‘Home Grown’ diary project – update 9 … Veggie McVeg Patch…

Things I’ve discovered along the way…

A few conclusions so far – someone asked me if I’d thrown any seedlings away when thinning out? Well yes I did (just a few), but I didn’t like doing it 🙁 – so as we are two months on, I’ve sown more carrots and more lettuces, to stagger my crops throughout the coming months. This time, I’ve been more careful when placing the seeds out to minimise the need for thinning and therefore wasted growth – is this right or wrong… I don’t know, but it feels right to me.

Was everything organic? – was another question I’ve had – well no, I can’t claim that because I started off using bags of soil and compost bought last year. Plus I have bought some Tomorite which I will use sparingly – however, I can claim that I’ve not used any pesticides or other fertilisers and plan to keep it that way if possible.

Finally, while we continue to enjoy the salad leaves (regularly harvested) – I’ve noticed there are no bugs or slugs on them (bonus!). I guess because they are in a slightly raised large wooden tray and their added protection of the old cloche over the top, nothing can really get to them!

carrots seeds, vegetables, home grown, planting,
Two months on and more carrots have gone in.

More triffids? no these are the courgettes that were potted out. All I can say is all the courgettes seem to be very happy in the large outdoor pots … and …

courgettes, potted, vegetables, home grown,
More triffids? The courgettes have gone bananas…

… we have flowers – Amazing! Yes, I can confirm, baby courgettes are forming 🙂

courgette, flowers, vegetables, home grown,
Getting the camera under the huge leaves, revealed the first flowers.

More flowers …. yes the dwarf beans have joined in and produced the prettiest shade of lilac flower. So we will have beans to, assuming our lovely wild bees find them.

dwarf bean, flower, home grown,
Thought this was the prettiest colour flower ever.

Talking of bees… I managed to capture this little fella on one of the raspberry plant flowers.

raspberry plant, bee, pollination, home grown, fruit crop
The bees are at work and just managed to catch this fella doing his thing.

… and he’s obviously done his job well, because we have some actual raspberries forming 🙂

raspberry, fruit, home grown,
Our first fruit forming.

An update on the tomato plants – to date I’ve only had one seedling not make it, which so far gives me about forty baby tomato plants all growing – again, what was I thinking …

tomatoes, home grown, vegetables,
They are all growing steadily in the warmth of the greenhouse.

Finally, do you remember in update 7, I mentioned I’d rescued two hazel nut seedlings when weeding the main bed. Well they are very happy in their pots and growing well.

Hazelnut plants, home grown, potted
They’ve definitely survived and are growing.

Next week – what to do with surplus plants and produce.

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