There are three grapevines on the plot, and this is the first year that they have become leafy and sent out proper tendrils. They are still very young, and so therefore still establishing themselves. Not quite sure if we are likely to get any grapes this year, but we shall see. I can never remember if I have two red and one white. They are boskoop glory, and madeline sylvener.
The tomatoes are at assorted levels of development. Some are doing well in the raised beds, others are a bit more developmentally delayed in the clay. Whilst they ones in the open ground are flowering, are getting more foliage, they do seem a bit behind. All of the plants are being watered and fed so that they can all catch up. I have never knowingly sown and grown beefstake tomatoes. So would really like these to come off this year. There is also some brandywine and cherokee plants dotted around too. The yellow stuffer tomatoes are looking quite leafy as their flowers start to form.
A quick wander around the poly tunnel. My apologies for the weeds. We have the newly adopted black prince aubergines, settling in and flowering. At the back the happy for now habaneros are sat along the nagas. The dorset and bengle nagas are somewhat developmentally delayed having experienced some sun scorch and loosing their rather lush leaves. Nigel and the pretty purple are no more! I think the sweet pepper california wonder is going the same way. The crimson sweet watermelon is so far so good. I have attached to a cane, so that it can grow up, rather than out.
These are my three very poorly looking Dorset Nagas. They were looking so lovely. And now not so much. I simply cannot get the growing conditions right. Too hot, too cold. Not sure if these will hang in much longer:(
Don’t think I want to grow these anymore. Simply can’t get it right, and they so seem a bit pointless to be fair. This mess , is this years crop. Roughly in line with last years; with the same level of write offs. My heavy clay really doesn’t like them; so perhaps I need to take the hint. The crop and quality does nothing to sell itself. I would rather just sink more garlic.
First ever official crop of strawberries. Only a handful, that Ma rescued from the slimers. Not all red, as they are only just on the turn.
Taste verdict?
Well, they taste of strawberries!
These are some of the plants that were nearly cooked to dearth. So they need a little loving. Sat in lot of water, I am trying to revive them a little. A few of the leaves are very limp; but a few are bit more waxy and toughened looking.
The pretty purple has succumbed and ceased to exist. The two California wonder sweet peppers are also a bit ropey looking.
Meet monty, he is an Atlantic giant pumpkin seedling. He may produce a whopper!
The old horts are an open network of gardeners, horticulturalists, and folks with a passion. This year members are being encouraged to raise money for thrive amongst others in growing an Atlantic giant pumpkin. Think it’s £/kg and we also have to measure the size. Everyone has sown their seeds on the same day, so we shall see if Monty actually manages to compete!
Over the last few weeks, these darlings have been battered and bruised by the wind and rain. I had thought, that they would all cease to exist. So much so, additional reinforcements of cherokee, brandywine, citrina, sunstripe and another yellow one have been called in. There are smaller specimens of katiebell, lizziebell, luciebell and flamingo
The plants are on a spectrum of leafiness and healthiness. To be fair, I always suffer this developmental delay on planting out. They simply don’t like the windy heavy clay. That said, once they get a bit robust, have been fed a bit; they start to unfurl themselves, One thing is for certain, they are not pretty. The conditions make them battle hardened and haggard. The leaves have a spikey quality to them. Some are in open ground, some are positioned in raises beds. There is on, singular, black cherry, is in the poly tunnel by way of experiment.
That does, make for a lot of tomatoes. A few of which are starting to flower. Have arm pitted a few times, the gardeners delight and moneymaker. I know, that for some, these are generic, yucky tomato varieties. In the first time that I am growing these, I shall see just how yucky they might be.
Looking forward to the yellow, and pink ones, as well as the green and red stripey things. But the whoppers, have to be the marmande, cherokee and brandywine’s. Big wibbly tomatos, that you don’t get in the shops.
These have only been in the Wendy house for a day or two. Not looking too bad. We have jamaican jerk, serrano, Tabasco, yellow and red scotch bonnets. Have been fed and watered today.
In the poly tunnel, planted into the ground hot Thai and early jalepeno. The Superhots mentioned above will be placed into the last remaining space when they get a little larger.
Had a strop with one runty, diddly little Dorset naga. Took it out of the pot, and placed it by self into a small pot. Still swear that ‘El macho’ Dorset has a tiny floor.
Have discovered that slimers actually prefer nibbling on the bengle naga.
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