Spade Work : From Plot to Plate

2008 Planting

Being something of a lister recording what I've planted each season, when and how it crops, comes naturally. So far this is what's in the ground and growing away or nearly hardened off and ready for transplanting.

Potatoes

Charlotte, Cara, Sarpo Axona, Home Guard and Shetland Black (in pots). Planted end of March and showing through early May when they were earthed up for the first time.

Peas

Norli, Taiwan Sugar (sown in gutters in November, transplanted March). Norli and Taiwan direct sown end of March as with Ne Plus Ultra. Supports put up end of April.

Kale

Nero di Toscana and mixed winter kale seeds sown May 5 along with Brussles sprout Noisette.

Chicory

Palla Rossa and Grumolo Verde sown May 5.

Leef Beet

Perpetual Spinach, May 5

Salad leaves

Wild rocket (early April sowing failed), Franchi mixed lettuces (early April sowings now about 3inches high). Flat leaf parsely, coriander. More lines planted May 5.

Beetroot

Boltardy and Tonda di Chioggia, May 5

Beans

Aquadulce Claudia broad bean (sown November), climbing beans Corona D'Oro, Marvel of Venice and Kew Blue.

Parsnip

Tender & True (Carrot, Long Red Surrey to follow in same bed in June

Chilli

Apache and Ring O' Fire

Tomatoes

San Marzano, Golden Sweet, Mortgage Lifter, Copia & Black Prince but the last three lost their labels so I'll have to wait until the fruits set to know which is which.

Leek

St Victor

Sweetcorn

Swift germinated May 5, transplanting end of the month.

Onion

Sturon, Red Baron and Longor (shallot).

Garlic

A bit of overload here but fun to grow and compare. Cloves obtained from Patrick at Bifurcated Carrots   as part of a seed swap - Susan Delafield, Inchelium Red, Kransnodar Red, Korean Red, Silver Rose, Prim, Uzbek Turban, Creole Red, Vekak Czech, Gutemalan Ikeda, Colorado Black, Gypsy Red.

Survivors

If these were my children they'd be taken into care and I'd be up before the court before you could say 'deadheading'.

I can't say these auriculas have thrived but they have survived neglected by the ivy clad fence only to be rediscovered today when I moved a table so as not to disturb the nesting robins when we sit out for a drink in the evening.

I'll have to tidy them up and pot them in attractive terracota pots maybe even display them in mini auricula theatre made from wooden wine boxes?

Asparagus varieties

For several years now I've enjoyed a decent harvest of Connovers Colossal aparagus.

But I'll probably be giving up the allotment to my neighbour next season  as I'm going to concentrate veg growing efforts at home. So I'm looking for recommendations as to what variety I should plant in the new asparagus bed.

Connovers Colossal has done well for me but is there a 'if you had space for only one variety' that you would recommend? Of course I could always plant several crowns of different varieties but which ones?