Google

bingley show

My first show of the year, this is the bingley show cows sheep goats and veg. I've never entered this show before as it clashed with a more local show but they have brought this one earlier by 2 weeks. This was just a dummy run to get me in the mood for showing. I have grown some flowers this year as well as veg so reading the schedule i had a few entries ready, also i had to show 15 items to get an entry ticket to the show (£8 ON THE DAY) whoses a tight get.Looking in the tunnel i had a cucumber ready but had a kink in it, so tried to strieghten it big mistake. It broke, so after getting off the buffet with removing the rope i decided to think again.There was no class for parsnips but class for any other veg, with this i thought i'de pull one to see what it was like. I have 1 barrel with 7 in that have been attacked by moths and the tops arn't perfect so this is the one i chose, i started to pull the parsnip whitch had being watered the day before ( i think you have to let them dry for 2 days before lifting) it came up a little easy ,when checking it the root had broken half way down just my luck, with only 6 left to at i had another go.this one was hard to come out with steady pressure it came free lift lift lift wheres the end. I was well impressed over 3 ft long (has this turned into a story) anyway back to the show the stuff i took were not super except glady . off we go up at 630 am get there 730 am  and stage my stuff not a lot of people there so quite hopfull.Home now to feed chicken and open polytunnel doors(cracking weather).Pick the wife up and off to the show 20mins to find car park ,must be something going off.At the gate a long cue to get in unless you have a pass,wife cues up and pays £8 and off we go not expecting anything just the buzz of the show the first thing i see is any other veg with only one parsnip and lots of other stuff a nice pot leek broccoli and many more .I could see red on the parsnip and yes iy was there what a rush first show first class and a red card that was it for me who needs to do anymore shows.well i'm not going to bore you anymore just tell you i got three red cards that day and seconds and thirds as pictures below a good day out.

sweet and sour

as some growers are pulling a carrot or two a thought id have a look at my sweet candle stump rooted carrots the stump is starting to form and the top looks good but the bottoms are sending out side shoots i hope that most of them are better i have about 40 to choose from so fingers crossed

belated update

hi all not been on blog to update for ages so here we go.well ive had good and bad on the plot root rot on the onions and garlic which ill have to treat the ground in winter to get rid of it or at least to slow it down.slow progress on the stump carrots which i think was due to blue scaffol;ding mess on top,i have changed to green mesh now and they are picking up now but late for shows in august.my pickling shallots are all lifted at 27mm and have swelled to 32mm so drying in polytunnel to see if they shrink.my large shallots(ambition) gown from seed were left in too long and started to divide so will save for next year.

Anyway cabbages are doing fine some 40" across just need to heart up now, with the days getting shorter they should do.peas doing okay nearly ready for kitchen,the spuds are nearly ready too so no more big shopping bills.

                                          cabbage doing well             

                                          ambition shallots

                                          water melons now tennis ball size

                                          parsnips

ive grown mellons for the first time ever and there doing fine and putting fruit on as is the cucumbers and tomatoes.the celery is doing fine in 15" collars and the parsnips are going away nicely.i will put some pics below of progress for you to see and will try to update more often, ps dont mind the grammer im from huddersfield you know.

NVS Members Site :: Index

carrot time

the raised bed is all done my own compost sand and super phosphate ive done 64 stations with 3 seeds in each (sweet candle) then covered with fleece to keep warm and keep out bugs so see how we go 

well back in the polytunnel and managed to get some wood from a house strip and made 2 raised beds dont know what to grow in them yet though but there done thats the main thing

credit crunch the new chicken is now ready for the coop i carnt afford food and beer so it has to go and if i dont get any eggs

well thats it for today will keep you up to date with the garden buy for now

mix time

its time to do the mixes for parsnips carrots etc so out with shredder and start with peat ive got 300L of irish peat so run some through shredder and was well impressed it turned out like talc good do so next was the vermiculite i got 5 large bags as it was a deal i did i had to run this through twice to to make it ok so will do this all week but the footy on tv so had to give up had to watch cockneys loose good do to the brummies 

catch up time

the drum for parsnips is done and ready for mix now it took too long to do as the sand was new and i had to steralize it by hand

the raised bed for tha stump root carrots is also done just need to add some more sand it has been riddled with 1/4 inch riddle top growers use 1/8 riddle but i dont have one yet so this will have to do 

while the dogs away the chicken will play

 jsut checked my peas in the cold frame and there all gone them mice have had them all so this time im going to spray with garlic barrier to see if this keep them away and a trusty trap god dam thiefs

polytunnel

what a lovely day today got the cover on my tunnel today just got to hang the doors now when it rains i can still do thing in there have to make beds for veg now im gaing to make small tunnel to go in this one to increase temp so i can get started earlier will keep you updated.

chicken hut

well nice day today so got the chicken hut and run finished today eggs in incubator to hatch 10 days got 1 cock and hen from last lot wqill go to hen house next week .too windy for polytunnel only got cover to put on now will keep you posted see you again soon.

taty day

taty day at leeds got the last of taties today so all chittihg know we have kesteral , winston , vales emerald , casablanca , maxine , amour , blue bell all for show bench i hope and charlotte and desiree for kitchen to keep her indoors happy
bad weather again for allotment got cover for polytunnel but need nice weather too windy at the moment but got to get it finished soon planting time approaching thats it for now will post more later

tunnel update

as you can see tunnel coming on great just some doors to make and cover to order, many thanks to paul for the help would have not done it without him.a nice day forcast for today so going to allotment and plant onion sets and some more digging over that should keep me busy for the day, then going to sow some tomatoes as last year left them too late and did not have any ready for shows. have applied to join NVS with my birthday money from wife, i hope it is not a waste of £17. 

happy new year

hi all not posted anything for ages too busy getting merry as you do , so its all over thank god back to this gardering lark did manage to plant onion and shallot leek seeds and all germinated. got a couple of days nice weather at the allotment to finish the posts for the polytunnel as in picture and dug some ground over. today got some snow again so got the incubator out and warmed up eggs coming on thursday i hope and still got to build the coop got second hand 6x8 shed coming just need some mesh to make a bit of a run.bought shallots today from b&q they heve got seed potatos in now but not the type i want will see what wilkos have then deside.