Barum's Fruit and Vegetable Diary

The page captures the details of food grown in the Veg Plot since 2004. The Diary format facilitates comparisons between the different years.

Vegetable Index

Aubergine	Bean Dwarf	Bean Runner	Beetroot	Broccoli	Brussel Sprout	Cabbage	Carrot	Cauliflower
Celeriac	Celery	Chard	Cucumber	Garlic	Leek	Lettuce	Melon	Onion
Parsley	Parsnip	Pea	Pepper	Perennial Fruit	Potato	Radish	Shallot	Swede
Sweet Corn	Tomato	Water Cress

The Veg Diary

Year harvested	Sown Under Glass	Planted out	Start harvest	Finish using	Comments
Aubergine		Back to Index	These are grown in a cold-frame with the top removed once they reach the lid.
2010: 'Moneymaker'	04/04/10	07/06/10	07/08/10	22/09/10	A couple of very large fruits were harvested at the start of August. Plant cleared Late Sept.
2009: 'Moneymaker'	10/02/09	19/05/09	07/08/09	10/09/09	These would have been good if they hadn't been left in the fridge while we were away on holiday − and forgotten.
2008: 'Baby Rosanna'	26/02/08	23/05/08	−	−	'Gardening Which' reported as a good variety − thought we would try it. It was rubbish − not a single fruit formed, and few flowers opened.
2008: 'Moneymaker'	26/02/08	23/05/08	17/09/08	19/09/08	This was a miserable year − but this variety did manage to produce several fruit. Pity that half of them were devoured by slugs
2007: 'Moneymaker'	14/02/07	07/05/07	13/09/07	13/09/07	Rubbish this year, too cold. Only 3 fruit − the size of a hen's egg.
2006: 'Moneymaker'	14/04/06	05/06/06	10/08/06	21/09/06	A good crop. Enjoyed the heat of July, despite being sown late.
2005: 'Moneymaker'	03/03/05	08/05/05	24/08/05	15/09/05	A pretty good crop.
2004: 'Moneymaker'	04/02/04	23/05/04	20/08/04	16/10/04	A wonderful crop.
Bean, Dwarf 'Safari'		Back to Index	Grown to complement the Peas, earlier than Runner beans.
2005	15/04/05 02/05/05	28/05/05	−	−	Only one of the April sowing germinated, and none of the second batch. The seed is last year's, but I had trouble then. I claim these seeds are rubbish − and won't bother to grow them again.
2004	18/04/04	23/05/04	20/07/04	27/07/04	Most eaten by slugs.
Bean, Runner 'Painted Lady'		Back to Index	This variety is grown mainly for the pretty flower. The flavour cannot match 'Scarlet Emperor'.
2005	15/04/05	08/05/05	27/07/05	02/11/05	They are pretty when the 2 varieties are inter-planted. But have got fed up with them, so this is the last year I'm growing them.
2004	18/04/04	13/05/04	20/07/04	07/11/04	See Scarlet Emperor.
Bean, Runner 'Scarlet Emperor'		Back to Index	This variety is wonderful for flavour. Herself plants Sweet Peas alongside − supposed to help pollination, but really encourages mildew. "Root Trainers" permit earlier sowings without worrying about late frosts, they also allow seedlings to be more slug resilient when planted out.
2016	18/04/16 16/06/16	12/05/16 06/07/16	22/07/16 28/08/16	05/11/16 ditto	20 seeds in rootrainers, planted in 2Ww 19 seeds sown in rootrainers, planted in 2Wc. Both sowings produced a very good crop − had to distribute a lot around.
2015	18/04/15	12/05/15	04/08/15	06/10/15	24 seeds sown. 18 planted out in 3W. A very good crop (they liked the cool dark summer). Many given away.
2015	−	28/06/15	08/09/15	14/11/15	12 plugs bought and planted out in 3W. We started cropping once we were getting only the odd bean off the early planting.
2014	10/04/14	09/05/14	19/07/14	12/10/14	20 seeds sown, 19 planted out in 2W. A very good crop, many had to be given away.
2013	02/05/13	25/05/13	29/07/13	20/10/13	20 seed sown, and 20 planted out. No second crop this year, initial sowing too late. But, we had a good crop, several bunches were distributed.
2012	16/04/12 19/06/12	06/05/12 06/07/12	07/08/12 10/09/12	21/10/12	24 seeds sown, 18 planted in 3W. 16 seeds sown, 15 planted in 2E. The 1st sowing was growing well when a deer paid the garden a visit, and noshed the lower 3ft, so built a mesh fence and crossed our fingers.The deer, combined with the weather delayed the 1st picking, and the weather ensured the pollination was low and the crop reduced.
2011	15/04/11 22/06/11	09/05/11 12/07/11	20/07/11 29/08/11	27/09/11 14/10/11	First sowing: 20 seeds, became 17 plants. The deer noshed on 27/05 − Chelsea Chopped! Second sowing: 20 seed sown, then planted over rose arch. We did very well - magic seaweed.
2010	05/04/10 25/06/10	05/05/10 10/07/10	09/07/10 14/09/10	- 24/10/10	Did very well this year − due to warmth and daily watering during the great drought in June. The second sowing provided many meals, so the date was correct. I am pondering making the first sowing earlier − they are sown in root-trainers so frosts needn't be a problem.
2009	25/04/09 05/07/09	19/05/09 28/07/09	28/07/09 29/09/09	25/08/09 03/11/09	The first sowing withered after giving a reasonable crop. The second was sown a month too late, it gave many meals but the there was a month's gap between the two.
2008	13/04/08 09/06/08	13/05/08 07/07/08	21/07/08 25/09/08	17/09/08 26/10/08	The first sowing was fairly poor − it was so dark. We were picking at the same rate they were being consumed − no glut this year. This was not the year to try a second sowing − last year we did at least get some reasonable light levels in September / October. but we did get a couple of good pickings.
2007	12/04/07 20/07/07	04/05/07 01/08/07	08/07/07 10/10/07	17/11/07	Amazing − Still picking in mid-November!! A bumper crop this year, they like the cold and wet! Actually made a second sowing, but should have been in June.
2006	14/04/06	07/05/06	17/07/06	17/09/06	An absolute disaster. We had a very late cold wet spring, then it got very hot in June / July - before the roots had managed to develop − instant stress and many plants died. Moreover, I failed to dig in feather pillows in Winter. Slapped wrist!!
2005	15/04/05	08/05/05	27/07/05	02/11/05	The normal good crop.
2004	18/04/04	13/05/04	20/07/04	07/11/04	They finished cropping at the end of August, then as the gardener failed to clear up, they produced more growth and fruit. Should try a second sowing.
Beetroot 'Boltardy'		Back to Index	These are normally bought as plugs. Some are split up, and grown separately. The rest are planted as clumps, the individual plants push themselves apart.
2016: 'Darko'	−	15/04/16	10/06/16	17/11/16	Plugs bought 2/4/16, planted in groups in 1Ee. A good crop.
2015: seed	16/04/15	−	27/06/15	06/11/15	1 row sown in 2W. Very good considering the lack of fertiliser applied.
2015: plugs	−	23/05/15	07/08/15	27/01/16	6 bought plugs planted in 3W. Some of the plants grew huge, but very good.
2014	11/04/14	−	18/07/14	18/11/14	1 row of seed in 2E. A good crop, but not enough - maybe I'll grow 2 rows next year.
2013	01/05/13	−	30/07/13	11/04/14	2 rows of seed in 1E. So many grown about 1/2 a row was dug and binned once they had become woody, as they started to regrow in Spring.
2012	06/04/12	02/06/12	11/08/12	08/10/12	6 Plugs sown, planted out in 1W. The bulbs were small, but a usable crop.
2011: plugs	plugs	11/04/11	02/06/11	29/06/11	6 plugs of groups round beans. But they were swamped by Savoy Cabbage − too much seaweed, got quite a few roots though!
2011: seed	27/04/11	01/06/11	29/07/11	18/10/11	Sowing DIY plugs - get too many from garden centres − and cheaper too, 9 plugs planted in 3E. Did very well.
2010: plugs	plugs	06/05/10	21/06/10	25/04/11	Some of the roots are huge. Some were in the frig all winter - but they cooked allright.
2009: plugs	08/04/09	19/05/09	23/07/09	30/09/09	No plugs to be found this year. So We made our own − sown in modules, put in the greenhouse to germinate quickly.
2009: seed	25/04/09	−	30/07/09	22/01/10	Decided to sow some seed directly into the soil to act as a follow-on from the home-made plugs. These are not affected by all this snow.
2008	02/04/08	23/04/08	15/06/08	24/08/08	Very slow to develop.
2007	- 16/04/07	08/03/07 (plugs) -	29/05/07 17/08/07	15/08/07 22/09/07	The plugs started to bolt in May − the hot dry April has a lot to answer for. The seeds fared much better.
2006	−	07/04/06	08/06/06	27/02/07	Some have become huge this year, they are almost too big for the kitchen department's pots.
2005	−	21/04/05	23/06/05	05/09/05	Could have done with more plugs, as this only provided about 24 plants. Or grown from seed.
2004	−	18/04/04	02/06/04	12/10/04	Early harvest from bought plugs − cheat.
Broccoli 'Early Purple Red Arrow' / 'Rudolph'		Back to Index	Broccoli is easy to justify, as it is almost impossible to buy in the shops − only the tasteless Calabrese.
2017: 'Rudolph'	17/04/16	08/06/16	09/03/17	23/04/17	1 row sown in 1E2w. Not very early, and a disappointing crop.
2016: 'Early Purple Sprouting'	−	17/05/15	08/03/16	12/06/16	8 bought plugs planted in Side Bed. These were supposed to be early, but they grew huge plants with side shoots but flowers were very slow to form.
2016: 'Rudolph'	17/04/15	−	12/11/15	15/03/16	1/2 Row sown in 2W as seed bed. Rubbish crop, the warm, wet early winter caused strange growth and produced very stringy flower stalks.
2015: 'Rudolph'	11/04/14	12/06/14	16/11/14	06/05/15	1/2 Row sown in 1E as seed bed. 12 planted out in 3E. A very good crop.
2014: 'Rudolph'	01/05/13	24/06/13	02/03/14	27/02/14	1/2 Row sown in 2W as seed bed. 12 planted in Side Bed. Plants slow to grow, so a small slow crop.
2013: 'Rudolph'	16/04/12	10/06/12	01/01/13	24/05/13	1 Row sown in 1W as seed bed, 10 planted in 3E. Managed to cover them to protect from pigeons.
