veg piccies

As requested here.... http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=16735
A few photos.


First the corn. I had the first one yesterday and was fantastic.
Surely one of teh best veg to grow, it's so sweet and crunchy fresh from the plant.





The first squash to get planted out is going bonkers... out of it's bed, up the bean fence
and over onto the path...




...with a few ickle squash starting to appear...





The PSB is looking a bit battle-weary after squadrons of cabbage whites attacked...





...as is the kohl rabi.




The slugs have been after the chard.



My tomatoes aren't exactly prolific...



...but they are sweet and juicy.



Major success (so far) is the courgette factory...


...still going strong after two months...


..two days production!

 

Hello mchumph, considering the rubbish weather wev'e been getting lately you've done well. You are right about the sweetcorn, the sooner you can get it cooked, the sweeter it tastes. I think it's been an uphill battle for most of us this year, plenty of slugs, snails and cabbage whites, it makes the successes that much more welcome.

 

What are these yellow courgettes, please? Mine are all just bog-standard green!

 

Hi, yeah I planted from this http://www.unwins.co.uk/courgette-tristar-seeds-pid1175.html so I guess they are "goldrush".

Big Sister(2) has several even more entertaining varieties, some round, some squiged, so I'll definitely try some others next year.
Getting some that mature at different times would be the best plan as I've had something of a glut!

Actually, I've just found these http://www.spaldingbulb.co.uk/r_15479-042/Courgettes/Courgette-Winter-Gourd-Sweet-Dumpling.htm which they claim can be stored for 3-4 months. That would be very useful....


Jonathan.

 

They all look pretty vigorous, despite the insect attacks. Can I ask what you've been feeding them with, please?

 

These are making me very hungry! :D

 

Wow your crops are great. At least your toms are turning red lol

 

Hi, sure. Most things were planted on top of manure or a general purpose pellet fertiliser (the name of which escapes me and I've composted the box now!)

I've been feeding the toms with Tomorite, mulched some things with more manure, especially if they were looking a bit down, and top-dressed with a bit more fertiliser in places.

I've also experimented with Miracle Gro but, to be honest, it doesn't seem to have made a noticeable difference. Maybe I've got a decent micro-nutrient balance anyway.

Does the thing with the bananas really help to ripen toms? I know they give off ethene which is supposed to help ripen other bananas in a drawer, but I would have thought you'd need maybe a plastic bag over them to hold it in...
Maybe worth a shot if they don't ripen fast enough. I'm getting a couple ripen per day which is fine ATM but I think the temperature is due to plummet after the w/e :-((

I've become a big fan of courgettes, and have successfully frozen a courgette "stew" for later use, either as-is or as a basis for a sauce or soup etc.

 

You certainly have a good variety of veggies, mchumpf. :thumb:

We've only been growing courgettes, pumpkins and green beans for the past 3 years, and we are great fans of the yellow courgettes. We think that they have a much finer texture and creamier taste than the green ones.

We also had the round ones last year, couldn't find them this year again, so settled for the regular long ones.

Thanks for the link about the Winter Gourd Sweet Dumpling, must see if I can get some for next year. I think we all have the same problem when the courgettes grow and fruit worse than weeds! :(

You can make a good soup with them though and it freezes very well. I have a good supply in my freezer alreaedy :D

They are also very nice in salads, just grate or slice them thinly.