Kitchen Garden Forum

After the poor weather following the last two "seasonal" threads, I'm pushing luck here. But weather looks set fair, fine and warm for the next week, so here goes - third time lucky?

Been out early to get the polytunnel fully into summer mode. Beds ready for cucumbers and peppers, Tomatoes and climbing beans already well on their way, strawberries swelling, lettuce nearly hearted, bunching onions ready for pulling, as are fresh green shallots. Barbecue planned for lunch.

I planted the Cucumber into the cold frame yesterday evening....so I'll add that to this positive thread.

Clive.

Well I plan to pot on the schools chilli plants today and then leave them in the polytunnel (been on a shelf in my house up to now), so that's my positive contribution

VPM
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I managed to harvest enough salad leaves for dinner last night (to go with the chicken.... we didn't just have a plate full of leaves )

There are black clouds building over Milton Bryan.

Only temporary ones, of course.

Been and tended some graves of some village friends, that are sadly no longer with us. some happy memories though.

Planted out some sweet peas, courgettes and some butternut squash
Sweetcorn tomorrow, oh and I picked some rhubarb

Another positive ....the waterbutt's full aswell

Planted the last 72 brassicas today (Brussels sprouts, red cabbage and kale) and found the ground exceedingly dry, so had to water copiously, both before and after planting. May has been another really dry month here with just one proper wet day, the remainder just drizzle and virtually nothing at all for the last fortnight. Apparently, a village no more than 5 miles from us had a tremendous downpour on Friday - bone dry here.

We had steady, useful rain all day Tuesday and now brilliant sunshine. Been up the plot early to water the beans I planted out on Friday. Yesterday you could almost smell the stuff growing, you know what I mean? That warm, earthy, damp smell that comes off the plants and ground?

Got to do a bit of house cleaning today as visitors are coming but I shall be outside later!

MW

At last, got some sticks up at the Early Onward Peas at work yesterday morning...planted out some Quick Treat Sweetcorn and 3 Hercules Butternut.

Today only a quick visit to open up greenhouses, pick Asparagus and Rhubarb, then we have had a ride out to an NGS open day at a privately owned walled garden up in the Lincs Wolds.. a lovely garden that if you drove past on the country road you would never know it was there hiding behind the high front hedge....so a real treat that they open for NGS.

Clive.

Dug the second root of Rocket in the tunnel - 3lb 7ozs. That's more like it, rather more than a Sunday dinner treat.

You got me confused there for a moment, Geoff - how can you dig out a "root of Rocket"", thinking of the salad stuff. Just realised you meant potatoes! That's a very impressive yield.

Our potatoes in bags (Rocket and Kestrel) are growing well but nowhere near harvesting yet.

Planted out Borlotti and Cosse Violette CFB today, enjoyed some sunshine, then three hours of potting up seedlings in the greenhouse, mostly brassicas.

Real summer now! (officially). Played find the carrots amongst the weeds, discovered the last wet season was indeed good for slugs - so much to do -lots of re-sowing - thanks to our slimey friends!

Sadly all my chive flowers out but not one bee in sight - other plot holder with 3 hives (some at home I think), said all his bees are sick & spent more in supplementing them over winter than he could ever make in honey! Sad & worrying!

Westi

Realised just how sharp the drainage on my new plot is - even with rain in the week 3 dry days and newly planted things looking decidedly frazzled. So stepped up mulching effort (with generous help of all the neighbours grass clippings), and tried Bob Flowerdews recommendation of trench irrigation.

It's good to be home.

After two weeks away my neighbours had been over-enthusiastic with the cold-frame watering just at a time I had gotten myself out of the habit so all the seedlings that started to recover are looking sad. Thankfully the tomato plants survived.

My second year of trying to grow jalapenos, the single remaining plant is just as stunted as last years. The red peppers are also stunted.

If it's any consolation the grass isn't growing fast enough to feed the sheep on Tiree so crofters are having to use alternate methods.