2012: 'Rudolph'	17/04/11	01/06/11	12/09/11	11/04/12	An early purple flowering variety. 14 planted in 2E. I thought they should flower just before Christmas, they produced flower spikes in early September. Kept us going all through the Winter.
2011: seed	10/04/10	02/06/10	27/03/11	24/04/11	2 plants shrivelled. When I dug the plot over found 4 chafer grubs - chief suspect. The weather was so warm and dry the crop went to seed faster then we could crop them. Also, they weren't any earlier!
2010: seed	25/04/09	01/07/09	15/04/10	25/06/10	Had a wonderful crop, some was even frozen, since I covered them throughout the winter with netting to protect them from the pigeons.
2009: plugs	−	02/05/08	17/06/08	12/05/09	Sold as Purple Sprouting Broccoli − some in flower as early as June − they should be driven by day length.
2009: seed	23/04/08	17/06/08	09/04/09	12/05/09	No wonder they were late − cold winter and shredded by pigeons in January and February and March!
2008	08/04/07	23/05/07	14/02/08	22/04/08	A super crop, but even better if they had cropped earlier
2007	01/05/06	-	20/01/07	22/04/07	The Crop was only just adequate − planted too close together − 30cm. Need more land.
2006	14/04/05 05/05/05	-	26/03/06	24/04/06	Am trying an earlier variety this year. Germination was good, but all were destroyed by slugs - resown. Initially they looked very weedy, but weren't too bad in the end. They were only 2 weeks earlier than other purple varieties - cold hard winter?
2005: 'F1 Claret	01/05/04	-	15/04/05	16/05/05	This variety flowers very late. Still there when I need the land for other plants − will try an earlier variety.
Brussel Sprouts		Back to Index	Normally I try to get 'Bedford Winter Harvest'. The kitchen department demands these for Christmas Day lunch, any more are treated as a bonus.
2017: 'Trafalgar F1'	17/04/16	05/06/16	20/11/16	28/02/17	Supposed to be sweet for Christmas. 1 row sown in 1E3w. 12 planted in 3E. Small but plenty for us.
2015: 'Trafalgar F1'	−	26/05/15	20/09/15	03/12/15	9 plugs planted in 2Ee, since home sown seed failed to germinate. A very good early crop (should be a late variety).
2016: no variety	−	24/05/15	25/12/15	06/03/16	8 plugs planted in 2Ew, since home sown seed failed to germinate. Pretty good crop, the last ones failed to develop properly once it eventually got cold.
2015: 'Trafalgar F1'	11/04/14	12/06/14	02/11/14	07/03/15	1/2 Row sown in 1E as seed bed. 9 planted out in 3E. A very good crop - 4 month's worth.
2014: 'Bedford'	01/05/13	30/06/13	22/12/13	09/03/14	1/2 Row sown in 2W as seed bed. 12 planted in 1E, A lot of blown heads − bad planting by Undergardener.
2013: 'Bedford'	06/04/12	10/06/12	01/01/13	17/03/13	1 row sown in 1W as seed bed, 11 planted in 3E. Fairly good crop.
2012: 'Bedford'	17/04/11	11/07/11	20/11/11	10/02/12	10 plants in bean bed. How do you control White Fly?. Many sprouts blew, but we had plenty for Christmas lunch, and beyond.
2011: 'Bedford Winter Harvest'	−	09/04/10	24/12/10	06/02/11	Bought Plugs again, more advanced. They developed white blisters on the leaves which were cut off. A reasonable number formed, but very small.
2010: plugs	−	23/04/09	24/10/09	27/02/10	Found them and thought I would try some. No variety marked but I am assured they are 'Bedford Winter Harvest' i.e. late enough for Christmas. They have produced a great crop, best for years − maybe I shouldn't bother to use seeds any more.
2009: Bedford	23/04/08	20/06/08	21/12/08	13/01/09	Is this a different variety? Late planted out − cold Spring. Not a good crop − like many other plants they suffered from the low light levels of the summer.
2008	08/04/07	20/05/07	18/01/08	27/02/08	Very slow to develop, either caused by the Autumn drought, or the gardener planting too close − he is very short of land!
2006	22/04/06 14/05/06	−	25/12/06	28/12/06	First sowing destroyed by slugs. Second sowing planted, in sardine formation, by the Broccoli!! Adequate for Xmas day.
2005	14/04/05 05/05/05	-	24/12/05	21/01/06	Seedlings eaten by slugs - same weedy growth as Broccoli. Never properly developed.
2004	18/04/04	-	23/10/04	26/02/05	Many seem to be blowing this year − too much rain??, the soil is really too light to properly stabilise the roots.
Cabbage		Back to Index	Cabbage is never grown from seed − it produces far too many plants. So the variety depends upon what is on offer. The variety of many are not identified.
2017: Spring Greens	−	26/09/16	06/06/17	22/07/17	12 bare-rooted plants in 1W. Some got huge − too much seaweed.
2016: 'Hispi'	−	12/04/16	14/06/16	17/07/16	Plugs bought 2/4/16, 6 planted in 1Ww. Good Crop − they enjoyed the seaweed.
2016: Savoy	−	21/04/16	15/10/16	13/01/17	6 planted in 1E2w. OK but several were enjoyed by the marauding crows.
2015: 'Sweetheart'	−	07/05/15	21/07/15	08/09/15	9 plugs planted in 1E. Very good until the crow fledglings escaped the nest.
2015: Savoy 'Estoril F1'	−	14/06/15	06/10/15	10/01/16	9 plugs planted in 1E. Not bad considering I didn't feed them since the pup finds any fertilizer irresistible. The very mild and wet Autumn meant they produced some strange extra growth after developing their heads.
2014: 'Golden Acre'	−	08/04/14	21/06/14	14/08/14	6 plugs in 3W. A good crop.
2014: Savoy 'Jade F1'	−	08/04/14	06/09/14	14/02/15	8 plugs in 3W. Some very large heads which took 2 weeks to consume. The crop was finished by our new pup taking a liking to the plants still in the ground
2013: 'Sweetheart'	−	19/04/13	04/06/13	12/09/13	10 plugs in 2E. Pretty good food for the birds and caterpillars, but enough to keep us going throughout the Summer.
2012: mixed selection	plugs	05/05/12	13/09/12	02/01/13	12 plugs in 3W. This is sold as a mixture of 'Savoy', 'Stonehead', 'January King', 'Coleslaw' and red. a couple formed into Brussel Sprouts − not what it said on the tin.
2012: 'Hispi'	plugs	21/04/12	26/06/12	21/07/12	6 plugs in 3W. 3 noshed by crows, but usable.
2012: 'Savoy King'	plugs	10/04/11	07/10/11	14/04/12	9 plugs in 2W, interplanted with Cauliflower. Rather outgrew their space - never had such huge heads - one lasts about 10 meals - seaweed?
2011: Summer	plugs	11/04/11	15/06/11	19/10/11	9 plugs in 2E. They grew huge − well done seaweed.
2010: 'Savoy	−	05/04/10	23/10/10	15/12/10	Six plugs bought. Did fairly well, cannot leave them for the Winter − Pigeons!
2010: 'Hispi	−	05/04/10	13/06/10	08/07/10	Bought Plugs for 6 plants − enough for us. Managed to eat them all before they were devoured by slugs and birds.
2009: 'Hispi	-	18/04/09	06/06/09	17/06/09	Plugs. They survived both Deer and Pigeons, slugs enjoyed them though.
2009: 'Savoy	-	14/06/09	17/09/09		Plugs. As usual, they insist on producing 30cm stalks on this light soil.
2008: 'Hispi	02/04/08 (bought)	22/04/08	07/06/08	17/07/08	Plugs. More to come, but the pigeons finished them off.
2008: 'Savoy'	-	09/06/08	23/08/08	15/11/08	Thought these would come on line in the Autumn (maybe August is the new Autumn).
2007: 'Spring Durban Early'	−	06/04/07	11/08/07	31/12/07	Planted amongst Swede, which got huge. But once these had gone, most of the cabbage developed normally.
2007: 'Savoy' type		21/08/06	21/02/07	05/04/07	Found going very cheap, I think the quality was reflected by the price − very small heads.
2006: 'Offenham compacta'	−	30/09/05	15/05/06	21/07/06	Bought, planted, eaten, enjoyed.
2005 'Offenham compacta'	-	03/09/04	06/05/05	03/07/05	Normally these produce 600mm trunks and a tiny head in this very loose soil. However, this batch was very good.
2006: 'Hispi'	−	21/08/06	23/10/06	04/02/07	Cheap plugs, but good. Struggled to become established in the September drought.
2004: 'Hispi'	−	24/04/04	02/07/04	10/08/04	1st time of the plug cheat - great success.
Capsicum (Sweet Pepper)		Back to Index	High in flavour but low in heat, are the Headgardener's requirement, but the Undergardener doesn't always get it right! Sown 1 seed per 3" pot, and grown in the same manner as the Aubergine − in a cold frame, and the top removed once that have reached the top.
2016: Romano	31/03/16	12/06/16	15/10/16	12/11/16	8 seeds sown. 2 planted in the Greenhouse. Brought into conservatory at start of October. Managed to get 6 fruit.
2016: Romano	31/03/16	12/06/16	−	−	8 seeds sown. 3 planted in cold frame, in 1E. None ripened in the open.
2014: Peperone 'Corno Rosso'	10/04/14	03/06/14	−	−	6 x 3 seeds in 2" plugs. 11 planted out under glass in 2W. Strangely, it was a good Summer, but none ripened, even into October.
2013: 'Corno di Tora Rosso'	20/04/13	20/06/13	−	−	6 seeds in greenhouse. 4 planted in cold frame in 1W. Not a single fruit ripened, despite the hot weather. Must have been because of the late sowing - very cold Spring.
2013: 'Mini Bell mixed'	18/03/12	23/06/12	03/12/12	20/04/13	3 plants in greenhouse. Moved into the conservatory in September to try to get them to ripen − some success, but they are very small. The plant was repotted in the Spring 2013, and produced more fruit, then died.
2012: 'Corno di Toro Rosso'	18/03/12	23/06/12	−	−	2 plants. Deer pricked out the growing tips. This need some sun during the Summer to ripen, instead they just rotted.
2012: 'Barancio'	17/03/12	23/06/12	−	−	6 seeds, 4 plants. Sun is needed during the Summer to ripen, instead they just rotted.
2011: 'Corno di Toro Rosso'	20/03/11	11/06/11	15/10/11	25/11/11	The long pointy type, but sweet. 5 planted in coldframe in 1W. Too cold and dull in July / August - only 2 turned red. But they continued to ripen during the very warm Autumn.
