Vegetable Growing 2024

Picked 10 figs before the blackbirds got at them this morning. Wonderfully ripe.
Gathered some fallen apples being careful to leave those that were easy to see being damaged.
Picked some more pea beans and dwarf french beans.

 

Picked 2 corn on the cobs. Looked a good size but once the outside leaves were removed one was ok but the other hadn't developed properly. Probably not enough water.

 

Usually when they dont develop properly its pollination problems.

My sweetcorn is poor this year, but mostly because I planted it in an unsuitable position.

 

Todays harvest included Pink Fir Apple tatties, multiple varieties of Tommies, Strawberries, Blackberries and a couple of autumn Raspberries that might not have made it to the kitchen...................

 

@burnie we used to grow pink firs but have done badly the last few years. A lovely potato.
Picked some more figs (doing so much better this year) and some strawberries. Then the black grapes in the greenhouse are ready so picked some bunches. Very early for them.

 

I've picked my first Ogen melon this morning, i haven't tasted it yet but i can smell it! Have to keep a close eye on the others as they ripen overnight!

 

I've just spotted the first hint of colour on an autumn raspberry!

 

First cauliflower of the year, very pleased because for a long while I thought they were going to be ' blind' . Beans are all but finished but still lots of cucumbers and the autumn raspberries ( first year canes) are giving us a few like this.

 

So many seeds in the black grapes so deseeded some and had them at lunch. Lovely and sweet. Put some in the freezer and then have started some wine with the others. There are still loads to pick in the greenhouse.
Picked some more pea beans. Will leave some of them to bean up to have seeds for sowing next year.
Picked some more kale and pak choi. Have to keep a look out at the whites are around again.

 

Well the "difficult year" continues, I dug the late maincrop Sarpo mira spuds today. I only got 1/3 of a sackful, (would normally get 1 and a half). In spite of them being a blight resistant variety, lost a lot due to blight, had to bring the affected tops and rotten tubers home to put in green bin. I don't want them hanging around to infect others. In spite of the rain at the W.E. the ground was like concrete. One row of Cara still to lift, fingers crossed for a better result.

 

Picked an assortment of dwarf french beans and some kale. A few strawberries but the figs aren't ripening up. Hopefully they will as there are quite a few that look good.

 

Picked some small courgettes today; the green one has a soft end which has been a regular problem this year. French beans are fully up to speed and I'm getting a large handful each day. I only have 6 plants - I grew them for the first time last year and did 6, and it turned out to be just the right number for me. I had to freeze a few but was generally able to keep up with them.

I've been picking a few tomatoes a day but the ripening is definitely accelerating.

Don't think I'm going to have any luck with the Tromboncinos. The vines have grown well but they've yet to open a single female flower. I was shocked when I watched Gardeners' World last week and Monty showed off his! I think I didn't put them in a sunny enough spot this year.

First cucumber is nearly big enough to pick.

 

Our single Tromboncino is in a lot of shade, but is eventually setting a couple of promising fruit...

 

Onions ready for bagging up and some more produce from the allotment

 

Picked and ate my first raspberry today, after remembering I had planted yellow ones! Lots more to come on that cane.
That's what I love about growing your own, I've got purple french beans, yellow courgettes and yellow raspberries.