grow more vegetables

The name of this goal may be slightly misleading in that it reads Grow More Vegetables, which might imply that I’m already growing some vegetables. What it actually means is that I used to grow vegetables (and fruit) and I’d like to do it again.

So, now that’s straightened up, how am I doing with this?

Well, I’ve spent a lot of time working on the intended plot which, although not a particularly large area, has been spectacularly hard work. No less than a pickaxe was required in order to break up the soil and get amongst the couch grass and other roots. Yeh, me, wielding a pickaxe!

To date, mine have been the only hands to work this soil as Big Bad B has been working long hours and is away from home a lot at the moment (like right now….boo, hiss!). Gelly-dog has helped, or at least she’s tried to help. I have to say she’s an exceptionally adept excavator (and even pulls out roots with her teeth) but the drawback is that she likes to dig down and continue to do so…..I keep expecting an Australian person to emerge from the pits she creates. Still, those paws and claws break the soil down to a lovely crumbly texture which is what we need.

Next step is to double dig and incorporate some organic fertiliser. Still trying to find someone who’s willing to carry several sacks of horse poo in their car; I know where to get it but I just don’t know how to get it to my house. I can’t understand the reluctance ;-) I think my sister will be the one to give in on this; she used to ride a lot and I think she can be persuaded to collect poo if there’s the promise of equine interaction of some kind.

We’re still debating what to plant but as most things don’t need to be started until March/April I’ve got plenty of time to persuade Big Bad B that my ideas are the best, lol. What we have agreed is that two espalier apple trees will be planted in early October. So excited, I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas (but no, I’m an alleged adult waiting for Autumn).
x

It’s ages since i logged into this site and I wondered what I had said I wanted to do. Amazingly, I have done something. have grown more veg.

This year we have eaten our own French beans and cauliflower. Unfortunately, I wasn’t brutal enough to kill any caterpillars so we had lots of butterflies this Summer. We also had skeletal cabbages and have brussel sprouts which I’m not sure will survive with no leaves – the chance of sprouts is slim.

Our potato plants are looking really good and I expect a great crop of Maris Peers for Xmas.

We put our name down for an allotment 6 months ago.

We recently planted our runner beans but I’d like to grow a variety of potted veg. It’s a bit late this year so it’ll be spring.