Heavy Rain suspended work on veg plot so now for some replays

In true Wimbledon style, (no, I haven’t been singing cliff richard songs to clear the clouds) all weekend activities have been suspended and my hopes of doing any gardening or maintenance on the veggy plots were washed away with the very heavy rain.

Instead I will be showing some delightful pictures of my purchases at last weeks Essex Garden Show in Brentwood.

Weeping Willow dwarf tree (Salix caprea Kilmarnock) (£10 bargin)

Broad Beans, Slugs and Plot Update Week 14

Today I was mostly picking baby slugs off Plot 1. It is official that vermiculite and copper tape definitely do not work as slug repellents.

Upon closer inspection on Plot 1, the baby slug family have obliterated my carrots, put holes in my spinach and munched through some lettuce seedlings. As I’ve just read a startling fact that 95% of slugs are underground, its time to get tough and order the nematodes.

Nematodes are a type of parasite that feed on the slugs underground. It is sent in a packet of powder which is mixed with water and using a watering can applied to the plot or soil. Each packet lasts 6 weeks and re-application is necessary. Each standard pack is approx £9.49 and treats up to 40 square metres. There is a large pack for bigger areas. Click here for more info about nematodes.

Dwarf Beans (Ferrari and Borlotto) planted out

Today I was mostly planting out my dwarf beans (ferrari and borlotto) and creating the bamboo cane framework to support them in the raised bed.

Bamboo cane support for Dwarf Beans
I cut 4 x 6 foot canes in half and put them in the soil opposite each other in the shape of an X. I put four of these in with enough space to plant a bean to a pole or cane. I then put another 3 foot cane across the tops of all the X shaped canes to stabilize the structure. I then used garden twine to secure the two upright and top horizontal bamboo canes together. (See picture above for more details). I planted one bean to each pole or cane but you can plant 2 to a cane if you want.

Heres what it looks like now:-

Ferrari Dwarf Beans at the back of the plot and Borlotto dwarf beans at the front.

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This post has now moved to my new site iGrowVeg.com.
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• Dwarf Beans (Ferrari and Borlotto) Planted out

No Room in Plot for Runner Beans!

As you can see from the picture above, I have not left any room for my runner beans, big oops!

It’s a bit of a logistical nightmare this year as I’ve decided to grow new crops and haven’t quite researched the correct harvesting dates. I had planned to put the runner beans in Plot 3 after the broad beans and peas had finished their crops, however the broad beans and pea pods are only just forming in May and my runners are a week away from needing to go into the ground, doh!

Nothing came up out of the soil with my first sowing of brussels sprouts so luckily i’ve managed to squeeze my dwarf beans into the last scrap of space left so at least thats something.

Solution
I have decided to build another narrower raised bed plot just for the runner beans this year. This will be done next week so I can get then runner beans into the ground.

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This post has now moved to my new site iGrowVeg.com.
Please view the new post on the link below:

• No Room in Plot for Runner Beans

Mini Greenhouse – Update on Seedling Progress

I’m still having some organisation issues with the lack of space in my mini greenhouse. I know its my own fault I have 13 cucumber seedlings potted on and I’m the only one who eats cucumber in my household however I can’t bear to give up any seedlings. Also I have let a few flower seedling trays creep into the greenhouse this year as our garden borders are in desperate need of brightening up. (they have had a distinct lack of attention due to my vegetable plot). So I have a bit of a juggling act on my hands!

This weekend I have planted out the 3 calabrese plants into plot 3.

Potted on 1st batch of february Tomato ‘unknown’ seedlings into larger pots.

Potted on Broccoli (tenderstem) seedlings

Somehow I think I have planted too many Broccoli and Calabrese seeds (this might be adding to my storage issues!):

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This post has now moved to my new site iGrowVeg.com.
Please view the new post on the link below:

• Mini Greenhouse – Update on Seedling Progress

Week 12 – 04.05.08 – Plot Report

The weather this week has been more favorable to gardeners with a mix of sunshine and showers. This is the perfect weather for seedlings to put on a spurt of growth and tender plants can be planted out without fear of frosts.

My lovely dwarf beans will be planted out soon on Plot 3. I’m growing varieties Ferrari (same as last year) and a new one – Borlotto. I can’t wait to see the mottled red and white pods on this variety. Then my runner beans won’t be far behind.

Below are some comparison photos of my plots so you can see the progress in just 2 weeks. The first picture is 2 weeks ago on 19.04.08 and 2nd is a current picture of my plots on 03.05.08:-