Here’s an update on how things are faring on the Farmy Farm, or as it’s also known, the back garden.
My attempt at herb garden wasn’t entirely successful and I’ve come to conclusion that the more delicate herbs such as corriander aren’t worth bothering with. I’m also Sarto report that my homegrown basil didn’t last too long either and the shop-bought plant is also struggling. My homegrown thyme is barely keeping it’s head above soil in contrast to the shop-bought specimen which is riotous.
I’ve finally picked my first two spring onions which seem to have been on the go since March and the pepper plants in the greenhouse are shadows of the crop this time last year.
All is not gloomy however: the first courgette has been cut and tasted fine, even though it was headlong on it’s way to being a marrow. More courgettes are forming now although I’ve had to remove one plant from pot as it’s sucking up food and water from the others. The cucumbers too are sprouting fruit and should be ready soon.
The strawberry plants we got at the end of the season last year survived winter and provided a small crop of fruit back in June. I’ve realised that just because a planter has nine holes you shouldn’t fill them all with plants. The ones I didn’t remove are sprouting runners and some are taking root already so next year I’ll have few plants per plant.
The aubergines are growing well, but no sign of amy fruit yet, whilst both blueberry plants are in fruit. The seedlings of the third batch of salad have just poked through the soil.
The real success story has been the potatoes: I ordered a patio growing kit which consisted of 10 seed potatoes and 3 heavy duty polythene bags. Following the instructions, I put 3 potatoes in 2 of the bags and 4 in the last bag and topped up regularly with compost. The foilage went a bit ‘triffid’ and took over the garden so it was a relief to get a fair piece of garden real estate back when I lifted the first 2 bags a week or so ago. Unlike John Wyndham’s pesky plants though, they didn’t stomp off round the garden and try and eat the dog.
So whilst I may be far from self sufficient, I am at least learning that if you want cheap potatoes then three plastic bags and £20 of compost is not the way to get them.
Filed under: Gardening
