Tuesday 6 January 2015

The plan

This is a good time of year to make one's plans. We've got two new areas coming on stream in the garden this year. The new soft fruit cage area, with space for eight bushes (probably 3 x black currant, 2 x gooseberry, 2 x Saskatoon berry and 1 x white currant) has been uncovered already and just needs dug over before planting in February.

The boat garage will be netted over to protect our new soft fruit bushes.
The boat garage will be netted over to protect our new soft fruit bushes.


Half of the middle paddock next to the existing veg garden is still under plastic cover and will be used as extra veg-growing space. The potatoes, swedes, kohl rabi and Jerusalem artichokes will go here this year.
The new veg-growing area. Lots more digging to do.
The new veg-growing area. Lots more digging to do.

I've ordered the seed potatoes (Dunluce as first early, Setanta as maincrop), onion sets (Red Baron, Centurion and Setton) and our first ever Jerusalem artichoke Fuseau tubers. There are only two things I won't be growing from seed again this year, spinach and spring onions. Other than Jerusalem artichoke, I also want to try my hand at asparagus, fennel, rhubarb and sweetcorn this year. Hopefully, with North by North's marigold trick, the aubergines will come good this time.
The globe artichokes don't want to go dormant.
The globe artichokes don't want to go dormant.


I'm not going to sow any more globe artichokes this year, but hopefully the eight from last year are going to start producing big time! I'd cut them right down to the crown and covered them in bracken, but it's been so mild that they've started growing already.

Nicely dug
Nicely dug


Jim's been digging over the veg garden already. What a difference to last year when it took him an hour per square metre! Now the fork just goes in - no roots, no stones (well, almost).

I started the hedge planting this afternoon, relocating rosa rugosa, dog roses and hawthorns that had seeded themselves in unwanted positions. The chickens were helping, too. Nice way to get a mixed hedge, but we'll still have to buy 30 metres' worth of hedging plants next month. Need to stock up with Irn-Bru for that one.

Free hedge
Free hedge


Inside, I've finally been successful with taking cuttings and putting them in water. The Vietnamese coriander rooted super easily. Love that plant!

Vietnamese coriander seedlings
Vietnamese coriander seedlings


So here's the plan for stuff to grow from seed:

Vegetables

  • Asparagus: Harlik

  • Aubergine: Ronde de Valence

  • Beans: Achievement, Cosse Purple

  • Beetroot: Boltardy, Bordo

  • Broad beans: Aguadulce, De Monica

  • Broccoli: Calabrese Natalino, Green-sprouting, Purple-sprouting

  • Brussels sprouts: Evesham Special

  • Cabbage: Durham Early, Wintergreen, Xmas Drumhead, Red cabbage

  • Carrots: Cosmic Purple, Early Nantes, Korral, Paris Market

  • Cauliflower: Romanesco, All-year-round

  • Celeriac: Prague Giant

  • Chillies: Cayenne, Long Slim

  • Courgette: Nimba

  • Cucumber: Lemon Crystal, Bedfordshire Prize

  • Fennel di Firenze

  • Kale: Kapral

  • Kohlrabi: Purple and Blue Delikatess

  • Leeks: Musselburgh

  • Onion: Stuttgarter Riesen, Roja de Niort, Tosca

  • Pak Choi Red

  • Parsnips: Tender and True, Guernsey

  • Peas: Douce de Provence, Oregon Mangetout, Kelvedon Wonder

  • Peppers: California Wonder, Oda

  • Pumpkin: Jack Be Little

  • Radish: Mixed, Cherry Belle

  • Salads: Tatsoi, Cress, Rocket, Salad Bowl Red, Little Gem, Wild Rocket, Red Mustard, Lettuce Merveille des Quatre Saisons

  • Squashes: Ambar, Metro, Sweet Dumpling, Turks Turban, Uchiki Kuri

  • Swede: Marian

  • Sweetcorn: Golden Bantam

  • Swiss chard

  • Tomatoes: Ailsa Craig, Tigerella

  • Turnip: Purple Top

Fruit

  • Cantaloupe Emir

  • Rhubarb Victoria

  • Watermelon Sugar Baby

Herbs

  • Basil

  • Camomile

  • Chives

  • Coriander

  • Cumin

  • Dill

  • Lemongrass

  • Parsley

Looks like a lot, but I'm sure we'll eat it all!