"Your Seasons Results"

[stupo74]

Hi All,
I thought i would ask this question via this thread, somewhere, we can reflect on the highs & lows of our seasons efforts.
Personally, my season has gone fairly well, i have had mixed results with my veg crops, plenty of toms, runners still going strong, carrots not so good, the same said with cabbage etc, spring oinions great and my chillis ok, but a little behind, even after starting early.
However, all was not lost, as i have had some great success with the array of bedding plants, (a lot grown from seed) that i plant around the communial parts of the gardens. A couple of snaps,,,,,,



.

I am sure people will have had the same mixed results as i have, if compared here, we might all benefit for the next season???

Cheers all, Stupo

[paulsherwin]

My outdoor toms have done quite well too. I can recommend the 'Harzfeuer' variety sold in Lidl - vigorous and they ripen in less than ideal weather, though they're not particularly early.

My broccoli and calabrese have been a disaster, completely destroyed by cabbage white caterpillars. This seems to have been a really bad year for cabbage whites - they were fluttering about everywhere you looked in July and August. I'm not going to try brassicas again without using lots of netting.

Paul

[stupo74]

Hi paul,
Not so good with your greens then?? but good results with the toms from Lidl. Tell me, were they plants or seeds that you purchased??
I got some Geranium seeds from there, 39p, it said average 5 seeds, i got 9 of which 8 germinated. Not bad, i have not found anywhere to buy a Geranium plant for 5p ???? I will have to pay another visit as i have not been since.
Not many people seem to want to share results??? Has everyone had a bad year???? Or so good?? they don't wish to "Gloat"
Take care all,,,,,,Stupo.

[paulsherwin]

Originally Posted by stupo74

but good results with the toms from Lidl. Tell me, were they plants or seeds that you purchased??

They were seeds, I think they were 49p for about 25 F1 hybrids, so plenty for next year too. They're just a standard garden variety like Moneymaker but don't seem to have been grown much in the UK before Lidl started selling them. Good basic salad tomatoes.

Paul

[marmite]

I will share. Mrs Marmite and I are eating our veg so fast we may starve next month. I cant upload pictures as they will be of my fat tummy. Hope all is well Marmite.

[Eddie Spud]

Hi all

Okay, results from my (and Mrs Spuds) labours over the past seaon.

Gold Star, with honours - Runner Beans. (Excellent crop, and still going strong).
Gold plated award - Onions, Cucumbers & first early potatoes.
Silver award - Beetroots (first time we have grown these, then found out neither of us like them, he he. Mum & Dad gave them a good home though).
Bronze award - Carrots, Radish, Spring Onions. (All successful as I would expect).
Must try harder next time award - Tomatoes. Grew two types, in greenhouse, not one truss formed. Absolute failure.

[marmite]

Gold Silver and Bronze. Well done. I got dirty fingers diging up spuds, cant spell potato's, back ache lifting containers, orange hands from picking tomato's and wet eyes making green tomato chutney,the vinegar made my eye's water. I told Mrs Marmite it was because I love her so much Regards from Marmite a real softy at heart.

[stupo74]

Hi Eddie & Mymate,
Which awards belong to "Mrs Spud"??? who does all the hard work in the spud family??? Sorry to hear about your tom troubles?? do you know the cause, of why complete failure???? I bet you find it hard work, with all those blingy medals around your neck while working.
Marmite, you are supposed to let the orange/red paint dry before picking the toms, as for the tears,??? well, that "Nurses Uniform" must be a bit tight in the wrong places?? try to wear something different, when making chutney>.
Medicine required now, see you all again soon, cheers stupo.

[paulsherwin]

Originally Posted by Eddie Spud

Must try harder next time award - Tomatoes. Grew two types, in greenhouse, not one truss formed. Absolute failure.

You need to investigate why that happened. Tomatoes are basically very easy to grow, even outside, though they are prone to tomato blight and you sometimes finish up with lots of green ones at the end of the season. Trusses should form with flowers quite early in the season, and most of the flowers should develop into tomatoes.

I grew a couple of seeds from supermarket toms this year, and even those fruited well outside, though they don't seem to want to ripen even now. I've got about 5 trusses sitting on the windowsill

Paul

[Eddie Spud]

Hi all

Stupo - Mrs Spud gets 'the heart of gold' award (ahh arn't I sweet ). She is a great help in the garden, but is suffering from a poorly shoulder at mo. Waiting for operation at the hospital. Usually, she has all the brilliant brain-waves and I do the digging, clearing etc.

paulsherwin - over past few years never had any problems with Tomatoes. Generally grow 'Sungold' in greenhouse. This year got some free seeds but, although plants grew well in grow bags, started with leaf roll. The books say this, in itself, is not necessarily a problem, but must have been in my case as nothing developed any further. . Back to 'Sungold' next year I think

Marmite - that's why my name is 'Eddie Spud.' I too can't spell 'Eddie Potato'

[stupo74]

Hi All,
Nice day, today here in the Midlands, allowing me time to cut all the lawns, Hopefully, the last "Proper" cut for the season. Do we now class the season as over???
I, for 1, hope so, my results have been fair, all factors concerned, but when you look at the work involved here, i am now looking forward to the winter indoors?? (never thought i would say this), however, the planning starts now for next time?? and seeds/trials etc, are currently ongoing, but at least from the comfort of the inside.. "warmth"
I have at last been able to harvest a couple of my "super hot Chillis" 2 x Naga morich, The Bhut Jolokia has 3 good size fruits,(still not quite there) and lots of small 1's(which i don't think will ripen), Fatallii, not good, But am going to overwinter, Best chillis this year coming from Joes long, (or pinnochios nose as they are also known as)
Glad the cutting is over???? Having to cut this lot every 3-4 days through the season,







However, on nice days with a glass in between,,,, "Best job Ever"
See you all soon ,,,, cheers stupo.