2011: 'Mini Bell Mixed'	07/03/11	potted up 15/06/11 17/07/11	15/10/11	10/12/11	Small, sweet, crunchy fruits it says on the packet. Retained in pots in the greenhouse. Very late to develop, but produced at least 6 bells per plant.
2010: 'Barancio'	05/02/10	28/05/10	08/09/10	10/11/10	Grown from last year's seed. Some good fruit developed, but several rotted, lack of light and air − badly positioned.
2009: 'Peach Habanero'	12/02/09	14/06/09	−	20/06/09	These are not sweet, they are hot. The Undergardener was led up the garden path and ordered the wrong ones, the desired ones are below. These were repotted and donated to the son, who enjoys his food with a heated glow.
2009: 'Barancio'	02/03/09	14/06/09	10/09/09	08/11/09	Something that looks like these in the shops over the last couple of years. It was thus decided that the Undergardener would have this added responsibility thrust upon him! He produced a good crop though.
2008: 'Tasty Grill Red'	26/02/08	23/05/08	−	−	At the start of October I am still waiting for some fruit to set. In mid November I have given up − a complete failure.
2007: 'Tasty Grill Red'	28/03/07	21/05/07	09/10/07	25/12/07	Several got mould, and started to ripen very late − saved by the mild Autumn. Finished up in a Christmas salad.
2006: 'Tasty Grill Red'	14/04/06	05/06/06	01/10/06	15/11/06	Brilliant, they loved the hot July − good choice.
2005: 'Tasty Grill Red'	03/03/05	07/05/05	15/09/05	10/10/05	They are very slow to colour − the 1st picking only had 2 turning colour − others have followed.
2004: 'Tasty Grill Red'	04/02/04	23/05/04	27/08/04	04/10/04	They ripened eventually, very nice, similar to Bell pepper.
2004: 'Fruit'n'Spice'	04/02/04	23/05/04	20/08/04	04/10/04	Marked as "background heat". Turned out to be mildly warm, but an extra bottle of wine was needed.
Carrot		Back to Index	Grow the fast maturing Nantes family. I use 'tape' packets as it minimises thinning, thus deterring the dreaded carrot fly. The local Badger population love carrots, so they are grown within a garlic and onion barrier. This successfully defies the badger. But if the barrier is cropped too early − bye-bye carrots.
2016: Early Nantes 5	15/04/16 20/05/16	−	26/06/16	07/10/16	2 rows in 3Ew. 1 row in 3E. Last year I grew them in a in a topless cold frame to protect them from Pup, and had no Carrot-Fly, so trying non-fly resistant variety as an experiment. This was successful, had some trouble from slugs and irregular watering − Undergardener failure.
2015: 'F1 Resisterfly'	16/04/15	−	15/07/15	15/11/15	1 row in 2W. Kept us going all Summer − not bad for only 1 row.
2014: 'F1 Resistafly'	31/03/14 23/04/14 18/05/14 03/06/14	−	23/07/14	03/11/14	First 2 sowings failed completely. Third sowing looks good. See what happens to the fourth sowing. All within the Garlic barrier in 1E. Enough grew to keep us going, shame it took 4 sowings.
2013: 'Resistafly'	15/04/13 15/05/13 09/16/13	−	03/08/13	19/10/13	2 half rows in 2W 4 half rows in 2W 1 row in 2W. Very strange growth − had a waist about 1-inch underground. Suspect it was caused by the intense heat in July combined with the lack of water disrupting the growth pattern. We did manage to enjoy them over for a couple of months.
2012: 'Flyaway'	06/04/12 31/05/12 01/07/12	−	26/08/12	28/10/12	1 row in 1E 3 rows in 1E, only 6 germinated - too wet. Filled in the gaps. It was a poor crop, it was so wet that even this variety could not resist fly attack.
2012: 'Early Nantes 5'	06/04/12	−	29/07/12	15/09/12	2 rows in 1E, to use up the last of the tapes. Only going to use Carrot Fly resistant varieties in the future, pity they don't make them on tapes.
2011: 'Early Nantes 5' 'Resistafly'	23/03/11 17/04/11 13/05/11	−	18/06/11	05/11/11	'Early Nantes':-1.5 rows, 1 row, 1 row in 3W Trying a fly resistant variety. 1 row, 1 row, 1 row in 3W Will use a fly resistant variety again, good roots even into October.
2010: Early Nantes 5	10/04/10 24/04/10	−	26/06/10 21/07/10	20/07/10 16/01/11	The second sowing produced a huge crop − the Headgardener was giving them away by the handful. Cleared the crop in mid September, but a lot had been attacked by slug and fly. Stored them in dry multi-purpose compost. This was successful, since they kept fresh into the new year, bur were losing their sweetness by the time they were finished.
2009: Amsterdam Forcing 3	23/04/09	-	12/07/09	10/11/09	Some Nantes type were also sown. Plants were lifted in September to minimise the risk from the dreaded carrot fly, and store in the fridge − only just enough room.
2008: Amsterdam Forcing 3	25/03/08 03/04/08 07/06/08	−	25/06/08	01/10/08	Trying a very early sowing, its carrots came on line at precisely the same time as the later sowings - so much for early sowing! Lifted in September to avoid the carrot fly. Have no idea if 'forcing 3' is any different from other numbers
2007: 'Amsterdam Forcing'	05/04/07 16/04/07 16/05/07 25/06/07	−	01/07/07	01/12/07	Brilliant this year − the garlic, onion and frame barrier has saved them from the badger. Some carrot fly damage after Sept.
2006: 'Early Nantes 5'	07/04/06 22/04/06 14/05/06 21/06/06 05/08/06	−	09/07/06	21/01/07	This year has been amazing, early seeds noshed by slugs. The badger has changed his eating habit – we have been enjoying the carrots for ourselves − hope he continues to feed elsewhere. Last sowing has been enjoyed by Carrot Root Fly − fancy planting so late in the season. Did manage to find a couple of meals after Christmas though!
2005: 'Early Nantes 5'	13/04/05 05/05/05	−	25/06/05	29/08/05	The badger deterrent partially failed − 3 rows devoured in mid July.
2004: 'Nantes'	18/04/04 01/05/04 13/05/04	−	24/06/04	24/08/04	Great crop, then the 2 last rows were devoured in 1 night by the badger.
Cauliflower		Back to Index	These are only planted from plugs, since that produces sufficient plants at the desired time of year.
2016: 'White Excel F1'	−	13/04/16	24/06/16	19/07/16	Plugs bought 2/4/16, 10 planted in 1We. Very good this year.
2015: 'All Year Round'	−	12/05/15	17/07/15	25/08/15	8 Plugs planted in 1E. All but 2 made a good head.
2014: 'All Year Round'	−	08/04/14	20/06/14	15/07/14	6 Plugs in 3W.Final 3 blew while we were away at the end of June in the hot weather.
2013: 'White Excel'	−	15/04/13	13/06/13	28/07/13	12 plugs in 2E. Did quite well with nice curds, but the July heatwave caused several to blow, what a waste.
2012: 'All Year Round'	plugs	10/06/12	−	−	6 Plugs in 2E. A complete disaster, don't know why − should I blame the weather or just accept the Undergardener put them in the wrong position with low light.
2011: 'All Year Round'	plugs	10/04/11	24/06/11	07/07/11	12 plugs in 2W, interplanted with the Savoy. The theory was that these would be harvested before the Savoys got too big. In fact, the Savoy swamped them − very cute posh restaurant sized curds.
2010: 'All The Year Round'	−	19/04/10	−	-	These were a disaster. They did not form any curd, they just went directly to seed.
2009: Candid Cream	−	21/04/09	14/07/09	20/08/09	Barum will try any variety in the cause of experiment.
2008	14/04/08 (bought)	22/04/08	26/06/08	13/07/08	Lucky there were only 6 plugs - they all develop together.
2007	−	06/04/07 07/05/07	22/06/07	20/08/07	These enjoyed the miserable weather.
2006	−	22/04/06	24/08/06	10/10/06	These were squashed in. Need more land or fewer potatoes.
2005	−	21/04/05	20/06/05	25/10/05	They developed very well, but at the same time. Harvested and frozen.
2004	−	18/04/04	01/08/04	15/08/04	Only 4 plants − WHY, seem to have lost the plot?
Celeriac		Back to Index	First grown in 2012.
2014: 'Monarch'	10/04/14	06/06/14	15/12/14	19/04/15	Sown into plugs. 11 planted into side bed. They grew very well in the warm Summer.
2013: 'Monarch'	02/05/13	15/06/13	09/01/14	10/01/14	9 plugs sown. The bulbs were extremely small, and didn't even get a couple of salads − very late spring blamed again.
2012: 'Monarch'	06/04/12	02/06/12	10/11/12	18/12/12	Sown in plugs, 9 planted in 1W. Had a small crop considering the weather which encouraged the slugs. Will grow again.
Celery		Back to Index	Occasionally found as plugs.
2009	−	16/05/09	19/07/09	11/12/09	Found some plugs − so relieved the nursery of them. Was meant to be used in soup, but they got caught out by the snow − turning them to much. It will be up to the Undergardener to clear up this mush.
Chard 'Bright Lights' and 'Ruby'		Back to Index	Very colourful. It is cooked as spinach, but the Head cook (doubles as Headgardener) doesn't like them, so the limited land has to be put to more productive use.
2006	−	01/05/06	17/08/06	19/10/06	Only grew a non-food sample because of insufficient space' need to take over some of the other gardener's land.
2005	15/04/05	08/05/05	21/07/05	01/10/05	Only Ruby grown this year - there seemed to be a lack of space.
2004	26/04/04	05/06/04	19/07/04	30/09/04	Grows well, but gets big.
Cucumber 'Burpless Tasty Green'		Back to Index	Sown: 1 seed per 3" pot. They are very well named − in the Tasty and Green department.
2016: Burpless Tasty Green	31/03/16	24/05/16	09/07/16	15/09/16	6 seeds sown. 6 planted by arch in 2W. Started very well, but the plants wilted and died one by one − weird.
2015	18/04/15	27/05/15	10/07/15	15/10/15	7 seeds sown into plugs. 4 planted by arch in 2E.A very good crop, many were given away.
2014:	10/04/14	26/05/14	23/07/14	24/10/14	12 plugs sown. planted at arch in 2E. An excellent crop, many given away.
2013:	20/04/13	03/06/13	21/07/13	10/11/13	6 seeds in greenhouse. 4 planted out in 2E on arch. A very good crop, with many fruits passed around the neighbourhood.
