.5. Moved to coldframe 27.5. Planted out 45cm apart 1.6. Harvesting from 1.8.

Chives - Sown 6.4 in greenhouse, x20 small modules, pinch of seed in each. Potted on to 9cm pots 15.5, 3 modules in each pot. Moved to coldframe 19.5. Sold at open day 10.6.

Courgette "F1 Defender" - Sown 28.4 in 9cm pots x20 in greenhouse. Moved to coldframe 19.5. Planted out 2.6. Harvesting from 23.6.

Cosmos "Sensation Mixed" - Sown 6.4 in greenhouse, in small modules x20. Potted on 28.4 to 9cm pots x10 (only 50% germination). Moved to coldframe 12.5. Planted out 26.5.

Gladioli - Planted out 10.6.

Green Manure - Alsike Clover (Trilfolium Hybridum) - Sown 13.5.

Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) "F1 Apricot" and "F1 Pink Blush" - 24 plugs of each (bought in from Wilkos) pinched out and potted on 21.4 to 9cm pots in greenhouse. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Sold at open day 10.6.

Leek "Musselburgh Improved" - Sown 12.5 in greenhouse, 1/2 seed tray. Moved to coldframe 2.6. Planted out 7.7.

Lettuce "Lollo Roossa" - Sown 22.4 in small modules x10 in greenhouse. Potted on to 9cm pots 14.5. Moved to coldframe 27.5. Sold at open day 10.6.

Lettuce "Red Salad Bowl" - Sown 22.4 in small modules x20 in greenhouse. Potted on to 9cm pots 12.5. Moved to coldframe 27.5. Sold at open day 10.6.

Onion "Stuttgarter" - Sets planted 17.3 in small modules x50 in coldframe. Planted out 6.4, 25cm apart in 4x 1/2 rows 25cm apart. Most lost to white rot.

Pea "Early Onward" - Sown direct 24.4, 1 row. Harvesting from 14.7.

Pea "Onward" - Sown direct 19.5, 1 row. Harvesting from 1.8.

Potato "Pentland Javelin" - Bought in for chitting 16.3. Planted out 6.4 (Good Friday), 15cm deep, 30cm apart in 2 rows 60cm apart. Harvesting from 23.6.

Potato "Desiree" - Bought in for chitting 16.3. Planted out 21.4, 15cm deep, 40cm apart in 2 rows 75 cm apart. Bagged up for storing 1.8.

Pumpkin (from Arthur) x2 - planted out 16.6.

Runner Beans "Enorma" - Sown in coldframe 6.5 in large modules x78. Planted out 2.6. Harvesting from 27.7.

Spring Onion "White Lisbon" - Sown direct 24.4, 1/4 row. No germination, more sown as before 12.5. Another 1/4 row sown 2.6. And another 16.6. Harvesting from 7.7.

Sunflower "Italian White" - Sown 14.4 in 9cm pots x12 in coldframe. Most eaten by slugs, 3 survivors planted out 9.6 40cm apart.

Sweet pea "Galaxy Mixed" (saved seed) - Sown 17.3 in 17 pots, 3 to a 9cm pot in coldframe. Planted out 13.4 20cm apart. Pinched out 6.5.

Thyme "Old English" - Sown 6.4 in greenhouse, x20 small modules, pinch of seed in each. Potted on to 9cm pots 14.5, 3 modules in each pot. Moved to coldframe 19.5. Sold at open day 10.6.

Tomato "Gardeners Delight" - Sown 25.3 in small modules x10 in heated propagator. Moved to greenhouse 6.4. Potted on to 9cm pots 14.4. Potted on to bottomless 15cm pots 6.5. Planted in growbags 2.6.

Verbascum "Phoeniceum Mixed" - Sown 31.3 in half seed tray on windowsill. Moved to greenhouse 7.4. Pricked out 21.4 to medium modules x30. Potted on to 9cm pots and moved to coldframe 12.5. Sold at open day 10.6.