Chris and Steve's Weblog - City Chickens

Jams and Jellies

Chris — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:28:27 +0000

It’s that time of year again. Time to pick the fruit and make the jams and jellies. To date I have made four jars of red gooseberry, one of yellow gooseberry and six jars of blackcurrant. I have already used up all my saved jars and freezer boxes and there is still a load to pick. I think I may have to invest in some bought jars but they are so expensive to buy the decision is yet to be made.

http://www.citychickens.co.uk/2009/07/29/currants-black-red-and-pink/

Heatwave Conditions

Chris — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:57:42 +0000

We have had weeks of hot sunny weather meaning we have had to do a marathon with the watering cans but the results have been good with lots of salad, vegetables and strawberries to eat and freeze. This has been a very good year for cauliflower and cabbage but the peas have been few and far between as have the early carrots.

At home the roses have been good and the fruit trees are showing a bit of fruit too but all could have been better with a little rain.

We have planted the last of the leeks Real now. It was a disappointing germination and only fifteen plants have gone in out of forty seeds.

The runner beans are forming with the Scarlet Emporor being the first to show. The sweet peas are a picture and smell lovely. The squash plants are romping away now with the exception of our favourite the butternut, which, for some reason, did not germinate well.

We have picked loads of strawberries but again they have suffered from the lack of water. The fruit cage is full of currants and berries ready to be harvested and frozen or turned into jam. All I need is time.

Strawberries, Salad and New Potatoes

Chris — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:36:48 +0000

Once again I have brought home a large bowl of strawberries and a couple of massive butterhead lettuces. I also managed to get enough potatoes Sharps Express for a meal tonight. The potatoes have been slow to grow as we had a cold start to the season followed by a very long dry period. The tops are looking green, lush and healthy but few potatoes up to now which is bad news in one way but good news for my belly because I can’t resist freshly dug potatoes.

Leeks

Chris — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:30:31 +0000

Rob came and met me at the plot and we planted forty Leek plants. The long awaited rain came just as we were finishing. We use the popular method of planting Leeks which is just dibbing a good hole and dropping the plant in while pouring water in to settle the roots but not back filling with soil. We are fast running out of space and still have more leeks, onions, pumpkins and the Gardeners Delight tomatoes to plant.

Celeriac Monarch

Chris — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:21:54 +0000

Today we have planted fifteen Celeriac Monarch plants which were given to us by a friend of Robs at the Post Office, They were tiny seedlings when he gave them to us and I potted them on to make good sturdy plants. We have never grown or eaten these before so I shall be doing a bit of research on the internet.

A tasty alternative to celery Celeriac is low in calories and a good source of Potassium, It can be used raw grated in salads or cooked in soups. An autumn/early winter vegetable, Harvest October/November. Celeriac Monarch is an excellent, high quality variety which has very smooth, creamy coloured roots.

Amazing!!

Chris — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:12:34 +0000

June is Busting Out All Over

Chris — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:29:51 +0000

These are the parsnips that I chitted at home. They were a devil to transplant but look worth the effort now.

The curds are forming in our first caulis of the season.

The flower bed is quite overcrowded and has been left more or less to its own devices but is doing its job in attracting the beneficial insects to the plot.

Lettuce Eat

Chris — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:01:10 +0000

We had a massive thunder storm yesterday with torrential rain and so the plot got a really good soaking. I went down this morning for a couple of hours and put in some plants and did a bit of weeding and tying up. Everything is growing well now and we have brought home quite a few of the salad leaves and butterhead lettuce.

The potatoes are looking good too with quite a few flowers appearing. I couldn’t wait and had to have a little feel around in the bags and bring home a small harvest of Sharps Express to put on our lamb chop dinner tonight. Jim gave us a lovely cabbage from his plot so that will also go on the plate tonight.

Whilst I was weeding in the brassica tunnel I noticed small curds forming on the cauliflower plants so it wont be long before we shall be eating them.

The warm wet weather is perfect for growing and it is very satisfying to see everything coming on so well.

Melon Sweetheart

Chris — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:42:25 +0000

I have put a Melon Sweetheart into the brassica tunnel today. I have placed it behind a row of lettuce which should be harvested soon and give a bit more room for the melon to grow.

Melon Sweetheart bears medium-sized fruits with grey-green skin and light orange flesh. One of the quickest to mature. RHS ‘Award of Garden Merit’ winner.

Cucumber Femspot F1 Hybrid

Chris — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:35:07 +0000

After all my effort this years trying to raise seedlings for cucumber I have had to give in and buy seedlings from the nursery. I chose two sturdy plants of Femspot an F1 hybrid which I am assured will be successful. I have planted both in the lean to and they tower over my little seedlings which although green and healthy are very small so far.

Cucumber Femspot is an F1 Hybrid cucumber, one of the best selling varieties in the UK. The plants are really strong growing, earlier cropper than most other cucumbers. You can enjoy the bitter free, ribbed fruits all summer long. Ideal greenhouse crop, but can be grown outside too in a sunny, sheltered spot in the garden or in your allotment plot. Femspot has proved to be one of the best all female varieties for outdoor production.