Progess Report (Warning! - may take a while to get through)

Finally, here it is! A report on how all things planted since the start of this blog are progressing. So, without any further delay, here we go:

* Pea (Ambassador) - 03/05/06
They are just starting to poke their heads above the ground next to the shed - looks like fairly good germination, however they probably don't get enough natural rain water due to their proximity to the shed, so will probably need to be watered.

* Golden Beetroot [Plot] - 25/04/06
Still just seedlings with no true leaves yet - pretty even germination throughout.

* Rocket [Plot] -
o 25/04/06 - Widespread germination - starting to form first true leaves.
o 09/05/06 - Plenty of seedlings visible - next to the peas, so will also need a little watering.

* Leeks (Monmouth) - 03/04/06
From what I can see, germination has been very successful. They have been weeded and are looking strong.

* Leaf Beet (Ruby Chard) - 03/04/06
Good germination and good, healthy growth. They may need thinning at some stage, as they grow to be pretty big and are currently closely spaced.

* Carrots (St. Valery) -
o 03/04/06 - Good, consistent germination, however a little thin at one end for unknown reasons. They need fleecing, if its not already too late.
o 20/04/06 - Just starting to show - line needs weeding.

* Onion (Red) - 02/04/06
Looking good - a couple didn't manage to do anything, otherwise they look healthy and strong - not much needs doing to them apart from weeding.

* Potato(Arron Pilot + Santee + Pink Fir Apples) -
o 02/04/06
o 20/04/06
They are all showing signs of life, although the PFA have yet to really go for it. The beds have been mounded as they grow, so there should be lots of space for tubers to grow. Fingers crossed as last year our crop was a little small.

* Squash (Bon Bon + Butternut) [Greenhut]- 30/03/06
We had mixed success with germination but managed to get 2 or 3 plants of each. 2 Butternuts have gone into the manure heap along with the pumpkin (16/05)

* Pumpkin (Hundredweight) [Greenhut]- 30/03/06
Managed to get the one healthy plant we required. It went into the manure heap on 16/05 in a small 1 foot wide/deep hole dug into the heap, filled with topsoil.

* Cabbage (F1 Stonehead) [Greenhut]- 30/03/06
These came up well, but haven’t grown so well in their loo-roll plugs. The are still in the greenhut.

* Courgette (F1 Gemmer) [Greenhut]- 30/03/06
These came up very successfully and were transplanted to their final position on May 9th. The are still alive, so managed to survive a few cold nights.

* Sweet Corn (F1 Kelvedon Glory) [Greenhut]-
o 30/03/06
o 19/04/06
We were lucky and had widespread germination – probably in the region of 90-95%. They were sown in loo-roll plugs so as not to disturb their roots when transplanted. They, 20 plants, were put into their final positions on the 13th of May under black plastic to retain moisture and keep weeds down. They seem to have taken well to their new positions.

* Corn Salad [Garden] - 28/03/06
Not one seed germinated – not sure what I did wrong.

* Radish (Cherry Belle) [Garden] - 28/03/06
They came up fine. We have had a few, but they are a bit of waste of space. They are exciting because they are quick, but otherwise they are a little disappointing.

* Spring Onion (White Lisbon) [Garden] -
o 28/03/06
o 19/04/06
Widespread germination. Both rows are still growing – we hope to start harvesting soon.

* Rocket [Garden] -
o 28/03/06
o 19/04/06
One row produced ONE plant – the other is growing well, with plenty of plants. We have had a few leaves – tasty!.

* Lettuce (Little Gem) [Garden] -
o 28/03/06
o 19/04/06
Exactly the same as the rocket!

* Parsnips (Tender and True) - 21/03/06
A HUGE disappointment. Of the 132 seeds I planted, 6 – that’s right, 6! Bloody seeds germinated. I really had high hopes for these. Flo bought some later varieties that we will sow and keep our fingers crossed.

* Swiss Chard - 18/03/06
Good germination – growing well. They will need thinning at some point.


* Beetroot (Boltardy)
o 18/03/06
o 03/04/06
Good germination and growth. Not much else to say.

* Onions (Sturon) - 18/03/06
Good growth. I believe only a few didn’t manage to grow, otherwise good, strong plants.

* Tomatoes (Unknown - Kate) [bathroom] - 3/03/06
I can’t remember how many seeds I planted, but we have 4 good, healthy plants on the go in the greenhut..

* French Climbing Beans (Blue Lake + Unknown from Doug) [bathroom] - 3/03/06
We had good results with these and have transplanted the ones we believe are the climbers into their final positions.

* Red Cabbages (Red Drumhead) [bathroom] - 3/03/06
These were in loo-roll plugs and were unfortunately attacked by some kind of strange fungus. They are still alive but tiny and living out in the garden.

* Leeks (Argenta) [house]
o 06/03/06
o 30/03/06
Great germination! They are still on the windowsill in the shed and will need transplanting soon. Hundreds of plants!

* Carrots (Early Nantes)
o 20/02/06
o 21/03/06
o 09/05/06
Good germination with plenty of seedlings which have now been fleeced, so hopefully carrot fly will not be an issue.

* Jerusalem Artichokes - 29/01/06
The Bain of our allotment, they have managed to creep up from the most unlikely of odd bits of off-cuts, roots, tiny fragments left in the ground etc. I am not too sure of their future on the plot.

* Garlic - 20/11/05
We have seen moderate success with the entire batch of hut bought cloves showing, but only about half of our own showing healthy signs. The Scottish, really garlicky garlic looks good with only a couple not showing.

* Broad Beans (Sutton + Aquadulce)
o 20/11/05
o 04/03/06
o 06/03/06 [shed]
Good germination, with perhaps slightly stunted growth due to the cold spring. The shed grown plants filled the gabs in the beds nicely. The last sowing are all up and looking good for their late start.

* Raspberries (Malling Admiral) - 16/11/05
All theses are showing signs of life, either with new canes or growth on the currnt ones.

* Blueberries - 16/11/05
Took well, and with an ericinacious feed, have produced plenty of flowers. They will need netting soon.

* Autumn Onions - 09/10/05
As with the other onions, most are well and looking strong with only a couple of non-starters.