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james_logan — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:37:31 CDT

Welcome to the my "Home Grown Vegetables" wiki on Wetpaint.

I only started growing vegetables last year (2007). It seems I am one of many with vegetable growing and allotments the 'new thing'. It is probably a move by all of us to reconnect with 'real food' - we can at least know where these foodstuffs come from!

Personally, I find vegetable growing both practical and relaxing. This year (2008) I grew all my crops from seed, which took more time and care put was so much more satifying and cheaper.

"Home Grown Vegetables and Westcountry seafood"

The reason for starting the wiki is to gather and record information about vegetable growing. Hopefully it will grow into a useful knowledge base.

"Shallots drying in sun with Sparrow"

Tomatoes

james_logan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:19:14 CDT

22-03-08 Six pots of seeds of "Ailsa Craig" in mini propogator. Keeping in sitting room, trying to keep warm enough through the 24 hours. Probably too early!

Tomato "Big Boy (Beefsteak)" (2007)

Vigorous greenhouse variety producing large meaty fruits ideal for sandwiches and salads.

Position - plant in well-prepared fertile soil or growing bag in spring. Support the stem with canes or string.

Plant care - keep moist and feed regularly when the first fruits have formed. Take care to water freely in dry conditions. Remove side shoots as they appear.

Tomato "Shirley" (2007)

A disease-resistant variety producing a heavy crop of fine flavoured fruit for use in salads and many other savoury dishes.

Plant in greenhouse from late April onwards.

In the garden:

Purchased 4 tomato plants (on special offer) 2 xBig Boy and 2 xShirley from Avon Mill.

Planted twoShirley and one Big Boy in a growbag with supporting frame and canes.
Planted oneBig Boy in a medium pot with John Innes No. 3 compost.

Wettest June on record, plants showing fruits but need sun!

Failed to cut off all the 'side shoots'. A big side shoot on one Big Boy (in pot), now too big too remove and flowers have set.

Beetroot

james_logan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:16:28 CDT

22-03-08 15 out of 18 pots germinated. Taken them out of propogator - they are growing well on window ledges.

15-03-08 Put beetroot seeds to germinate in pots in propogator.

In the garden (2007)

Bought young beetroot plants from Noyce's - variety unknown.

Planted out on 31st March. Cold east wind for first couple of weeks and baby plants suffered but no hard frost.

Problems with each plant producing multiple roots and roots "popping up" out of ground as grow together. Cover roots continually with compost to prevent beetroot drying.

In dry spells continually water as these were planted in driest strip in the garden. Next time plant in less dry soil.

First beetroot in June. Continue to pick as grow to large enough size (before reach size of cricket ball) throughout period.

Garlic

james_logan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:12:39 CDT

24-3-08 All bulbs seem to have sprouted and are growing well. Do bird damage either!

Early March 2008 - planted a couple of rows of garlic at allotment. Should have been planted earlier ideally.

Shallots 2008

james_logan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:09:18 CDT

24-03-08 Still having major problems with blackbirds digging up the shallots or undermining them. No actual damage to bulbs apart from being uprooted / disturbed. Have tried every type of baricade but the 'loose compost' continues to be so attractive. Tried new approach - compacting down the soil and making it less attractive, hopefully this will not damage the growth of the bulbs.

09-02-2008 Planted four rows of shallots in prepared bed.

Was it too early to plant? Time will tell.

Potatoes

james_logan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:06:15 CDT

24-03-08 Planted three rows of Cara (main crop on allotment). Clay soil still very heavy so dug in 6 sacks of manure / compost into trenches.

Early March - planted four rows of Arran (First early).

Season 2008

20-01-2008 Bought Arran seed potatoes and placed in egg boxes for chitting.

Season 2007

Planted 'Home Guard' and one other 'early' crop plus a salad crop in 3 large pots. Variety 'Home Guard' did not keep as well as expected.

Broad Beans

james_logan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:04:07 CDT

24-03-08 Most of plants have germinated and tips are about an inch above ground. It has been slow growing. Over the weekend plants some beans in pots to try an fill in the many gaps in the rows.

17-02-2008

Planted 2 x double rows of Broad Bean (Bunyards Exhibition)

Gardeners favourite for over 100 years for its reliable disease resitance and heavy crop of long pods in most soils.

Huge crop of long pods
Sow February under cloches, or March-April outdoors
Prefers well-drained, moist, rich soil
Pinch out growing tip when first flowers set pods to deter blackfly
Harvest from late June

Support the plants as they grow by placing a cane or stout stick at each corner and tying in with string, especially in windy gardens. Keep well watered particularly when flowers are setting. Pick regularly once pods are full to promote further pod production.

Artichoke

james_logan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:02:11 CDT

In the garden:

24-03-08 Staked two of the artichokes as the leaves are getting ripped by winds. The other artichoke lost most of its leaves after the transplant - still hoping it will recover. Heads growing rapidly on one of the plants, not sure whether to remove to let grow.

Feb 08 - transferred 3 artichoke plants that had overwintered to allotment. One showing signs of growing heads.

22-07-07 Bought 4 young artichoke plants from Avon Mill (£1.49 each).

Need to plant and overwinter ready for next year. With plan to convert garden to raised beds may need to plant in large pots priot to new garden.

01-08-07 Planted out last two plants young plants into large pots (one smaller)

Dill

james_logan — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 06:53:57 CDT

In the garden:

06-09-07 Sowed dill seed into seed compost in seed tray. Covered with thin layer of vermilite.

