Story of Hugsville Patch

Smoffi

Really have not done alot on the patches since last post.. due to work and family issues..

Had a very quick walk around some of it.. harvested the bag of spuds.. got a colander full should be nice

Beans are growing taller and should be very close to harvesting
also keep an eye on beans as they very quickly rot on the plant

Several more courgettes ready next week
Beetroot is good.. picked 1 today to check size.. about a golf ball

sweetcorn is slowly growing.. got about 10-15 showing.. will they grow fully..who knows!

cucumbers have taken over the greenhouse floor.. when i get a chance to take a pic i will.... still no cucumbers on it thou

I am just glad it has rained so much... saved me having to find time to water it all lol

Smoffi

Just went around culling some of the tomato plants... I removed some of the leaves so the sun light and heat (lol) can ripen them abit quicker.. also the energy from the plant will go to the fruit more... Careful to leave some leaves!!! these feed the fruit as well..

HINT: Check your toms FULLY... this is the time that the plant develops a fungal disease and goes rotten... remove the plants.. set the toms to ripen in a bag.. NOT on the window sill!!
DO NOT put the rotten plants in the compost... It might be "tomato blight!!"
Bin or burn it...

Roof garden got destroyed... lack of time meant I could not maintain it... it will not be part of next seasons patch..

Been "wombling" and picked up some guttering, wood and 2 tables.. These will be used for collecting rain water, holding tom plants up and the 2 tables will be used for crafting (wife)... also got some smaller pipes.

I am looking at building a compost bin, plastic bottle greenhouse and other things for the allotment!

I have learnt a huge lesson this year..
Plan your sowing.. plan your spacing.. If you are unsure of the space to leave between plants SEARCH it on the internet.. Better to use too much space than not enough!

Things grow better in the patch than in pots... and visa versa...

I have now struggled with cabbage and cauli for 2 years.. think it may be down to the compost I am using..

Smoffi

In all the hassle of work the patch has taken a little battering...

moved 4 of the cucumber plants out of the greenhouse... (they took over the floor) be warned they spread lol..
Beans are on their last crop now..
Leeks are ok.. i think i need to build the soil up around them ??
Courgettes are still going strong and alot!!
Sweetcorn are almost there..... 1 ready to pick.. 10 or so more 1/2 way
tomatoes are going red faster then I can eat them now lol
Beetroot are still very small...
fennel is like weeds... grows and grows... will remember next year NOT to plant 20 lol
Spuds #2 patch are ready to pick.. when i have no idea
sunflowers x 2 are nice and tall yay... littlen is so happy

stuff i have planted in the greenhosue ready for next year is growing at a huge rate.. will have to seperate things soon...
Peas especially!!
I took some of the cabbage I started for next year as they are about 1 inch high and put them into the soil in teh base of the greenhouse and some others into a large pot..

Blackberries are growing.. not sure if i will have any this year yet

getting my ground covering and compost ready for when stuff is finished to cover it all over and try and get a good fresh start next year.. the soil has taken a battering.. it needs refreshing!!!

Not had alot of success with growing stuff in pots this year.. will have to read up on why.. I do think it might be down to pot size and compost on certain veggies.. but reading will help!!

Smoffi

Cleared the remaining bean plants..
Removed 2 of the cucumber plants I planted out behind the greenhouse as they were not doing anything and it is getting very cold in the morning and wont grow (am i making an error here???? )

Made a decision concerning 1/2 of the tom plants to remove them from the patch and place the toms on the greenhouse shelf to ripen by other toms.. I have taken the actual plants and put them in the wheelbarrow to rot down and dispose of (they had blight and wont risk it in the compost)
TIP: DO not plant tomatoes any less than 30 cms apart... they get so crowded.

Need to turn the compost and add some paper to it..

Also cut back the leek leaves so it grows better.. (so I have read)..

Took 1 sweetcorn off today to see if it was ready.. far from it!! I am going to leave them in the ground and see if they will come good before they die .. not impressed.. will have to try a different method next year..so win greenhouse earlier? Plant in different spot? but they are in the best possible place for sun...

just harvested the 2nd patch of spuds.. got some nice sized ones.. about a flower pot full.. 10cm pot by 10 cm deep

Now hopefully if things are good my Christmas list will happen lol...
A proper steel greenhouse... lets see if i can find one at a reasonable price!!

Smoffi

Prolly the last post of this threat as it is the end of the season in Hugsville Patch!!!
(Then I will open a new thread for next season) YAY! lol

Due to a very busy work load and having NO time to do anything apart from sleep and work the patch has taken some battering.
Toms went rotten and sweetcorn has dried out (but watered to see if I can get any back!!)

Leeks are doing ok..just need trimming and soiling up again.
Parsnips are ok last time i checked..
Pots are all harvested.. they were a good crop!

Time to trim back blueberries
Buy manure and cover over all the rest of the patch...
this will take me about 2 days to do.. and must be done before cold kicks in...
shame I do not have a outside back light cause gardening at 10pm does not worry me lol.

stuff that was in the greenhouse ready for next season has slightly gone wild..have to keep and eye on things and seriously consider when to plant some more stuff for next year..

Lesson Learnt: Do NOT neglect your patch.. it is heart breaking!!