Page 28 - ALG 1 2018 html5 version

General
On the Kings Plot...
from Mid-September to late November 2017
This year, once my local show was over in early September, I was surprised at how quickly many of the crops this year went over. Runner beans stopped very early after some strong drying winds, and this also affected the Dwarf french beans. Courgettes did get mildew but continued to crop until the end of September.
Sweetcorn was a real success this year, and we enjoyed some superb cobs of Earlibird F1 and Goldcrest F1. These were full to the tip and delicious, but again sadly over by the end of September, especially as a few rodents had also found that sweetcorn is a tasty crop to eat.
Anyone who has given up on growing outdoor tomatoes should think again with the introduction of Tomato Mountain Magic - I picked the last of my outdoor crop at the end of October and they were still blight-free; a must-have variety for all plot holders.
Looking ahead to winter as us gardeners do, I must say the winter brassicas look very good this year. Brussel Sprout Brodie F1 has lled out well and should be just right for Christmas, followed by
my crop of Brenden F1 that should be ready just into the New Year extending the picking season. The Savoy Cabbages and sprouting broccoli have lled out well and will be an alternative winter green, along with some Curly Kale and some late Cauli ower Cendis F1 that should mature December into January. All these plants need regular cleaning attention where necessary to keep the dreaded white y
under control.
I started lifting Parsnip Gladiator F1 in September, but there will be
plenty left in the ground for Christmas. Those gardeners that think they need a frost to bring out the avour are mistaken, as mine have been superb roasted. Back in late June I sowed some Carrot Eskimo F1 under an enviromesh cloche; these have produced some superb carrots about as long as your nger, bright orange and as sweet as candy.
With many of the crops nishing early this did allow me time to clear the plot of old crops by the end of October. As well as clearing any old debris, I have also kept the hoe moving so that the soil has had few weeds to worry about, which will make digging much easier. Often, when I am clearing my plots, I nd that the left-over exhibition leeks are taking up a lot of space, so I lift these and heel them into a trench at the edge of a plot. This year they are heeled in next to my carrots and parsnips, and can stay there until harvested, making this the last piece of ground to be dug in the New Year.
My new strawberry bed, planted last March, has cropped well and needed tidying up. All old foliage was cut back and the soil cleaned around the plants. These should give a bumper crop in 2018, as
will my Rhubarb Fultons Strawberry Surprise, now it too has been cleaned up and had a good mulch of mushroom compost.
In November I had a few days off work as I wanted to start
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