2012:	10/04/12	29/05/12	22/09/12	24/10/12	We have never had to wait until September to pick our first Cucumber, and we expect to crop them for more than one month.
2011:	26/03/11	11/05/11	12/07/11	22/10/11	4 plants around climbing places. Not a good year - too dark and cold in July / August.
2010:	04/04/10	28/05/10	03/07/10	25/10/10	A huge crop − being given all around the neighbourhood.
2009	21/04/09	06/06/09	07/08/09	03/11/09	Enough being developed to keep us ticking over, not a great year.
2008	13/04/08	17/05/08	02/08/08	15/10/08	Not a very good year. A few failed to take properly after planting out. And the others only produced enough to keep us ticking over.
2007	28/03/07	07/05/07	18/07/07	15/10/07	A miserable yield − these need some warmth, not just rain.
2006	14/04/06	16/05/06	15/07/06	26/10/06	A fantastic yield − many put on the front wall for passers-by.
2005	14/04/05	08/05/05	22/07/05	02/11/05	There were still a few developing when I cut down the vine − but these are very seedy − less burpless!
2004	26/04/04	05/06/04	24/07/04	15/10/04	Many a salad was enhanced.
Garlic		Back to Index	These are planted each Autumn, seem to produce a better crop. They are planted as a barrier round the Carrots to defy the badger from destroying the crop. Some are provided to the Kitchen department.
2016: 'Arno'	−	21/03/16	15/08/16	−	2 bulbs split and planted in 2W. Lifted and passed to the HeadCook, now lost in the fridge.
2013: 'Thermidrome'	−	07/11/12	27/07/13	−	Bought 3 new bulbs, planted 18 cloves in 2W round bed to be used for Carrots. Lifted but left round carrots to protect them.
2012: 'Cristo'	−	07/10/11	−	−	Last years best bulbs planted in 1E. Most of these have been leave in to deter the Badger.
2011: 'Cristo'	−	24/11/10	Lifted 21/08/11	−	3 Bulbs in 3W. They did brilliantly.
2010: 'Marco'	−	02/10/09	03/07/10	recycled	Some harvested and kept for the kitchen. The others have to protect the carrots from the Badger. These grow into multi-headed plants which I will lift and split once I know where carrots will be sown next year − no planned rotation − just move around dictated to the space available.
2009: 'Thermidor'	−	10/10/08	30/07/09	stored	Claimed to be "full flavour" − hope the badger doesn't like it. The remainder were lifted with the carrots, and stored for the winter.
2008: 'Cristo'	−	20/09/07	08/09/08	11/11/08	Most are left in to re-shoot and continue the barrier.
2007: 2 varieties	−	13/09/06	16/07/07	all Winter	'Germidor' (mild), have turned out to be too mild. 'Crista' (strong) have a good medium flavour. The weather of April and May have caused a great deal of rust.
2006	−	Last year's plants divided	15/07/06	05/03/07	Garlic disappear from sight once the top foliage has died down, later regrowing as a multi-headed form.
2006: 'Giant Elephant'	−	19/03/06	20/08/06	17/10/06	They produce a huge bulb, with minimal flavour.
2005	−	15/10/04 05/05/05	23/07/05	01/05/06	Planted a second batch in spring to prolong the badger deterrence, who are not deterred once the top dies down. This was a partial success, but was too late for them to be fully formed when lifted.
2004	−	17/10/03	05/07/04	07/08/04	Left in the ground after the top growth has died down − carrot crop devastated. Lifted, split and replanted in Autumn.
Leek 'Musselburgh'		Back to Index	A good reliable variety, keeps us going throughout the winter, and beyond quite frequently.
2016: 'Jolant'	−	23/05/16	07/11/16	frozen	As the seed had failed had to resort to plugs. Know nothing about the variety − may be wonderful?. 13 plants in 2E. They're milder and larger than Musselburgh.
2016: 'Musselburgh'	17/04/16	−	−	−	To my surprise these are tape seeds, so won't plant out. 2 rows in 1W. All failed to germinate − too cold?
2015: 'Musselburgh'	17/04/15	−	29/11/15	Frozen	1/2 row in 2W. Didn't plant out owing to shortage of space, so we have some cute little ones, flavour just as good though.
2014: 'Musselburgh'	01/05/13	−	26/01/14	18/04/14 frozen	1 Row in 2W as seed bed. Did not plant out owing to the great heat, just thinned in situ, they were short since not planted as deeply as normal.
2013: 'Musselburgh'	06/04/12	08/07/12	11/10/12	Frozen	1 Row in 1W seedbed. 15 plants in 1W. A very good crop − some plants have enjoyed the cold, wet Summer.
2012	23/03/11	20/06/11	16/10/11	15/04/12 frozen	Same variety again - boring. 30 plants in 3E. Was again visited by leek moth - even used chemical spray, they recovered, but the problem recurred in September, looking a lot better by November without spray.
2011	10/04/10	13/06/10	17/10/10	02/05/11	These have again been attacked by Leek Moth, but the bulb is still usable. A very poor yield though. Most were left in the ground all winter
2009	23/04/08	07/07/08	19/04/09	frozen 01/05/09	Very slow to grow − too cold. Had to harvest quickly to prevent them going to seed. They were then chopped, washed and frozen.
2008	08/04/07	25/05/07	31/01/08	15/04/08	Normally very reliable. They seem to be very miserable − bad position / gardener suspected.
2007	22/04/06	−	04/01/07	20/06/07 (last soup)	They have been attacked by Leek moth − I even used a spray. By September they were recovering well, but produced smaller than usual plants.
2005	14/04/05	−	28/10/05	29/04/06	Lots produced, some chopped and frozen for soups and stews.
2004	18/04/04	−	13/11/04	−	We are still using up last year's − too many grown and frozen.
Lettuce		Back to Index	We buy plugs. It is often possible to get several sequences throughout the season, each of 6 plants. This is a lot better than sowing a row, and getting about 200 plants all needing to be harvested all at once.
2016: mixed leaves	−	12/04/16	10/05/16	24/06/16	Plugs bought 2/4/16, 5 planted in 1Ew. Several went to seed.
2015: Headed Mixed	17/04/15	17/05/15	17/06/15	02/08/15	6 plugs sown, planted out in 3W.
2015: Baby Leaf Mix	−	04/05/15	17/06/15	02/08/15	7 plugs bought, planted in 3W.
2014: Mixed Leaves	−	08/04/14 03/06/14	25/05/14 19/07/14	05/07/14 05/08/14	12 plugs in 3E 12 plugs in 1 & 3W. They were good, but several went to seed during the hot weather.
2013: Mixed selection	−	19/04/13	02/06/13	20/07/13	12 plugs in 1E
2013: Mixed selection	−	12/07/13	23/07/13	26/10/13	Found 4 plugs languishing in a garden centre. Planted in 1E. Kept going by repeated chopping off the top, allowing growth to recover.
2012: Lollo Rossa	−	21/04/12	30/05/12	06/08/12	6 Plugs in bean bed, bolted during the 1 week of summer − 23-27 July.
2011: 'Lollo Rosso'	plugs plugs	11/04/11 12/04/11	17/05/11 06/07/11	05/07/11 21/07/11	9 plugs in bean bed, to be overtaken by Broccoli. 10 plugs in 2E, to be replaced by January King Cabbage.
2011: 'Radicchio'	13/05/11	15/06/11	03/10/11	10/10/11	9 plugs sown. 2 plants (slugs!) planted in 1E, and one of them went moldy.
2011: 'Rocket'	27/04/11	01/06/11	05/07/11	25/07/11	9 DIY plugs from seed. Planted in 2E. Not great - kitchen department not using fast enough, several went to seed.
2010: 'Lollo Rosso'	10/04/10	−	20/05/10	20/06/10	Got a free packet of seed from a magazine, it couldn't be wasted.
2010: 'Loose leaf Mix'	−	24/04/10 06/05/10	20/05/10 15/06/10	10/07/10 03/08/10	Plugs. Began to get too large for the allotted space.
2010: 'Purple Cos'	−	03/08/10	20/08/10	20/11/10	6 plants. Worked well in sandwiches, that's how I like them anyway.
2009	−	18/04/09	09/05/09	06/06/09	Two varieties − 'Green Frills' and 'Rosso mixed' (a vendors name!). They make a good hotel for slugs.
2008: 'Little Gem Delight'	−	02/05/08	16/06/08	15/07/08	Lots of lettuce. Until 9th May when a deer made a visit and noshed all the hearts out. However, some recovered.
2008: 'Mixed leaf'	−	22/04/08	19/05/08	15/07/08	See above.
2007: 'Lorro Rosso'	−	07/04/07	06/05/07	14/07/07	A good reliable cropper.
2007: Noche Mixed	08/04/07	−	08/05/07	15/07/07	Seed − a strange mixture of loose leaf plants that went to seed faster than being harvested. An interesting experiment.
2006: loose leaf	−	29/04/06 14/05/06 21/06/06	17/06/06	15/10/06	Managed to find plants much later in the season this year.
2005: loose leaf	−	21/04/05 30/05/05	20/05/05	27/08/05
2004: loose leaf	−	17/04/04 03/05/04	25/05/04 -	- 20/07/04	A selection of different varieties.
2004: Arctic King	−	03/09/04	20/12/04	26/12/04	1st year we tried using plugs.
Melon		Back to Index	These are grown more in hope than in expectation. It is an interesting challenge. They are grown in a cold-frame, and the top is removed once the growth cannot be contained.
2013: 'Sweetheart'	−	13/06/13	−	−	Always a disaster here, but ever the fool, so am trying again. Inevitably it was a disaster, probably not helped by the late Spring and short growing season.
2012: 'Edonis'	18/03/12	01/06/12	−	−	6 seeds. 2 planted in greenhouse. Even there it wasn't warm enough this year.
2011: 'Orange Sherbert'	26/03/11	15/05/11	−	−	7 seeds, 4 plants in coldframe in 1W. None developed beyond marble size - not enough sun in July / August. Maybe I should give up, unless I can predict a good summer.
2010: 'Edonis F1'	04/04/10	07/06/10	10/09/10	01/10/10	4 Plants grown. These were developing well, but the cool damp August produced only 5 tennis ball sized fruits, and these never properly sweetened.
2009: 'Edonis F1'	27/04/09	06/06/09	13/09/09	14/09/09	4 planted in cold-frame, and 1 planted in the greenhouse. The Headgardener is in charge of the greenhouse??!! The greenhouse one failed!! Would have had 2 whoppers in the cold-frame if the pruner had not chopped the wrong stalk − ummm.
