Today I will mostly be growing

Last week we endured the gale force winds and heavy rains, of which my mini greenhouse door snapped under the force of the wind and is currently being propped up. The heavy rain however did seem to help my peas, broad beans and cabbages put on a spurt of growth. I did manage to transplant a few of the tomato and calabrese seedlings that survived the onslaught of the weather and my clumsy handling.

I also couldn’t wait and sowed the rest of my tomato seeds last week and bought some more cucumber seeds (variety: marketmore) and sowed them as well.
Somehow in the wind I managed to tip up my tray of pepper seedlings, however I have saved most of them and sowed some more just in case the current ones don’t survive!

This weekend the wintery weather has continued with heavy snow showers here in Essex, it did settle briefly on my broad beans and then turned to slush.

Update on Raised Beds on Week 6

Plot 1 - Root and Salad Vegetables - Current Progress:
(These seeds were all sown directly into the soil in the raised beds.)

• Radish - french breakfast: Seedlings in 4 weeks, currently growing bigger leaves.
• Lettuce - balmoral: Seedlings in 2 weeks,
• Carrot - amsterdam forcing: Seedlings in 6 weeks,
• Parsnip - countess: Seedlings in 6 weeks,
• Spring Onion - paris silverskin: Seedlings in 6 weeks,
• Beetroot - boltardy: No sign yet after 2 weeks,
• Spinach - tiraz: No sign yet after 2 weeks,
• Spring Onions - north holland red: No sign yet after 2 weeks.

Plot 2 - Brassicas - Current progress:
(These seeds were all sown directly into the soil in the raised beds.)

• Cabbage - spring hero: 32 Weeks progress as sown 24 August 2007 - leaves are getting larger due for harvest April/May 2008.
• Cabbage - advantage: 32 Weeks progress as sown 24 August 2007 - leaves are getting larger due for harvest April/May 2008.
• Cabbage - tundra (winter): No seedlings yet after 2 weeks.
• Cabbage - golden acre (summer): No seedlings yet after 2 weeks.

Plot 3 - Peas and Beans - Current progress:
(These seeds were all sown directly into the soil in the raised beds.)

• Peas - Douce Provence: 18 Weeks progress as sown 17 November 2007 - due for harvest April/May 2008.
• Broad Beans - the sutton: 18 Weeks progress as sown 17 November 2007 - flowers forming, due for harvest April/May 2008.
• Brussels Sprouts - genius f1: No seedlings yet after 2 weeks.
• Squash - hawk f1: Sown in pots in mini greenhouse with view to transplant to plot 3 later on, no seedlings yet after 2 weeks.