Monday 30 September 2013

Good crop....Bad crop....

Well I was originally going to write a post for each of these but figured it would be easier to just condense it all into one post as no matter which one I did first it would kind of give the other away so splitting it into two would have been pointless. I think I thought that out better in my mind than what I just wrote so i hope you get my meaning..lol

So I am going to break it into categories for the purpose of ease and list good and bad in each category. I have managed to get crops from everything planted this year but some yields were much better than others and quality in some cases were great and in others...OK but only that.

The Roots.

Good Crops,

Carrots, lovely, straight and tasty...germinated well.
White onions. Great size and quality.
Garlic, lovely big cloves and nice and strong.
Turnips, germinated well, nice size, lovely taste.
Beetroot. A fantastic year for them...almost gluttonous!!

Bad Crops,

Parsnips....just didn't germinate.
Celeriac, came to nothing!!
Red onions...pokey little things.
Swede... germinated but not very good though this my be my fault as I forgot to thin them out.

The Legumes.

Good Crops,

Peas... came in abundance and had plenty to eat.
Mange tout...Did really well, so much so I didn't get them all picked in time.
Sugar snap peas... As above.

Bad Crops,

All beans!! They germinated well and produced well initially but then soon started producing woody veg probably due to the lack of rain. Many people have had the same problem this year so although we have enjoyed some I don't have the stores that I am used to!!

Potatoes.

 All Good!!!

An incredibly good crop this year of both New potatoes and old potatoes. I grew 'Nicolas' for my new potatoes and 'King Edwards' for my main crop. I shall be sticking with these varieties next year!!

Brassicas.

Good Crops,

Kale...Germinated well and fended for itself well. Still plenty left to harvest

 Bad Crops,

Cauliflower...slow to germinate and never produced the flower.
Red Cabbage...got attacked even under the netting.
Green cabbage...as above
Brussels...I kind of forgot to water the first seedlings and then the next two lots got attacked by caterpillars in the greenhouse so I don't have any in the allotment this year.  
Spinach.....Never germinated.
Raab.... Never germinated.
????...I know something else didn't germinate..just can't remember what?!?!
Calabrese....Bolted before true heads formed and flowered. 

 Squash

Good Crops,

Marrows
Courgettes
Pumpkins
spaghetti squash
gourds
patty-pans
cucumbers...Really don't need to say much about any of these as lets face it we all know that most of the time they are gluttonous crops....haven't tried the spaghetti squash yet so I will tell you about that later.

 Bad Crops,

Butternut Squash...only two fruits this year and still not yet ripe enough to pick.

Well that's about it for the crops..( I have just realised however that i didn't have as great a germiantion as I remembered when I really thought about it, I guess our ability to block out the bad is what makes us carry on being gardeners...should I delete the post before I get to depressed over this years failures??? Too late...I now have it all re-committed to memory...Damn!!). I haven't put fruit and salad crops into this post but I realise it's kind of boring without any exciting pictures to break up the text so I think I will let you all go now and do a fruity post maybe tomorrow...might even get a couple of pictures in that to really liven things up. God I bet you're sat on the edge of your seats now waiting for that one...lol

OK, I'm going before I get even more sarcastic over my ability to write the most mundane blog post ever...night all!! 
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22 comments:

  1. Nice post Tany. Now you've got a record of 2013. Just as well as, speaking from personal experience, the memory can play tricks. What's Brassica Raab? Kohlrabi?

    Beans have been bumper this year so far. Dwarf French Sungold and Runners Painted Lady. Now you've got me worrying about the Canadian Wonder which I am allowing to mature so that I can dry the beans.

    With sweetcorn and outdoor cucumbers producing results, as well as the usual courgette, I am planning to experiment with squashes/gourds next year. You are ahead of the game there.

    Celeriac - I've only peeked, but the signs aren't good. There will be photographic evidence when I dig them up. Suffice to say they got a bit squeezed between the sweetcorn and the Canadian Wonder. Maybe next year? or should I accept defeat?

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    1. Yes...I think we all only remember the good bits the following year Mal. Looking forward to some pics of your celeriac, I think I may have finally excepted defeat with this veg!!!

      Looking forward to all your experiments next year.

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  2. What got to the cabbages through netting?

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    1. Birds managed to get in...and white fly were a nuisance...then of course the birds had made way for the butterflies. At least someone got to enjoy them though!!

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  3. I absolutely love spaghetti squash. It is good with just a little butter and salt. It is also good with whatever type of spaghetti sauce you like. Yum.

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    1. Sounds good Emma, I didn't really know what to do with it...at least now I do!!

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  4. I think that anything that came out good is something you don't have to go out and buy.

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    1. This is a very good philosophy Ratty...and one I will remember so Thank you for that!

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  5. I think red onions are there to challenge.

    We had a good pea year this year too - this is a bonus as often they don't do too well for us.

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    1. It's weird isn't it and to be honest we don't eat that many onions so maybe I won't grow them at all next year...we'll see!!

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  6. I don't think this is mundane at all. Too bad about all the things that never germinated.

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    1. It is too bad...but YAY for everything that did do well!!

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  7. What is it about red onions, I've never had any success with them yet and most people find them quite hard to grow. I haven't managed to freeze any beans this year, it's been my worst bean year yet, it will be a lean winter.

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    1. I know what you mean Jo...My stews and casseroles will certainly seem lacking this year. :-(

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  8. My beans did not do well this season or my eggplant. My tomatoes boomed this year but last year hardly worth a mention. Gardening is a funny thing, never a guarantee that all will turn out well.

    Velva

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    1. I haven't grown aubergines for a couple of years now...I think I may give them another go next year though....I don't like to accept defeat too easily.

      I think the not knowing about gardening is what makes you keep going back and trying.

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  9. Ha! I'm occasionally struck by how phenomenally dull what I'd like to write (as a sort of reminder for myself) would be to anyone else reading. This, on the contrary, was fascinating, honestly...

    Glad you've had a good year for a lot of things, we've really enjoyed it compared to last season.

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    1. It was a really good season to last year and I am very happy with what I got....now I sit and ponder what next year will bring!!

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  10. Dear Tanya, It is difficult to do all the work you do and have a bad crop. I am sure it was the weather!
    You certainly know what you are doing. I plant and hope for the best, though the tomatoes are finally growing! I am using a lot of green tomatoes. I don't think they will ever turn red.
    I hope all is well, Blessings dear, Catherine xo

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    1. I think a bit of it may have been life taking over Catherine...but I try and it feeds us and that is what matters to me, knowing where my food has come from, that it really is fresh and what has been put on it.

      My tomatoes are slowly going red but are looking quite bruised...not to worry though they will still make excellent pasta sauce!!

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  11. Its great to do this I think to have a reminder for yourself for each year. But thats why its good to grow a wide range of different veg as some years will be good for one things and other years another. Like you I've had an amazing crop of beetroot, getting a bit sick of it now and same too with courgettes. Its definitely been a better year to last year.

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    1. It wasn't really and intended post but I think it has given me some things to consider for next year and also refer back to if needs be!

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keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!