2008: 'Edonis F1'	13/04/08	22/05/08	04/09/08	04/09/08	T&M 4 seeds for £2.89 − 2 planted in the Cold frame. One produced some very hopeful fruit − the wasps beat me by 24hours for the best one.
2008: 'F1 Sweetheart'	13/04/08	22/05/08	−	−	Just using up old seed − at that price every one is needed. 2 planted in the cold frame. Failed to produce more than golf-ball size fruit.
2007: 'F1 Sweetheart'	28/03/07	22/05/07	26/08/07	17/09/07	A cantaloupe type, having a whole cold-frame to itself this year. Managed to get 3 melons even in this summer. Would have been even better when we went away in early in August − the only hot week this year.
2006: 'Fastbreak'	−	15/05/06	08/10/06	08/10/06	A few developed, thanks to the hot summer. These were very small, but tasted delicious.
2005: 'Fastbreak'	03/03/05	07/05/05	07/09/05	15/09/05	A Charentais type, Managed to get 2 to ripen, despite the weather.
2004: Charentais type	01/05/04	09/06/04	Disaster	Disaster	The weather too damp and not enough sun − or incompetent gardener not keeping them hot enough.
Onion 'Electric'		Back to Index	Available as sets for planting in Autumn. These are harvested before the soil dries out − stress and mildew. They don't store through the winter. They are planted, alongside Garlic and Shallot in wide rows, to allow Carrot to be sown between the rows to deceive the badger and Carrot fly.
2013: 'Electric'	−	07/11/12	12/09/13	05/12/13	24 sets bought loose. Planted in 2W. A lot lost over the long cold Winter / Spring, but the few survivors grew very large.
2012	−	07/10/11 30/03/12	28/08/12	13/01/13	36 sets bought loose. Planted in 1E. Another 20 sets in 1E. The plants are small but adequate.
2011	−	24/11/10	21/07/11	09/10/11	Packet of 50 bought. Planted in 3W. Suffered in the winter snow, but not a bad crop.
2010	−	02/10/09 15/02/10	22/06/10	31/09/10	We have had so much cold / wet / snow this winter that many failed to come through, so a second planting was made. They were badly affected by the wet August − so didn't keep well − used very quickly.
2009	−	10/10/08	30/07/09	29/10/09	Hard to find this year − red onions have become too popular. They grew well producing a reasonable crop, despite getting through the hard Winter.
2008	−	20/09/07	13/07/08	31/10/08	Thanks to the bad/wet weather, these have produced some huge bulbs.
2007	−	13/09/06	15/07/07	12/09/07	A very poor crop, they were riddled with rust and mildew by mid-June − caused by the extra-ordinary April heat followed by Summer rain.
2006	−	12/10/05	23/07/06	17/12/06	An excellent crop despite the hard winter − well done gardener.
2005	−	15/10/04	07/07/05	05/10/05	Since we had a new pup who considers pulling the sets out as they are planted to be great fun, there were several gaps by spring − inter planted with Shallots.
2004	−	17/10/03	31/05/04	20/11/04	Many are going to seed − probably due to the hot − cold − hot weather.
Spring Onion		Back to Index	Spring Onion are demanded in great numbers by the kitchen department, but there are always some in the garden − producing bulbs, flowers etc.
2016: 'White Lisbon'	−	15/04/16	25/06/16	15/11/16	Plugs bought 2/4/16, planted in 3W. OK, but they were very late.
2015: 'Apache' 'White Lisbon'	16/04/15	−	17/06/15	17/12/15	1 row of each in 2W. A fairly reasonable crop.
2014: 'Apache'	11/04/14	−	30/07/14	13/08/14	1 row in 1E. Very poor germination − only about 3 plants came up, enough for a couple of salads.
2014: 'White Lisbon'	11/04/14	−	30/07/14	26/11/14	1 row in 1E.
2013: 'Lisbon'	06/04/12	−	23/07/12	26/03/13	1 row in 1W, Survived the wet Summer.
2013: 'Lisbon'	01/05/13	−	10/08/13	15/11/13	1 row in 2W. An only adequate crop.
2013: 'Apache'	01/05/13	−	10/08/13	20/11/13	A red variety. 1 row in 2W. An only adequate crop.
2012: 'Apache'	06/04/12	−	08/07/12	18/12/12	A red variety. 1 row in 1W. They seemed to like the terrible wet weather.
2011: 'Apache'	23/03/11	−	07/07/11	03/10/11	A red variety, pretty good crop.
2011: 'White Lisbon'	30/06/11	−	03/10/11	15/11/11	2 rows in 3W, probably too late or too early, they developed in the mild Autumn, but not very well!
2010: 'White Lisbon'	10/04/10	08/08/10	02/07/10	29/09/10	Tried seed again. Then found plugs for the later crop.
2009: 'White Lisbon'	−	05/05/09	16/05/09	26/08/09	Plugs − the kitchen department starting using these plants before finishing last years.
2008: 'White Lisbon'	25/03/08 02/04/08	- 23/04/08	13/07/08	02/07/09	Seed − kitchen department is ignoring these Plants. The final seed went to seed!
2007: 'White Lisbon'	05/04/07 04/06/07	−	02/08/07	20/03/08	Some plugs were sneaked in! These have decided to produce bulbs in their first year − weird.
2006: 'White Lisbon'	07/04/06 14/05/06 05/08/06	−	12/07/06	04/04/07	The third sowing did not germinate − the expiry date was 2002 − serves him right for being so tight-fisted. May need to getting plugs in the spring and sneak them in.
2005: 'White Lisbon'	13/09/04	−	03/05/05	May '06	There were plenty for the kitchen department.
2004: 'White Lisbon'	28/09/03 18/04/04	−	03/04/04	30/09/04	tried two sowings this year.
Parsley		Back to Index	These used to be grown in pots in the greenhouse, but since 2005 these have been taking up valuable space in the vegetable patch.
2017: supermarket pot	−	17/06/15 13/07/16	29/08/15 07/10/16	17/05/16 06/06/17	1 pot ripped into 6 and planted in 2E and 3E. They survived the winter, bet went to seed as it warmed up (slowly).
2014: pot	−	15/05/14	31/07/14	Frozen	Bought pot of 'living herb' from supermarket, ripped into 3 and planted in 1W.
2014: pot	−	15/05/13	06/09/13	03/06/14	Bought pot of 'living herb' from supermarket, ripped into 4 and planted in 1W.
2013:	−	17/07/12	28/07/12	30/03/13	Bought pot of 'living herb' from supermarket, ripped into 5 and planted in 1E. Eventually succumbed to the bitter March 2013 winds.
2012: 'Curled Moss'	24/04/11	19/06/11	06/10/11	03/04/12	Grown from seed this year. Finished once gone to seed.
2011	−	24/04/10	22/09/10	10/06/11	Pot of Curley leaf type bought from supermarket, ripped into 4 plants and planted out. It survived the winter!! Dug out once they started going to seed.
2009	−	15/02/09 01/07/09	03/04/09 17/08/09	01/07/09 25/05/10	Last years went through the winter and were transplanted in February. Some 'Champion Moss Curled' were eventually bought. They have done well. They will be left in the ground over Winter – they survived the cold and snow. We cropped them until May when they went to seed.
2008	−	21/06/08	02/08/08	15/02/09	None sown − she cheated and bought 3 plants
2007: 'Envy'	14/02/07	07/05/07	16/07/07	17/05/08	Will over-winter in the ground.
2006: 'Envy'	14/04/06	14/05/06	15/07/06	25/06/07	A bumper harvest, the kitchen department chops and freezes it. Some donated to passers-by.
2005: 'Big Mountain'	03/03/05	07/05/05	06/08/05	05/05/06	Will last throughout the winter.
Parsnip 'Avonresister'		Back to Index	This was a reliable germinator and cropper − one years crop could be frozen and last for 2 years. In more recent years there has been a very patchy germination − needs warmth and water.
2016: 'Duchess F1'	−	13/04/16	17/09/16	24/02/17	Plugs bought 2/4/16. We'd given up on these until our grandson complained, so trying some plugs − They need a long root run, so how can plugs work? 18 planted in 1Ee. First one pulled looks good, but others were very stumpy with mouldy tops.
2011: 'Tender and True'	10/04/10	−	26/01/11	frozen	A single short row of last year's seed − bad gardener, but about 30% have germinated. The roots were huge. The plants from 2009 were used up in March 2011.
2011: 'White Gem'	13/05/10	−	26/01/11	frozen	Found these, they are supposed to be disease resistant, and the roots were very clean. The word 'gem' implies small − it's true, but very sweet.
2010: 'Tender and True'	23/04/09	−	22/12/09	06/03/11	This variety gave a good germination, this year. Is it the variety or weather? First harvest in time for Xmas − those frozen in 2007 had just been used up.
2009	23/04/08	−	−	−	These are rubbish − not a single plant, from a new packet of seed, germinated. Reused the land for Brussels.
2008	08/04/07	−	24/12/07	15/12/09	Even got a reasonable germination from the April sowing − The early heat-wave and subsequent drenching the ground may be the solution.
2007	01/05/06	−	21/01/07	08/04/07	What a disaster – 3 rows sown, and 6 plants germinated. Oh yes, New seed was used. Must be the weather or seed – it can’t be the gardener. The small crop has been cleaned, sliced and frozen.
2006	21/04/05	−	19/02/06	15/04/06	Very few germinated − new seed. We had very patchy weather this Spring / early Summer − so the gardener is not to blame.
2004	18/04/04	−	30/09/04	15/07/05	Grown every other year as they can be frozen for the other year − yes, they are perfectly OK after 1 year in the freezer. But I had a disaster last year − nothing germinated.
Peas 'Oregon Sugar Pod'		Back to Index	Grow only Sugar snap / mange tout types. The kitchen department prefers to buy frozen peas rather than do the podding. Soak the seed for 24 hours prior to sowing. They are grown over an arch, as they reach 2m high.
2016: 'Oregon Sugar Pod'	17/04/16	−	26/06/16	18/07/16	2 rows sown round 1 side of arch in 2W. Good, but the plants got mildew badly.
2015:	17/04/15	−	12/07/15	26/07/15	Sown on arch in 2W, a single sowing can't last too long - especially as Runner Beans are imminent.
2014:	11/04/14	−	30/06/14	13/07/14	2 rows on Arch in 2W. Another victim of going away at the end of June, at least a neighbour enjoyed several pickings.