Lettuce

james_logan — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:16:44 CDT

Lettuce 'Lollo Rossa'

Red loose leaf type. Bought 12 transplants (organic) from Avon Mill. Grown by www.growersorganic.com.

In the garden:
11-08-07 Planted out transplants into garden:

3 plants direct into soil (protected by barrier of anti-slug chippings)
9 plants into medium plastic pots for growing on. Will then decide on further transplanting.

Parsley (French Plain Leaved)

james_logan — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:13:17 CDT

Parsley French (Plain Leaved)
Petroselinum crispum hortense

An attractive form of parsely with strongly flavoured leaves, rich in iron as well as vitamins A,B and C. This type of parsely is especially recommended for kitchen use, and looks great in the flower border or herb garden.

Flat, good-flavoured foliage
Ideal for borders and large containers
Sow April to July outdoors
Sow August to February indoors
Prefers a moist, well-drained soil in sun of part shade
Harvest all year

Sowing instructions - sow seed 1/2in deep in drills 12in apart in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth.

Growing instructions - when large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 9in apart. Harvest leaves as and when required.

Can also be sown under glass, in 3.5in pots of free draining compost. Keep at 18-20ºC until after germination. Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions before planting out after all risk of frost.

In the garden:
12-08-07 Planted seed direct into one seed drill. A bit late sowing will wait to see the results (if any).

Parsley (Curly)

james_logan — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:03:19 CDT

Parsley - Champion Moss Curled (Petroselinum crispum)

A superb strain of parsley, boasting tightly curled, rich green leaves of exceptional quality. Makes a fine windowsill pot plant as well as low hedging plant for the herb garden.

High quality, curled foliage
Sow April to July outdoors
Sow August to February indoors
Prefers a moist, well-drained soil in sun or part shade
Harvest all year

Sowing instructions - sow seed 1/2in deep in drills 12in apart in soil that has been raked to a fine tilth.

Growing instructions - when large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 9in apart. Harvest leaves as and when required.

Can also be grown under glass, in 7cm (3.5in) pots of free draining compost. Keep at 18-20ºC until after germination. Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions before planting out after all risk of frost, or pot on for windowsill growing.

In the vegetable garden:

Planted 14-07-2007 direct into seed drill.
(N.B. Pot of parsley amongst herbs is no longer producing foliage so need new supply.)

Radish

james_logan — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:25:20 CDT

Radish "Sparkler 3"

For outdoor sowing from February to September in a prepared seed bed. Sow thinly in rows 9in apart. Cover lightly with half inch of fine soil. Firm gently and keep moist. Seedlings appear 7-14 days. For continuous crops sow every 2-3 weeks.

Thin as required. Keep moist, dry conditions may cause plants to bolt. Protect early sowings with cloches in cold weather.

Harvest April to October, approx 4-6 weeks from sowing.

In the vegetable garden:

Test seeding in medium size pot in John Innes no. 3 in early July.

01-08-07 Picked three radishes - small but very tasty!

11-08-07 Picked remaining radishes - very poor crop. Two with eaten roots, maggots in root.
Conclusion - planting in pot (in John Innes No.3) has not been successful. Pot remained too damp during wet period and some form of other root growth throughout pot.

11-08-07 NEW CROP. Sown seed direct into one row drill and watered in. Will continue to water during current spell of hot weather. Will young seedlings be as prone to pests?

Tomatoes Gallery 2

james_logan — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:21:30 CDT

Home Grown Vegetables - Tomatoes

Tomatoes 08-08-07	Tomatoes 08-08-07
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Tomatoes gallery

james_logan — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:19:33 CDT

Home Grown Vegetables - tomatoes

Three tomato plants in grow bag one in pot	Tomato plants July 07
Tomatoes July 07	Tomotoes with side shoots removed
Tomatoes 08-08-07	Tomatoes 08-08-07
Beef tomatoes 08-08-07	Tomatoes 08-08-07

Squash gallery

james_logan — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:14:39 CDT

Home Grown Vegetables - Squashes

Squash growing in pot	First flower on squash
Squash plants spreading	Squash plants spreading
Squash flower and fruit	Squash flower and fruit
Squash flower and fruit	Multiple squash flowers

Shallots Gallery3

james_logan — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:06:23 CDT

Home Grown Vegetables - Shallots 3

Shallots drying in sun	Shallots drying in sun
Shallots drying in sun	Add photo caption or credit here.
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Shallots gallery 2

james_logan — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:03:36 CDT

Home Grown vegetables - shallots 2

Ground too wet to allow shallots to dry	Shallots picked19-07-07
Shallots picked19-07-07	Shallots picked19-07-07
Shallots picked 19-07-07	Shallot bed after picking 19-07-07
Shallots picked 19-07-07	Shallots drying in sun

Radish gallery

james_logan — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:02:06 CDT

Home Grown Vegetables - Radish

Radish seeded in pot	Radish seeded in pot
Radish 21-07-07	Radish 21-07-07
First crop of radish	Radish leaves attacked by insects
Radish leaves attacked by insects	Radish leaves attacked by insects

Leeks gallery

james_logan — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 01:59:00 CDT

Home Grown Vegetables - Leeks

Rows of leeks	Rows of leeks
Rows of leeks	Banking up leeks 21-07-07
Banking up leeks 21-07-07	Leeks banked in rows
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