[Shetty]

Just been away for a week and now desperatly trying to catch upon things.
Have been out all day lifting potatoes. A real success had some about 6inches long and a pound in weight.
Carrots have been a success, too, lifted and stored most of them.
Still have mountains of pak choy and lettuce in the garden, can you freeze that stuff?
I 've also proudly harvested my first ever swede (size of a golfball) so far they always grew okay, but never formed any turnip. Should I have told them?
Had brassicas under netting in summer until they outgrew it, also had nastirtums in containers around plants, caterpillars feeded mainly on those, so will try that again next year.
Leeks are a mixes success either huge or the size of a spring onion. As they all grew in the same patch I don't know where I went wrong with some.
So all in all a good year with the chance to improve things next year
Can't wait for the seed catalogues to come in.
Shetty

[stupo74]

Hi Shetty
It sounds like you have had some good results, considering the weather you must of had up there?? It has not been great anywhere in the country this year, but people have still fair results.
I have already had a couple of seed cats through the post, if only,??? all my crops could grow as well as they look in the pics??
I have some scotch bonnet chillis i have germinated (recently) just getting the first set of true leaves, currently on windowsill (still getting good light) and keeping warm. However they will soon req extra light, which i will provide in the hope that i will be able to keep them ok till spring. I also will be trying more each month through the winter, i am determined to get a good start to next season.
Good luck with your "winter crops" please share the results, it will be very interesting to know how they get on.....
Cheers stupo

[marmite]

Hello every body hope you had a good weekend. Still picking runner beans (red rum). We have left the parsnips alone as we have eaten afew. Planted onions and 4 cabbage plants in old fish pond. Hope to have cabbage for christmas. Stupo whats a seed cat?. I get mine in packets not a cat.. Regards from Marmite and Mrs Marmite a lot lot better.

[stupo74]

Hi Mr Marmite,
Seed Cat, New from T+M,???
Mrs Stupo & I, just feed all the "cats" that visit here, with what we want to grow for next season??? Then we uncover the fresh soil, for them to "Scratch Around In" Simple, automatically planted seeds.
However, not very successful, (scattered results) and strangely,,,, no sign of any "Hot Chilli's", More worrying????? No sign of the cats either????
Hope this helps?????????????
cheers stupo.

[marmite]

Hello Stupo. Mrs Marmite and I enjoyed that post we nearly spilled our tea with laughing. Would that work on a squril that takes all my bird food, we cover it in curry powder and it still comes back with popadoms to finish off the rest, so chilli seed me thinks could be next.

[stupo74]

Hi Mymate,
Please be assured that no animals have really suffered the fate of a burning bum, i love all animals and would not subject them to such horrid treatment.
As you know, i grow the Super Hot chillis, i eat them, i enjoy them, but if you asked my "rear end", it would tell you,,,, of the many times that it has seen the bath taps??? (especially the cold 1)
I could do with one of those "Beday" things, i am getting to old to do handstands in the shower??????/
Off for medicine now, early start, 3am, Regards to you and Mrs "M"
cheers stupo.

[Helen Jones]

hi,
I,m new on the forum, my garden has done fairly well this year,not too good with the carrotts or cabbage. The best crops I've produced are beetroot, runner beans, onions and tomatoes. I've never grown pumpkins before and I bought one plant to try, managed to grow this 35 pound pumpkin. I have bought it in now because of a slight frost. It should keep indoors. Helen

[stupo74]

Hi Helen,
Firstly, What a nice 1 that is. I have never grown Pumkin, but i reckon that yours must rate as a good example??
Glad to hear that your crops have faired well, it makes the saying, "Next Time", so much more appealing.
Good luck with your future growings, see you around the site soon, cheers stupo.

[Ian240356]

It was only this last spring that I finally got the garden I have longed for. After laying it out I
Set the plants in place. I didn’t even dig in any manure. I’ve had a good harvest. I hope you enjoy the photo’s !

[JPG]http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/murph_036/veg/th_broadbeans.jpg[/JPG]

Broad beans in containers in a sunny spot, growing closely with African Marigolds. No problems this years as always before. NO aphids and no chocolate spot.

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Spuds in huge builders bucket.

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Spud harvest, first ever success with spuds

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Swede. First ever time trying to grow them. Delighted with results

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Strawberries in old plastic dustbins. Another first. I hardly got any, but am told they will perform much better next time. They don’t do too well in their first season ( I’m told)

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Rotten toms. What a shame. As toms and spuds are related ,I thought the blight they can both get was the same pathogen I sprayed them both with a suitable spud spray thinking it would protect both.

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Last of the spring onions

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Sprouts, another first for me. I should be eating my own over the solstice

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Kohl Rabbi, another first.

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Globe artichokes, another first. They don’t like containers. Next doors are in open ground and are huge

[JPG]http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/murph_036/veg/th_kale.jpg[/JPG]

Kale, another first. I grew it for the ducks, but Gertrude and Constance wont touch it

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Pumpkin, another first

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Cauli’s, another first

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The Garden

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Head Gardeners Chair !

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Last of the runner beans

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My Bramley Apple Tree. I planted this in 1992.


This has been its best year. It gave 100 + pounds in weight.

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Magnificent specimen

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Bramley apple wine, its almost stopped mumbling. It’s the first of November today, I should easily have twelve gallons of home made wine before the winter solstice ! Happy harvest one and all.