The hot weather has made germination very difficult so despite the plot being much clearer than in previous years I have far fewer crops growing. It looks like I'm going to have to try again and then keep my fingers crossed if I'm going to see any swede, pak choi or endive this year.
I have lots of healthy plants sitting in pots at home but it seems to shock them when they get planted out at the allotment; I think it must be the increased heat and strong wind which causes the problems. The courgettes have finally found their feet, hopefully I'll be picking my first 'Black Beauty' next weekend and the squash are starting to stretch out and produce flowers, maybe they'll decide to take on the weedy patch which is growing next to them and save me a job. 8 of the aubergine plants are planted out and I have another 6 waiting at home, this is my first year of growing aubergines so I'm not sure how this is going to turn out but it feels like I'm running very late!
On the plus side the cucumbers are making up for everything! This is a new one for me but my four 'Wautoma' plants are all growing very happily and today I picked my first two cucumbers, I think they'll join the 'Reine des Glaces' lettuce to make a homegrown salad; I just wish there were some tomatoes to join it! Interestingly the plant I kept in the cold frame the longest and which got planted out last has produced the first fruits so it just goes to show that you should wait until the plants are ready and the conditions are good before planting out.
Now that we are almost at August it's time to start thinking about winter crops, I'm going to sow some more cabbages and lots more kale ready to plant out in a couple of months, if you're very lucky late sowings will miss the cabbage whites whilst still having enough warm weather to establish before winter really sets in.
3 comments:
The cucumbers look great! I've been disappointed with mine - I bought the miniture white cucumbers from real seeds. I think I've let them get too big before picking - the skins are very tough and they're full of seeds - not much flesh :(
I'd be interested to know what yours are like as I might try them next year. It's my first year with cucumbers and you're right, they produce loads!
Hi, they look great. It's been a strange year, the courgettes should pick up now, we're getting loads off our 5 plants.
I feel your pain with planting crops out that have been doing swimmingly indoors. Two of my poor tomato plants that had been slowly creeping along our living room floor got absolutely battered in the wind when I put them out on the windowsill. In less than a day they looked very unhappy indeed. But I cut them back rather brutally and they seem to be recovering now fingers crossed... Good luck with yours!
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