2013:	01/05/13	−	14/07/13	29/07/13	Sown directly into the ground this year, in 2W at arch. The great heat of july forced them to develop too quickly, and go over, but just in time for the Runner Beans.
2012	06/04/12	05/05/12	30/06/12	15/08/12	32 seeds sown. 29 planted at arch between 2E and 2W. These enjoyed the wet, wet, wet weather, and the deer didn't like them − weird.
2011	15/04/11	09/05/11	04/07/11	20/07/11	32 seed, 18 plants around wood arch. Good large pods.
2010	05/04/10	01/05/10	27/06/10	15/07/10	They gave a good crop, but suffered from the excess heat despite being regularly watered.
2009	25/04/09	16/05/09	03/07/09	02/08/09	Soaked too many for the "Root Trainers" used to start them off, so the remainder were sown directly in the soil to feed the slugs and snails. They ran out just as the Runner Beans came in − well done Undergardener.
2008	15/04/08	10/05/08	05/07/08	01/08/08	Only 8 out of 24 germinated − why? But there was a reasonable crop.
2007	12/04/07	03/05/07	29/06/07	25/07/07	These enjoyed the cold and wet!
2006	14/04/06	07/05/06	22/06/06	23/07/06	The July weather was so hot that the peas transformed from flower to podded bullets without bothering with the Mange Tout stage. The gardener did his best.
2005	15/04/05	07/05/05	15/07/05	15/08/05	A good crop, but the kitchen department was not very good at catching them early − hence short season.
2004: 'Sugarbon' and 'Sugar Ann'	18/04/04	22/05/04	10/06/04	25/07/04	They were expected to reach 2m high. However, someone can't read − they are both only 70cm high − idiot.
Potato		Back to Index	I plant them at 30cm spacing in all directions.
2016: 'International Kidney'	chitted 16/01/16	22/03/16	17/06/16	09/07/16	4 tubers. Planted in 3We. Very small tubers on first root, wait a week or two. Even then, there was virtually nothing on the last tuber - rubbish.
2016: 'Nadine'	chitted 16/01/16	22/03/16	10/07/16	15/11/16	19 tubers. Planted in 3Ww. These were a good crop.
2015: 'International Kidney'	chitted 28/01/15	06/04/15	24/06/15	26/07/15	Jersey Royal is the common name. 4 tubers this year, planted in 2W.
2015: 'Nadine'	chitted 28/01/15	06/04/15	26/07/15	21/11/15	21 tubers this year, planted in 2W. We got the right number of tubers at last.
2014: 'International Kidney'	chitted 03/02/14	15/03/14	07/06/14	05/08/14	Jersey Royal is the common name. 8 tubers in 1E. The last few were regrowing, plant even less next year - 4 tubers.
2014: 'Nadine'	chitted 03/02/14	15/03/14	15/08/14	26/11/14	17 tubers in 1E. 20 tubers next year.
2013: 'Nadine'	chitted 30/01/13	16/04/13	05/09/13	28/01/14	24 tubers in 3W. A good crop. Lifted in November and stored.
2013: 'International Kidney'	chitted 30/01/13	05/03/13	26/06/13	03/08/13	6 tubers in 3W. Despite taking forever to show in the cold spring, they produced an excellent crop.
2013: 'International Kidney'	−	19/04/13	02/08/13	02/09/13	Began to believe the earlier planting had rotted in the cold Spring, so planted another 10 tubers in 3W. Very good crop.
2012: 'Charlotte'	−	05/08/12	01/01/13	03/01/13	5 tubers bought for Christmas. They looked a blighty, so chopped off the stems, with the result we had a couple of meals of very cute small potatoes.
2012: 'Nadine'	chitted 19/01/12	18/03/12	03/08/12	13/01/13	36 tubers. A good crop, albeit many of the tubers were small. They were deemed finished when the Kitchen department complained they were too small to peel.
2012: 'Rocket'	chitted 19/01/12	18/03/12	14/06/12	31/07/12	9 tubers. A good crop no blight − they liked the wettness.
2011: 'Charlotte'	chitted 19/02/11	19/03/11	29/05/11	15/08/11	OK, last year I said I wouldn't grow any this year, but there were no more Nadine to be had. (12 tubers). They were good, seaweed must have helped.
2011: 'International Kidney'	chitted 18/01/11	19/03/11	29/05/11	01/08/11	Claimed to be the same as Jersey Royals − Headgardener insists I try them again. (8 tubers). 1st root very small taters − too early, other roots much better.
2011: 'Nadine'	chitted 18/01/11	19/03/11	02/07/11	06/11/11	18 tubers planted in 1E. Produced a wonderful crop with some huge tubers.
2010: 'Accent'	chitted 26/01/10	23/03/10	12/06/10	19/07/10	First Early. Trying this variety in place of 'Rocket', as they are supposed to be more waxy. However, they did break up in cooking − do I blame the drought? 12 tubers
2010: 'Charlotte'	chitted 26/01/10	27/03/10	10/09/10	13/11/10	A second early / salad potato. 8 tubers. Not as good as Nadine, won't bother next year.
2010: 'Nadine'	chitted 26/01/10	23/03/10	21/07/10	31/10/10	These were better than 'Charlotte'. Growing more this year. 24 tubers
2009: 'Charlotte'	Chitted 01/03/09	29/03/09	Lifted 30/09/09	29/11/09	Had bought Nadine, but later found some Charlotte, they are a bit tatty though.
2009: 'Nadine'	Chitted 11/01/09	11/03/09	14/08/09	30/11/09	Had to buy this variety − all the Charlotte had been nabbed by the time I got to the garden centre. I was advised these were as good as Charlotte. They are very good indeed − will grow them in the future. Found they retained their texture better than 'Charlotte' when cooked, even after storing.
2009: 'Rocket'	Chitted 11/01/09	11/03/09	06/06/09	14/08/09	First Early, and waxy. They need be kept watered on this soil to prevent them going floury. A good crop, and no blight this year. They become more floury as the season progresses.
2008: 'Charlotte'	Chitted 10/01/08	07/03/08	03/08/08	12/11/08	Despite the reports of blight − these have not shown any signs. I do chop off the haulms as soon as I start cropping them − early August.
2008: 'Rocket'	Chitted 10/01/08	07/03/08	09/06/08	02/08/08	So wet in July, some blight has been observed − must plant next year's a long way away − pinch some of the head gardener's ground?!
2007: 'Charlotte'	Chitted 17/01/07	06/03/07	17/07/07	23/09/07	Chopped off the haulms − to prevent blight, in this wet and fungus ridden year.
2007: 'Rocket'	Chitted 17/01/07	06/03/07	02/06/07	17/07/07	Self sufficient in taters for almost 4 months − well done sir.
2006: 'Charlotte'	Chitted 14/01/06	07/04/06	29/07/06	01/11/06	Tops were cut off after flowering to prevent blight, and covered to prevent the pots exposing themselves to the sun, and going green with embarrassment.
2006: 'Rocket'	Chitted 14/01/06	19/03/06	31/05/06	22/07/06	Needed lots of water during the heat of June / July.
2005: 'Charlotte'	Chitted 15/01/05	13/03/05	20/07/05	04/11/05	3.5months of taters − pretty good.
2005: 'Rocket'	Chitted 15/01/05	13/03/05	15/06/05	15/08/05	A reliable waxy first early.
2004: 'Charlotte'	−	04/03/04 20/08/04	28/08/04 23/12/04	14/11/04 27/12/04	Planted under cloche. Great we have had 4.5 months from our own garden from a plot 4x1.2 metre. Found some tubers, with shoots, on in bottom of fridge − so planted them under cloche. Lifted, in the pouring rain, and enjoyed free new taters for Christmas.
2004: 'Jersey Royal'	−	04/03/04	02/06/04 01/08/04	02/06/04 18/09/04	They look too big. All the tubers are clustered around the seed potato, which remained hard − very suspicious about the variety. Planted under cloche. Started harvest too early, hence start / end dates. Won't bother again.
2004: 'Rocket'	−	04/03/04	30/05/04	25/07/04	Planted under cloche.
Radish		Back to Index	Always grown from seed.
2016: 'Ostergruss Rosa'	17/04/16 20/05/16	− −	26/05/16 25/06/16	21/06/16 07/08/18	1 row in 1W. 1 row in 1W. Very good when pulled before they get too big.
2015: 'Hilds roter Nackarruhm'	16/04/15	−	08/06/15	10/07/15	1 row sown in 1W.
2014: 'Ostergruss Rosa'	03/06/14	−	14/07/14	28/08/14	1st sowing all went to seed. 1 row in 2E. Good as usual, but last half went to seed − too hot.
2013: 'Ostergruss Rosa'	15/04/13 09/06/13	−	10/06/13 26/07/13	10/07/13 12/09/13	1 row in 1W. 1 row in 1W. Very good crops.
2012: 'Ostergruss Rosa'	06/04/12 31/05/12	−	30/05/12 03/08/12	20/06/12 02/09/12	1 row in 1W. 1 row in 1W. These like wet weather.
2011: 'Ostergruss Rosa'	19/04/11 14/05/11	−	31/05/11 06/07/11	02/07/11 11/08/11	In Bean bed. Looking good, tasting good.
2010: 'Albina'	10/04/10	−	31/05/10	20/06/10	A white Radish. Nothing to write home about, won't bother again.
2010: 'Ostergrus'	10/04/10 03/08/10	- -	20/05/10	20/06/10	A humungeous, but mildly tasty radish. The second sowing was too late to produce a good crop.
2009: 'Saxa2'	23/04/09 22/07/09	- -	12/06/09 25/08/09	06/07/09 15/10/09	The Saxa ones may be too hot, so needed to sow the big eastern one.
2009: 'Ostergrus'	28/04/09 22/07/09	- -	12/06/09 25/08/09	19/07/09 20/10/09	Huge, huge, huge. But split in the September drought, despite a trickle hose watering them daily.
2008: 'Ostergrus'	23/04/08 07/06/08	- -	03/06/08 27/07/08	02/08/08 25/09/08	These enjoyed the diabolical Summer.
2007: 'Ostergrus'	08/04/07 25/05/07	−	15/05/07	16/07/07	A race to catch them before going to seed after the fast start in April.
2006: 'Ostergrus'	07/04/06	−	25/05/06	23/06/06	So hot the plants went to seed without the root swelling at all.
2005: 'Ostergrus'	14/04/05 05/05/05	−	07/07/05	04/08/05	Did well, developed a good size.
2004: 'Ostergrus'	18/04/04	−	29/05/04	01/07/04	They can be eaten without a gallon of water per mouthful.
