Proof that vegetable growing can be done by anybody. From a couple of under 30s – one who grew up growing and one who has just got going…
We thought it might be interesting to give you an update on some of the crops we've already planted out. This time round: lettuce, beetroot and courgettes! We planted these out 10 days ago - and they've grown loads already! They've been in the polytunnel as Dad has kindly given up part of the path... Continue Reading →
We would usually sow our courgettes around the third week in April. This means that by the time they are ready to plant out, the chance of a frost is reduced where we live, therefore giving them the best start to their growing lives. Given the lockdown we're currently under, we thought we'd sow a... Continue Reading →
This time last year, we made a plan for the growing season ahead. So we thought it would be a good time to look back at that plan and see how we got on! Potatoes We'd set ourselves the goal of three sowings of potatoes for 2019, to harvest in May, July and December. Well... Continue Reading →
We were so pleased with how our Midnight courgettes grew last year in containers that we wanted to give them a try again this year. We did quite a late sowing, as there were already some that Dad had grown in the garden during the first part of the season, so we wanted some that would... Continue Reading →
The Essex District Association of the National Vegetable Society hosts a Mini Show each year in early July. This year, our sights were set on the collection of four kinds of vegetable, one of each kind. We had the following: cherry tomato, kohl rabi, courgette and potato. And this is our final exhibit! We were... Continue Reading →
We revealed our top tip for courgette-success in one of our previous posts, which is staking the plants and regularly tying the stalk to it. This results in the courgette plant taking up less space and also being much easier to harvest! As you can see (albeit I appreciate I'm only 5' 2") the courgette... Continue Reading →
Our cucumber, courgette and cucamelon plants are doing brilliantly. Following a slow start, the cucumber plant is coming on strides now and is much stronger. For a start, it could only support one cucumber at a time, but now it's growing three or four with ease! These are the last two cucumbers that we harvested... Continue Reading →
The courgettes are growing well in their pots and are starting to produce lots of courgettes. Once ready, carefully cut the courgettes with a knife, ensuring the main stem of the plant is not damaged. The cucamelons are growing away well - we think they'll be ready to plant out next week! However, as they've... Continue Reading →
We took a look at our runner beans today. Each plant is now making its way up the cane, and any that were straying to a neighbouring cane were gently unwound and wound back round their own! As the plants are only about 6 inches apart, the sideshoots that runner beans throw up mean that... Continue Reading →
There are an increasing number of great varieties of courgettes these days that are bred specifically to be grown in containers. Some examples are Parador (which is also a lovely yellow variety of courgette), Patio Star and Midnight. Last weekend, I planted a Patio Star and a Midnight in 30 litre pots. We've grown these... Continue Reading →
It's Sow Simple 