2011 diary Front Page Plant Records

Diagrams Growing Schedule Rotation groups

 
Forward
Since my daily diary petered out in 2010 I am now resuming my note-keeping but in a simplified manner. The prime purpose of my notes is to understand what grows best and under what conditions but, to be honest, the variability of the weather reduce the whole process largely to luck. As noted below, I have contracted into a single allotment and, together with that, I have slightly ammended my rotation sequence taking an article by Alan Titchmarsh in the March 2011 edition of Gardeners World as my guide.

 
2011
As in 2010, the weather conditions had an effect on the produce again last year. Conditions were good in the early sowing season but then a long dry period ensued. Luckily, the wet returned just in time for the soft fruit which cropped well except for the Loganberries. Germination of Brassicas and Scorzonera was very poor.

Besides problems with the weather, there is also the occasional bout of vandalism to endure. However, worse than that this year has been the theft of produce, so we are going to have to be vigilant in future.

I relinquished my second allotment in September as I found I was not making full use of it. It has now been split in half in order to reduce the waiting list. I will now have to make more efficient use of my remaining allotment.

My mower gave up the ghost this year but I was lucky in getting hold of an almost brand new strimmer on Ebay which will do the job nicely.

 
2012
To sum up the year, it was a disaster. January was wet. February was mild but dry and March was cold. April was the wettest on record then May had no rainfall at all. June was the wettest on record as was July then very wet conditions prevailed throughout the year, with flooding in December.

Last years Salsify lasted through the winter also the Brussels Sprouts which were particularly good. The Purple Sprouting Broccoli had been in suspended animation throughout the winter and became usable. I started sowing from the second week of March, taking a punt at there being a mild spring so started early. The Purple Sprouting Broccoli came on well and greens in the form of Perpetual Spinach and Curly Kale lasted right through. Stocks of last years beans and soft fruit continue to be available from the freezer.

The wet of April prevented germination then the drought in May had a similar result. The warm spell in latter July encouraged growth in Tomatoes, Courgettes, Squash, Sweetcorn and Brassicas. Potatoes were lost to the blight and slugs cleared the Aubergines and Capsicum. Fruit cropping was generally below expectation and the Asparagus was very poor.

The Tomatoes went to the blight, only two Sweetcorn were cropped and the Brassicas failed to mature. Carrots and Parsnips were hopeless. We managed on Chard, Curly Kale, Scorzonera, Squash and Spinach. The final insult was when the pigeons stripped the Sprout tops and the Curly Kale. The Purple Sprouting Brocolli remains a good prospect.
Des