Shallot		Back to Index	These are often pickled. If a wine vinegar was used, they would have been ready for Bearnaise sauce, can't get the staff.
2016: Jermor	15/02/16	21/03/16	lifted 13/07/16	strung up	21 bulbs started in plugs, planted out in 3W. Very large bulbs lifted − 4 to 8 bulbs per plant.
2015: 'Jermor'	17/10/14	07/03/15	lifted 02/07/15	−	Bought and planted 21 bulbs into Root-trainers as we had none left over from last year's crop since the daughter decided to help herself to the remaining bulbs. They were eventually planted out in 1W, in cold-frames to prevent the pup from digging them up!
2015: 'Vigarmor'	−	19/03/15	lifted 02/07/15	−	Bought another 7 bulbs, couldn't find Jermor. Planted them directly into the same cold-frames − hope they look different from the others otherwise won't be able to find them.
2014: 'Jermor'	19/12/13	03/02/14	lifted 20/07/14	08/10/14	Planted 20 plants into Root-trainers. Planted out in 2E. An excellent crop, will reuse 20 bulbs for next year.
2013: 'Jermor'	−	07/11/12	18/07/13	19/12/13	15 sets planted in 2W. A very good juicy crop. Some of the plants were used to be potted up for next year.
2012: 'Jermor'	−	06/02/12	28/08/12	15/01/13	16 sets in 1E. They were dug on 14/10/12, but were small and not really ripe, and only a few were to the standard of the kitchen department.
2011: 'Jermor'	−	24/11/10	lifted 20/07/11	pickled 08/08/11	20 bulbs planted in 3W.
2010: 'Longor'	−	14/03/10	02/07/10	pickled	French 'Banana' type (red), (planted in 1WE).
2010: 'Vigarmor'	−	14/03/10	19/07/10	pickled	French 'Banana' type (white), (planted in 1WW).
2009: 'French Delvad'	−	16/02/09	21/07/09	20/08/09	Try another spring planted variety − need more pickled onions and Bearnaise sauce. Would have been planted earlier − held up by snow and Undergardener's frozen fingers.
2009: 'Jermor'	−	10/10/08	21/07/09	28/08/09	Only variety found − Pickled with the others, wry small bulbs for some reason − cold winter?
2008: 'Jermor'	−	20/09/07	−	−	Trying a different variety this year. These have disappeared, where have they gone, were they ever planted or even bought??
2007: 'Golden Gourmet'	−	15/01/07	12/07/07	10/09/07 - pickled	Things are bad − rusty, and some going to seed in June!! So bad, that the Scullery Maid (Head Gardener in a floppy hat) picked the lot and pickled them.
2006: 'Golden Gourmet'	−	19/03/06	22/07/06	19/01/07	Following last year's success, having a proper go. Very good, the kitchen department has no excuse not to cook Steak Bearnaise.
2005: 'Golden Gourmet'	−	17/05/05	23/07/05	27/09/05	These were planted too late to properly develop. But it was a last minute decision to replace the gaps in the onion.
Swede		Back to Index	Bought as plugs.
2014: Rutabaga 'Laurentium'	11/04/14	26/05/14	08/09/14	Frozen	1 row in 1E. A neighbour gave us the seed, bought in Canada. So had to try it once. Planted out in 2W. Thai Cabbage. It's a sort of Swede, and cooks and tastes like it.
2010: 'Brora'	−	05/05/10	31/07/10	frozen	Plugs. Once harvested, they were cooked , mashed and frozen in portion sized packets − very efficient of the Kitchen Department.
2009: 'Acme'	−	18/04/09	07/07/09	frozen 07/07/09	What are these? They have an RHS AGM, so must be good? They have produced a very succulent crop, should last for the next 12 months.
2008: 'Marian'	02/04/08 (bought)	22/04/08	28/06/08	Pulled / frozen 28/06/08	Plugs are not identified as 'Marian', but everyone assures me that this is the default variety, believe that if you will!
2007: 'Marian'	−	06/04/07	15/06/07	Frozen	They have produced bases about 15cm diameter by June − pulled as they are big enough − the book states harvest in Autumn??! The crop will keep us going all Winter.
2006: 'Best of All'	−	29/04/06	05/08/06	11/11/06	Huge tops that fell over, pulling some roots out of the soil. Most were woody, but a few were chopped and frozen.
2005: 'Marian'	−	30/04/05	13/08/05	16/01/06	Grew these years ago, but they only produced a small, woody bulb. These have done very well − despite the caterpillars. Maybe I have got the soil fertility better.
Sweet Corn 'Early Xtra Sweet'		Back to Index	A superb variety − harvested and instantly frozen. I get an average of 1 head per plant, but they are only planted 30cm apart − so I get 32 corns from an area 1.2m x 2.4m (about 10 heads per square metre − pretty good). We are normal self-sufficient.
2016: 'Early Xtra Sweet'	18/04/16	12/05/16	21/08/16	frozen	32 sown in Rootrainers, 28 planted in 2E, 26 cobs harvested − not bad for an area of 1.2 x 2metres.
2015: 'Early Xtra Sweet'	18/04/15	17/05/15	frozen 01/09/15	−	32 seeds sown. 29 planted in 3E. Very large and well filled cobs.
2014: 'Early Xtra Sweet'	10/04/14	15/05/14	15/08/14	frozen	32 seeds in deep root-trainers. Very poor germination, so cheated and topped up with 6 plugs of "Supersweet" - maybe the same? - not at all they were rubbish.
2013: 'Early Xtra Sweet'	02/05/13	04/06/13	26/08/13	frozen	32 seeds sown, 31 planted in 3E. Grew very quickly, and produced pretty good cobs.
2012: 'Early Xtra Sweet'	10/04/12	24/05/12	10/09/12	frozen	32 seeds sown, 23 planted in 2E. Very slow to develop, but the resultant cobs are pretty good.
2011: 'Early Xtra Sweet'	15/04/11	11/05/11	05/09/11	frozen	32 seeds, Only 22 germinated, planted in 3E. Some of these started to fail - 2 died. Contacted Thompson & Morgan on 17/06/11. Naturally I am the only person who has hsd a problem. They sent another pack of seeds − 'Extra Early & Sweet' claimed to be the same variety under a different name − we'll see next year − it's too late to sow them this year! The crop was terrible, none for the family this year!
2011: 'Super Sweet'	plugs	28/06/11	22/09/11	frozen	The Headgardener took the initiative and bought 14 plants found at a local farmer's market. These were planted in the same bed as the other Sweet Corn. Will they inter-pollinate with tasty results, or will this be a disaster.
2010	05/04/10	05/05/10	08/08/10 frozen	frozen	They grew to 2.5m this year. We had a warm June and an improved seep-hose, and probably a large water bill.
2009	25/04/09	20/05/09	27/08/09	frozen	These were slow to ripen, but they were reasonable when finally picked, rushed to the freezer and stored. Will last till next season − family permitting.
2008	13/04/08	10/05/08	18/08/08	frozen	Amazingly we got a good crop − harvested before the horrors of August's weather.
2007	12/04/07	05/05/07	30/08/07	picked / frozen 30/08/07	A pretty good crop, despite the weather. Warmed up in August − just in time.
2006	15/04/06	10/05/06	21/08/06	October 2007	Fabulous, phenomenal.
2005	15/04/05	08/05/05	08/09/05	frozen	Kept us going till next year's crop.
2004	18/04/04	19/05/04	15/08/04	15/06/05	Barely self-sufficient this year.
Tomato		Back to Index	Plants are bought − we only need 3 − of different varieties normally. Grown in the Greenhouse under the eagle eye of the Headgardener − no further comment is necessary, and lower forms of life are not allowed in there.
2016: Rosada	31/03/16	27/05/16	19/07/16	05/11/16	8 seeds sown. 3 planted in Greenhouse
2016: Rosada	31/03/16	05/06/16	15/08/16	20/09/16	2 planted in 2E. A good crop, but many went rotten − very warm damp September.
2015: 'Rosada'	15/02/15	02/06/15	06/08/15	23/11/15	6 seeds sown. 3 planted in greenhouse. A very good crop.
2015: 'Rosada'	15/02/15	10/06/15	23/08/15	16/10/15	3 more planted in 3E up wigwam − we got a quite a lot of fruit, though many failed to ripen as it got colder. As the kitchen department doesn't do green tomato chutney these were composted
2014: 'Sweet Apertif'	07/04/14	15/05/14	11/07/14	30/10/14	6 seeds, 4 plants in Greenhouse. very good, they enjoyed the heat.
2014: 'Sweet Baby'	07/04/14	03/06/14	31/07/14	06/09/14	6 seeds. 3 plants in Side bed in open coldframe. Pretty good until they got blight.
2013: 'Rosada'	06/04/13	15/05/13	18/07/13	21/11/13	6 seeds, 3 planted in greenhouse. A huge crop.
2013: 'Rosada'	06/04/13	12/06/13	25/08/13	31/10/13	The other plants were planted in the 2E. A tolerable crop.
2012: 'Rosada'	17/03/12	01/06/12	18/08/12	08/11/12	9 seeds sown. 3 planted in greenhouse. Another late crop, had to clear them out to use the space for over-wintering her delicate flowery plants, but had a reasonable crop.
2011: 'Rosada'	07/03/11	17/05/11	02/08/11	10/11/11	Slightly larger than 'Santa'. with thinner skins, but better resistance to skin splitting. A real tomato taste - we'll see. 4 planted in greenhouse − in safe hands. They cropped well, in good succession giving a long season.
2010: 'Rosada'	05/02/10	24/05/10	17/07/10	11/10/10	These are planted in the Greenhouse. Naturally a crop that has sustained us through to October.
2010: 'Rosada'	05/02/10	28/05/10	11/07/10	29/09/10	These are planted outdoors, despite not being recommended. Notice they beat the greenhouse ones to being harvested. Produced a reasonable crop, but a bit of blight set in in September, so were cleared.
2009: 'F1 Sweet Olive'	10/02/09	07/05/09	17/07/09	08/11/09	Using some seed. Interestingly the picture of these in Suttons' catalogue is the same as 'Rosada' in T&M's catalogue. They looked and tasted just the same as well.
2008: 'Rosada' (x2), 'Alsa Craig' (x1)	14/04/08 (bought)	23/05/08	21/07/08	10/11/08	'Rosada' to supersede 'Santa'. They have been brilliant with just a few with Blossom End Rot. Don't ask why the Head gardener reverted to 'Alsa Craig'.
