Thanks to Photoshop's wonderful "Photomerge Panorama" feature, it's possible to make a picture of our whole allotty from several smaller pictures. So providing I can manage to stand more or less in the same place each time I take a new set of photographs, you'll be able to see how things change throughout the year. Click a picture for a larger version. March 2009 The blue hoops (in 3 places) are covering the onions, garlic and shallots, to prevent the birds pulling them out. Other than that - not a lot to see.
April 2009 The blue hoops are off the onions as they are large enough now to defeat the birds. In the same bed, in the left foreground the broad beans are beginning to come through. In the center foreground, the "Agralan" white netting protects our Savoy cabbages from the birds, butterflies and various other nasties intent on eating them. At the far end of this bed are some newly sown broad beans. I want to see how these protected ones get on compared with the ones out in the open. To the right, there's a new raised bed been made. Just to the left and in front of the shed, another bed is covered in "Agralan". This contains cauliflowers. The bed to the right and in front of the shed now contains radishes and turnips. Finally in the left distance, the black and grey poles have white fleece wrapped around them to protect the newly planted runner beans and peas until they get established.
May 2009 What a difference. In the foreground, the broad beans are now 3 to 4 foot high and have flowers on, so
it won't be too long before we have beans. Beyond the beans, the onions are now clearly visible. Under the white net, the savoy cabbages are now big enough to make out. The fleece is off the runner beans. The peas (center distance), are now well up their frame. The vine is covered in leaves. The new bed (right) now has dwarf french beans, turnips and beetroot in. The sheets of plastic are to reduce the effect of the wind, which was very strong for several days. To the left of the shed, you can make out the wooden outline of the new cage. This has still to have the netting installed, so not commissioned yet. Almost everywhere you look you can now see green.
End July 2009 The broad beans are now finished. We had an excellent crop this year. Under the gauze, the savoy cabbage is ready. Two have been picked. The onions are now out to dry. We lost about 10% due to some 'orrible root rot, but the survivors look good. Notice how you cannot see the shed anymore - sweetcorm and monster courgettes are blocking the view. Peas are now all picked. Runner beans are still producing. Squash is growing. Two out of the three plantings of potatoes are picked. A small yield this year, but pretty much hole-free and very tasty. Currently picking dwarf french beans, red cabbage, mange-tout peas, courgettes, turnips, beetroot. To come - sweetcorn, squash, cape gooseberry, maincrop spuds, blackberries.
Early September 2009 August has been all about squash, sweetcorn, raspberries and blackberries which we are munching our way through. Some of the squash is already in the freezer. The maincrop spuds are all picked - a good crop with little critter damage. The cape gooseberries have still not produced anything edible yet, but the signs are good. Still some red cabbage and savoy cabbage left. I put some dwarf french beans in the ground in early July and thet are looking good - should be picking before the end og the month. And we've had a second crop of cauliflowers - there'll be 9 to eat (out of 11 planted). Huge attack of caterpillars on the broccolii and sprouts, but a combination of removing them by hand and sprinkling derris powder seems to have brought them under control. The cucumber produced another large specimen too. So all in all, a good month. Next job is to plant spring cabbage and some more purple sprouting broccoli. Some of the empty beds will have green manure (phacealia) sown onto them soon.
