Overview of 2007

Well, I guess it is time to look back over the last year and review the successes and failures of the growing year.

Successes include:-

Sunflowers - Giant - up to 9ft tall and Pastiche which was a multi-stemmed for cutting
Brussel Sprouts - Oliver - produced the best sprouts by far
Leeks - Think that Porvite (Autumn Giant?) was the best. Difficult to tell due to labeling failure
Broad Beans - I used mainly saved seed from last year's crop
Runner Beans - Took a gamble during the warm April and started harvesting at least 2 weeks before everyone else.
Sweetcorn - I was given six spare plants from my allotment neighbour
Pumpkins - Nice nicely sized pumpkins.

Failures include:-

Melons - The cold July/August killed the plants
Strawberries - Fought against weeds, theft and an aging crop
Blackcurrants - Need to replace aging bushes

This year I am going to try another shot at parsnips and swede. Normally they don't do well. Neither seem to germinate too well. However, other allotment owners germinate their seed in trays and then transplant with a degree of success.

Happy New Year

Well 2007 didn't quite finish as I expected. A very nasty dose of Chicken Pox laid me flat and prevent the winter digging getting done as planned over the Christmas break. I felt ill when I got home from work on Friday 21st December and took to my bed with what I though was flu. On Christmas Eve morning I awoke covered in spots. The Dr diagnosed Chicken Pox. I can't remember ever being so ill. The planned Christmas dinner with home grown veg didn't really happen. I have been signed off work until 11th January.

The first time I ventured out was 30th December when my other half and I took a slow walk to the allotment. He dug up some leeks and I picked brussels. I spent the rest of the afternoon recovering in bed. It is going to be a long haul.

Anyway - one New Year's Resolution. I am going to make a big effort to label my plants. I start out with good intentions, but I never have enough labels and lose the bit of paper which shows the allotment planting plan. I have managed to label two items - one was a lovely sunflower called Pastiche and the best Brussel plant was one called Oliver - which I originally sowed on 17th March. There seems little point in having a success if I am unable to identify it.

So I have purchased a packet of 100 plant labels so that every plant can be tagged.