Veg Journal - 2011 April
The sowing season is beginning in earnest, and also the first maintenance work of the year needs to be done, such
as putting up supports for the peas as they grow. After a year of growing in their pots and surviving the cold winter,
we planted out the asparagus in their permanent bed. The renovation of the potting shed is also progressing, and the
weather is continuing to be dry and increasingly warm.
Week ending 8th April
1st - Sowed this year's batch of broad beans and the first batch of beetroot (Boltardy). Also planted the early
potatoes (Charlotte). The first parsnips and turnips are showing through. Also the first green shoots are showing on
the onions, despite the birds still pulling them up.
4th - Picked 3 parsnips.
6th - Bought some fencing mesh from Wilkos and made 7 panel supports for the peas. Installed 2 of them for the
over-wintering batch.
7th - Left the greenhouse doors open during the day to start hardening off the asparagus. Sowed the 2nd batches of
spinach and radishes.
8th - Repotted the peppers and aubergines. Put the 2nd coat of gloss paint on all but the front wall of the potting
shed. Sowed the 1st batches of carrots, rocket and lettuce (lollo rosso).
Week ending 15th April
11th - The leeks and the 1st batch of beetroot are coming through. Bought some plywood from Wickes to strengthen
the potting shed door panel.
12th - Used the last of the 2010 shallots. Also harvested the last of last year's parsnips - one was rotten but the
other was huge! Cut the plywood panel to size for the potting shed door and painted it with wood preservative.
13th - The broad beans from this year's batch are beginning to come up. There are flower buds forming on some of
the tomato plants - gave all the plants destined for the greenhouse a general liquid feed.
14th - Put some supports in for the tallest tomatoes as they're beginning to flop over. The 2nd batch of radishes,
and possibly one of the rocket seedlings are coming through. Transplanted the chives from the asparagus bed to the
leek bed, temporarily. Dug out the trench for the asparagus, and put compost, bonemeal and potash in the bottom of it.
Week ending 23rd April
16th - Transplanted the asparagus into their new bed. Picked 2 large leeks and one small one.
17th - Flowers are opening on the autumn sown batch of broad beans, and there is a flower bud on the autumn sown
batch of peas. Propped up two more of the tomato plants which are beginning to need support. Sowed the 2nd batches of
carrots, beetroot, turnips and spring onions (red & white), and the 3rd batch of peas (a few Meteor which were left in
their packet, but mostly Hurst Green Shaft). Put the next wire support up for the 2nd batch of peas. Picked some
leaves from last year's chard.
18th - The first new potato shoot and lettuce seedling are showing through. Sowed calabrese, broccoli, autumn
cabbage (1st batch), kale and sweetcorn in peat pots and put them in the greenhouse. Sowed the 2nd batch of celery and
put them in the house under a propagator.
19th - One of the spinach seedlings from the first batch has shrivelled - something attacking the roots perhaps?
Shared out the spare soil from the asparagus beds over the other as yet unoccupied beds. Watered again - we really
need some rain! Picked some chard leaves.
20th - Could be the first batch of carrots are coming through, and the flowers on the over-wintering peas are about
to open. Watered a general feed into the plants for the greenhouse. Replanted the one un-sprouted shallot - it did
have one little root, but no other signs of life.
21st - Thinned out the first batch of beetroot, also thinned out the parsnips and replanted 3 of the seedlings in
the few gaps. Sowed the 3rd batch of spinach. Put the netting cages over the peas and the parsnip/carrot bed.
22nd - Something is nibbling the radishes. The first flowers on the peas have opened. Tried washing one of the
enviromesh nets in the washing machine - it didn't get much dirt out, but the net was unharmed by the experience.
23rd - The kale, calabrese, broccoli, sweetcorn and 2nd batch of turnips are coming up.
Click on a photo to see a bigger version:
-
Planting out the year-old asparagus (16th Sep)
-
Breaking up the asparagus root ball (16th Apr)
-
Spreading out the asparagus roots over the soil mound (16th Apr)
-
Firming the soil around the newly planted asparagus (16th Apr)
-
The finished asparagus bed (16th Apr)
-
The veg plot, complete with new mini-greenhouse (20th Apr)
-
Looking north east along the veg plot (20th Apr)
-
Parsnip seedlings (20th Apr)
-
F to B: Onions, garlic, shallots (20th Apr)
-
The remnants of last year's leeks with chives in front and the first two batches of peas to the right
(20th Apr)
-
Spring-sown broad beans in front, with the over-wintering batch behind (20th Apr)
-
Looking west across the veg plot (20th Apr)
-
-
-
Week ending 30th April
24th - All of the new potatoes have now come through.
25th - The autumn cabbage seedlings and the second batch of beetroot are beginning to show through. Chose the best
of the Desiree seed potatoes and planted them (2 in the old birdseed tubs). Transplanted the tomatoes - 3 of each type
in the greenhouse borders, and the rest in buckets, possibly to go outside later on.
26th - The tomatoes seem to be OK in the greenhouse - one has a small brown patch on a leaf where it might have
been scorched in the heat yesterday perhaps. Watered them with epsom salts to try and green them up a bit. The 3rd
batch of peas and 2nd batch of carrots are starting to show through. Picked some chard.
27th - A couple of beetroot seedlings have shrivelled - lack of water, or something attacking the roots? The
flowers on the tomatoes are beginning to open. Put first coat of stain on more gutter supports for the potting shed,
and on the door panel.
28th - One seedling from the 3rd batch of spinach has come through. Picked 2 leeks which are very woody and almost
inedible, probably because they are sending flower buds up - may need to dig the rest up. Put 2nd coat of stain on the
wood for the potting shed.
29th - Transplanted the marigolds into the greenhouse. Sowed the 2nd batch of lettuce/rocket, and the 3rd batch of
radishes, but in the marrow/sweetcorn bed this time. Hopefully this will produce better results than the broad bean
bed, which is rather shady until late in the morning. Put some more undercoat on the front inside wall of the potting
shed.
30th - Several pods are developing on the autumn-sown peas.
Click on the photo to see a bigger version:
|
