Growing our Own

End of summer review!

We've made quite good progress on the plot in the last few months, with a muddy patch transformed so that things have actually grown! I still find it amazing that we can plant a few seeds or tiny little plants, and after a few weeks there's a sign of life, and we can watch it grow until it actually resembles vegetables!

So far this year, we've planted:

Sharp's Express & Charlotte potatoes, kindly chitted by our friend's dad, Sandy Duthie, who also gave us wee plants from his spare seeds, including leeks, sprouts, courgettes as well as summer and savoy cabbages.

Then we visited a local garden centre, armed with vouchers from my birthday, and bought an array of tiny plants:  Lavender, rosemary, mint, sage, lemon verbena, three types of thyme and garlic chives.  We got some onions, and some peas too.

We also planted some carrots from seed - Chantenay and Autumn King.

I've been doing a course called "How not to lose the plot!", and have learned lots, and now have notes relevant to Edinburgh's weather and it's allotments.  As well as having a chance to see some other allotment sites, I've also been able to master certain very useful skills - like planting seeds properly and taking cuttings.  So from that course, we've planted out a squash uchiki kuri, three types of kale and french parsley.  I did plant dwarf French beans, but nothing came of them!

Here are some of what we've grown:

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We have recently acquired an allotment plot and look forward to serving our own ‘home-grown’ vegetables in the future!

At the moment there is a lot to be done; we need to dig and prepare the plot before the weather sets in but we’re already planning what we will grow for next year with a view to serving it up at Table for Ten!

Here’s how it looks at the moment!

Justine with a big barrow of weeds!

Pink gloves are essential for the discerning gardener...

So much to dig!

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It seemed the weeds were growing back almost as quickly as we were clearing them - by November, there was still more weeds than cleared land.  We considered rotovating, but those in the know told us the only way forward was to clear it by hand and cover it in leaves, which would mulch down over the winter.  Fortunately, it was nice and sunny on Saturday, and we spent all afternoon with friends, finally making some progress!

With time up against us, we brought in reinforcements!

After 5 hours, half the plot was cleared and half of that ready for winter!