08 Dec - Review Of The Season

We all want to get better at what we do and I found that to improve my skills on the allotment I had to remember a few things from season to season. What varieties of particular vegetables grow well on my plot? Which varieties failed? Is it best to sow that one direct or can it be raised in pots first? After trying a few methods I found that an online blog was the best way for me to record the 'what, when and how' of it all – I could add pictures too. (Pic below - late Spring 2015).

So, December’s blog has found me in reflective mood then, thinking about what worked on the plot this season and what didn’t. The first thing that occurred to me was the weather; Spring and Summer were cooler this year, plants seemed to be at least three weeks behind where they were last season. While most things eventually caught up, the fluctuating temperatures contributed to a poorer crop of Winter squash which prefer steady, warm days. Nevertheless, I still managed to get a good number of Butternut and Turks Turban, though not as many as I would have liked, plus a couple of pumpkins for Halloween.

Last season sweet corn caused me problems, there were cobs but the plants themselves were largely stunted and poor. I put this down to a new variety I was trying, so this year I went back to planting my usual sweet corn Incredible F1 and, sure enough, I got much better  results, some of the best corn I've ever had.

As for failures, I have to mention the cauliflower. I've tried a few times to grow successful cauli’s but without success. Despite adding lime to the soil, watering regularly so they never dry out, protecting them from pests and generally pampering them, they still performed miserably. A quick mention of Brussels Sprouts too; last year I grew Bosworth F1 and they were fantastic, producing large, tight sprouts from November to March. I tried Trafalgar F1 this year and, while I have a decent crop, they are nowhere near as impressive as the Bosworth so I’ll be reverting back to those for 2016.

There were successes of course; these included Sweet Candle F1 carrots which were fantastic, as equally good in the local vegetable show as on the plate. They grow to a large size and are the best tasting carrots I’ve ever had. Likewise the Gladiator F1 parsnips with their long pale roots, sweet taste and small core. I had ample soft fruit too; strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants abounded throughout the height of Summer.

Other vegetables I will be putting on my shopping list again include the Sarpo Mira main crop potatoes which were indeed blight resistant, still growing well into late Autumn. The early potato Rocket produced bucket after bucket of egg-sized tubers from ten weeks after planting though the second early potato crop wasn’t as good - I think I’ll just plant more Rocket potatoes next season. (Pic - Sarpo Mira main crop potatoes).

The Cobra climbing French beans were very productive as usual, so too were the Bunyards Exhibition broad beans, the wonderfully named Hurst Greenshaft peas and the Primo II Summer cabbage. (Pic - an abundance of Hurst Greenshaft pea pods - July 2015).

Overall, it certainly hasn't been a bad year despite the cooler weather. Everything, except the cauliflowers produced crops; in addition to those listed above I've had plenty of lettuce, onions, garlic, leeks, beetroot, tomatoes, runner beans, sweet peppers, courgettes and fruit. It could have been worse! Bye for now. (Below - two pics - early Summer and Winter).