Having missed my normal visits to the plot because it wouldn't stop raining, I grabbed the chance to visit this afternoon while my wife was out at a meeting.
However, when I got to my plot, having stopped off to sort out the removal of some screws from the frame of the greenhouse being set up on the 'Special Needs' plot, I found I had not brought down the pea and bean seeds I had intended to sow. That's because I am sorting through all my seeds ready to make up my seed order for next year!
I did have my onion sets and shallots so I set about planting them. Because I have sown green manure on next year's onion and roots patch I had to start by hoeing the emerging seedlings and raking them off. I then planted half a row of 'Eschallote Grise' (French for 'grey shallots') and half a row of 'Jermor'. The French ones, if they grow, make a very strong flavoured shallot ideal for dicing onto my salads. 'Jermor' got me a prize in the Roeshot show this summer; huge red shallots which are excellent in the kitchen.
With only 10 of each in the packets I managed to fit them both into one row. However, I realised that I had planted them and my red onion sets into ground where I grew onion sets last winter! Not a good idea! I hope I get away with it.
I then rearranged the netting on my late row of peas.
I sowed them late hoping they would stand through the winter but, with the warm weather we have been having, they are rather too well advanced - yet not advanced enough to give me a crop this autumn. What to do?
I have decided to give them more space to grow - and hope! I removed the small net tunnel (about 15" high) and cleared the support netting from the row of peas that has just finished and moved it over. I then moved the hoops and netting cover over so they can be left for the winter. I needed to do lots of weeding to clear the ground round them.
However, I will sow a new row of peas to grow on through to spring and hopefully give me an early crop. I can put them alongside the autumn sown Broad Beans I will sow soon on the new legumes patch.
Finally I picked more raspberries, cut some chard and pulled a couple of turnips as well as picking some ripe brown Runner Bean pods for next year's seed.
However, when I got to my plot, having stopped off to sort out the removal of some screws from the frame of the greenhouse being set up on the 'Special Needs' plot, I found I had not brought down the pea and bean seeds I had intended to sow. That's because I am sorting through all my seeds ready to make up my seed order for next year!
I did have my onion sets and shallots so I set about planting them. Because I have sown green manure on next year's onion and roots patch I had to start by hoeing the emerging seedlings and raking them off. I then planted half a row of 'Eschallote Grise' (French for 'grey shallots') and half a row of 'Jermor'. The French ones, if they grow, make a very strong flavoured shallot ideal for dicing onto my salads. 'Jermor' got me a prize in the Roeshot show this summer; huge red shallots which are excellent in the kitchen.
With only 10 of each in the packets I managed to fit them both into one row. However, I realised that I had planted them and my red onion sets into ground where I grew onion sets last winter! Not a good idea! I hope I get away with it.
I then rearranged the netting on my late row of peas.
I sowed them late hoping they would stand through the winter but, with the warm weather we have been having, they are rather too well advanced - yet not advanced enough to give me a crop this autumn. What to do?
I have decided to give them more space to grow - and hope! I removed the small net tunnel (about 15" high) and cleared the support netting from the row of peas that has just finished and moved it over. I then moved the hoops and netting cover over so they can be left for the winter. I needed to do lots of weeding to clear the ground round them.
However, I will sow a new row of peas to grow on through to spring and hopefully give me an early crop. I can put them alongside the autumn sown Broad Beans I will sow soon on the new legumes patch.
Finally I picked more raspberries, cut some chard and pulled a couple of turnips as well as picking some ripe brown Runner Bean pods for next year's seed.
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