My vegetable garden

Started in 2003, my vegetable garden, at the local allotments, broke the mould. Typically plots were based on traditional methods, with much digging, weeds were widespread, and whilst those who had well established plots and time did well, many other struggled.

I had just had a back operation and so my outlook was very different. I was keen to put into practice, albeit on a small scale, my professional knowledge of soils, minimal tillage and weed control combining this with my long held desire to get back to growing vegetables that I had done years before.

Now you can follow my own experiences through the year.

• current activities
• successes
• learnings
• and even my experiments
• produce

My vegetable plot in 2007

Follow my progress in the easy vegetable gardening ezine.

Return from my vegetable garden to the home of easy vegetable gardening

What a great time early summer is; the majority of the planting is done, the soil has dried out a bit so there are fewer weeds, vegetable plants are growing fast and there is more to eat.

The strawberries have been fabulous this year - and we already have our first raspberries - yes, I know they are not vegetables - but who can resist their succulent charm!

Finally the gale force winds have subsided and the sun come out - glorious!

We are eating 4 different types of lettuce, beetroot and beans, artichoke and 1st early potatoes - yummee!

Weed control is up to date - the 'little and often approach' really works. Neighbours keep saying 'it looks so neat - how do you do it when we don't see you much? (no I'm not there in the night!)

I am planting a series of lettuce, beetroot, carrots, peas, courgettes and beans to bring us vegetables over many months and avoid wastage of excess.

The leeks have been transplanted and have established well. The Brassicae (red cabbage, curly kale, calabrese broccoli and purple sprouting brocoli) are growing well and will soon be big enough for transplanting into the right beds.

A second row of peas, Mangetout this time, have been transplanted taking care not to disturb their roots. They look great at 20cm high already!

The climbing beans are growing well skywards. Three different plantings this year should avoid a glut and provide beans for many months into autumn - frost permitting.

My next project - a proper greenhouse - but more on this next time.

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