2008: 'Alsa Craig' (x1)	14/04/08 (bought)	23/05/08	−	−	There was a spare left over, it was thrust into the veg patch to try outside. Failed, planted near potatoes and caught Blight.
2007: 'Gardeners Delight', 'Sante', 'Shirley'	01/05/07	31/05/07	13/07/07	26/10/07	A few of the 'Sante' fruit had Blossom End Rot. But this didn't affect the overall crop.
2006: 'Gardeners Delight', 'Sante', 'Shirley'	10/05/06	−	21/07/06	18/10/06	Quite a few of the 'Sante' had Blossom End Rot. But generally a very good crop.
2005: 'Gardeners Delight', 'Shirley.	01/05/05	−	15/08/05	20/10/05	The crop was fantastic.
2004: 'Gardeners Delight', 'Shirley', 'Totem'.	11/04/04	−	29/07/04	07/11/04	'Totem' were rubbish − very few fruits.
Water Cress		Back to Index	Someone said this could be grown in a boggy pot in a greenhouse. Barum took up the challenge.
2014:	−	17/05/14	01/06/14	07/07/14	8 plugs planted in trough outside Greenhouse. Dried out and went to seed, but now regrowing - maybe more in the Winter.
2013: 'Aqua'	11/05/13	−	30/06/13	18/08/13	Quite good, but detested the great heat − moved into shade. We made the mistake of going away for a week, so all dried out.
2012	10/04/12	−	07/06/12	15/10/12	9 seeds sown. We had a good crop.
2007	−	−	−	−	Seed purchased, but the Head gardener failed to get her act together and sow them − no hope for us.
2006	15/04/06	−	25/05/06	30/07/06	Got too hot to prevent them growing properly. Many went to seed early in the season.
2005	01/06/05	−	12/07/05	30/09/05	The packet says it doesn't need a bog to grow − we tried it in a pot in the greenhouse, standing in a saucer of water.
Perennial Fruit
Apple 'Cox'	Back to Index	Pruned	Start picking	Finish	-
2016	−	15/04/16	−	−	Only a few flowers, and even fewer fruit. It was a very cold spring and few pollinators. Only 1 fruit, but it was already rotting.
2015	−	21/03/15 12/08/15	28/09/15	21/11/15	Plenty of blossom and fruit, but all but about a dozen apples were scrumped - by squirrels judging by the tooth marks left on the wasted fruit!
2014	−	15/02/14 17/08/14	14/09/14	16/09/14	Very bad year for blossom any fruit, and only 3 fruit formed, did too well last year.
2013	−	15/02/13	03/10/13	28/02/14	This has been a very good year for fruit.
2012	−	−	−	−	Flowered, but not a single fruit set.
2011	−	−	08/09/11	22/12/11	They seemed to like the strange weather we had this year. Some ready for picking quite early, and some very large apples. Should have picked earlier because quite a lot dried up in storage - very warm Autumn.
2010	−	Pruned 05/03/10	21/09/10	08/12/10	A large and very juicy crop. Successfully stored in a mouse-proof environment.
2009	−	−	08/09/09	26/11/09	A very juicy crop. They have been stored in the garage, but they do slowly shrivel, have heard that they are best in a damp place − will have to investigate.
2008	−	−	23/09/08	07/11/08	Still a pretty good crop.
2007	−	−	09/09/07	11/11/07	A super crop.
2006	−	−	06/09/06	06/1106	A pretty good crop this year.
2005	−	−	02/09/05	10/10/05	Started with a few windfalls. A very good crop this year − it liked the rain early on.
2004	−	−	not recorded	−	Had loads of good fruit this year − plenty of rain, I add Seaweed meal − helped to provide extra trace elements.
Apple - an old cooker	Back to Index	Pruned	Start picking	Finish	-
2009	−	−	−	−	Hacked back some overhanging branches to give more light to some shrubs. Had to take care that the mistletoe was not damaged.
2008	−	−	−	−	This is now used to support some Mistletoe that appeared on this tree in 2006. It will no longer be reported upon in these sheets. Unless the author changes his mind?!
2007	−	−	−	−	Rubbish, they all rotted.
2006	−	−	31/08/06	frozen	More than enough for apple sauce, maybe even a crumble will be provided to the hard-working under-gardener.
2005	−	−	01/09/05	−	Already planted in the top garden where there is a thin streak of clay. The apples are frozen for apple sauce.
2004	−	−	not recorded	−	Already planted in the top garden where there is a thin streak of clay, it normally gives a good crop, but not this year.
Fig 'Brown Turkey'	Back to Index	Pruned	Start picking	Finish	-
2014	−	−	07/08/14	07/08/14	We get several fruit this year. Then the Headgardener announced that she doesn't like Figs - why do I bother. I won't report on this fruit any more.
2013	−	−	−	−	A few small failures managed to grow.
2012	−	−	−	−	No fruit − still recovering from cold winters.
2011	−	−	none	none	This lives in a pot in the garden - no Winter protection for him. As a result there was no fruit this year.
'Lemon'	Back to Index	Pruned	Start picking	Finish	-
2015	−	−	−	−	We only had a single fruit, but it flowered well during the late summer and fruit are forming.
2014	−	−	13/03/14	30/11/14	We had the occasional fruit throughout the Summer, enough for the gin.
2014	−	−	25/01/14	25/02/14	At least it managed to flower this year, maybe it is recovering from the extreme winters. But, we bought another plant - but it is very small, but only produced a few fruit.
2013	−	−	15/12/13	−	At least it managed to flower this year, maybe it is recovering from the extreme winters. But, we bought another plant - but it is very small, but only produced a few small fruit.
2012	−	−	−	−	A few flowers, but no fruit − still recovering from cold winters.
2011	−	Repotted 28/03/11	Recovered by mid July	none	This has been around in a pot since 2003, and only mentioned in this list in 2011 - disgraceful. It overwinters with top protection against the house, it took a battering in December 2010, but recovered by late Summer 2011, with a few flowers.
Plum 'Victoria'	Back to Index	Pruned	Start picking	Finish	-
2016	−	23/06/16	−	−	3 pea sized fruit, one developed.
2015	−	29/06/15	−	−	4 fruit formed, but not a single fruit ripened.
2014	−	01/06/14	-	-	Not a single fruit, is the tree past it?
2013	−	22/05/13	11/09/13	13/09/13	Most of the fruit were nicked by some beast or other.
2012	−	−	−	−	Several fruit formed but none managed to ripen.
2011	−	−	17/08/11	10/09/11	Good crop − some even made the frig.
2010	−	−	10/08/10	28/08/10	Had all of 12 fruits − none reached the house.
2009	−	−	20/08/09	29/08/09	Some fruit even made it to the house this year.
2008	−	−	15/08/08	15/08/08	Again we got all of 4 fruits − they failed to reach the house − or the Under gardener!
2007	−	−	18/08/07	18/08/07	3 fruits − none reached the house.
2006	−	−	30/08/06	30/08/06	Got all of 9 fruit this year, It hasn't recovered since a bumper crop in 2004 (after the long hot summer of 2003). Most are eaten between the tree and the house.
2005	−	−	0	0	Only 1 fruit germinated − recovering after last year's glut? and that was nicked by beasts unknown. But by the end of the season the tree looks very sick − we had a gage suddenly keel over this year − result of the very hot summer of 2003?
2004	−	−	A huge crop	−	Rebuilt the bed surrounding it and fed it well this year. There were so many plums that I had to support the branches, and made some jam − WOW.
Raspberry − 'Joan J'	Back to Index	Pruned	Start picking	Finish	-
2016	−	18/03/16	07/07/16	25/07/16	Even more miserable this year.
2015	−	05/02/15 29/07/15	20/06/15 06/09/15	27/07/15 10/11/15	Most of the plants look very miserable - time for some replacement plants. The early crop was fair, the late crop was fairly miserable.
2014	−	15/02/14 17/07/14	13/06/14 01/08/14	23/06/14 13/10/14	Poor early crop excellent late crop
2013	−	23/02/13 25/07/13	07/07/13 29/08/13	25/07/13 12/10/13	A good early crop, but the late crop was disappointing, maybe it was too dry.
2012	−	09/01/12 05/08/12	26/06/12 05/08/12	22/07/12 24/10/12	Both early and late crops were reasonable. Quite a lot were affected by mould.
2011	−	Pruned 23/11/10 and 06/07/11	04/06/11 23/08/11	06/07/11 08/10/11	This variety is supposed to crop well on light soils. They are only partly pruned in Winter − the strongest canes are cut back by half, this produces an early crop. Once the early crop has finished fruiting their canes are cut down. The current year's wood produces the later crop. Was top-dressed with seaweed in late Winter, and had an extra good crop - maybe just the weather they liked.
2010	−	−	23/06/10 06/09/10	17/07/10 11/10/10	They are only partly pruned in Winter − the strongest canes are only partly cut back − these produce the early crop. Once these are finished, the are cut down. The current year's wood produces the later crop.
2009	−	−	20/06/09 10/09/09	14/07/09 08/11/09	Heard that if you only cut down some of the old wood in winter, you can get an earlier harvest from those left un-coppiced. That seems to be true. Furthermore, the normal crop did develop on the current year's stems. Cut out the earlier fruiting canes (last year's canes) as soon as they had finished fruiting, and gave a high potash feed.
2008	−	−	07/07/08	02/10/08	Too dark for a good crop − we cut back an overhanging tree in September − hope for a better crop next year.
2007	−	−	18/08/07	01/10/07	Suffered from the late drought − ironic.
2006	−	−	24/08/06	15/10/06	Grown exclusively for the Head Gardener’s delight – by the generous Undergardener.
2005	−	−	01/08/05	02/11/05	These seem to have a very long season − so far very pleased.
2004	−	−	none picked	−	They have grown to the top of the cage, and produced some fruit.
Raspberry 'Autumn Bliss'		Back to Index	A Classic Autumn Variety. Have grown them here since 1994.
2004	−	−	not recorded	−	These are now past their best, plan to lift them. Have ordered more 'Joan J' to replace them.
Raspberry − 'Glen Clova' and 'Malling Admiral'.		Back to Index	Two varieties − 1 early and one mid season. Planted when the Fruit cage was built in 1994.
2004	−	−	Dug out prior to fruiting	−	These have keeled over. Have changed the soil, and replanted with 'Joan J'.

Tagetes are littered around, as they provide colour and help to deter white and carrot fly. Some are also planted around the tomatoes in the greenhouse.

Last Update: 20/08/2017

Barum's Fruit and Vegetable Diary

Vegetable Index

The Veg Diary

Perennial Fruit