Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 152 Entries. Saturday, January 12 View Page Happy new year and good luck to everyone in 2013! I thought I would start my diary this year with a picture that just about sums up the winter so far. This was taken on the 22nd Dec, it is the gateway to a field of cauliflower, I have seen a puddle here before but never 3 feet of water! Saturday, January 12 View Page I have cabbage, heavy carrots, heavy leeks, heavy onions and hevy parsnips started so far. These are onion seed from Joe Atherton which I have moved into 3.5inch pots today. Saturday, January 12 View Page Here are Peter Glazebrook onions and Bangor carrots, the onions and carrots were all started on the 21st Dec. I haven't used any light but there is a heater in the greenhouse for frost protection. Saturday, January 12 View Page I translplanted some carrots into their pipes this afternoon and started more carrots and my first lot of parsnips. Saturday, January 12 View Page Here are Joe's onions all potted up, I will start some Celery tomorrow but don't quite know where they will be shown yet as there is no Shepton Mallet show this year. Hopefully Malvern will put on some extra classes. Sunday, January 20 View Page We had some bad news here in the UK just before christmas that Shepton Mallet show had been canceled and the UK National Giant Veg show was no more. Thankfully Malvern Autum show has decided to take on the title and increase their classes so we still have a National show to got to. More details can be found here http://www.threecounties.co.uk/article/national-giant-veg-competition-moves-to-malvern/ Hope to see as many UK growers there as possible Sunday, January 20 View Page Had a chance to get some FYM on my tunnel this afternoon, we had a slight frost last night with more rain on the way this evening. The rest of the UK is having some very cold weather with heavy snowfall in places. Sunday, January 20 View Page The onions are safely tucked away in the propagator, they have all straightened up after transplanting last week. Sunday, January 20 View Page Cabbage are very slow so far this year, we have not seen much winter sun and the days have been very dull. Sunday, January 20 View Page I also have some pot leeks on the go. Sunday, January 27 View Page My onions have their second leaf now, weather has warmed up a little and days are getting longer. Sunday, January 27 View Page I have potted up some cabbage today, they are smaller than usual but healthy enough. With the show being 2 weeks later I am hoping they will catch up. Sunday, January 27 View Page Parsnips have germinated. Sunday, January 27 View Page My early transplanted carrots are now showing a rough leaf. Sunday, January 27 View Page Leeks are still slow, I am waiting to grow these this year as I haven't tried them before. Sunday, February 10 View Page My cabbage are now growing faster, weather is still wet and dull though. Sunday, February 10 View Page I have transplanted celery today. Sunday, February 10 View Page I started these swedes last Sunday, also started some Monarch from P+P and they have also germinated, onions have started a 3rd leaf. Sunday, February 17 View Page The sun is shining and the ground has started to dry! Forecast looks good for the next week at least, this weekend I have potted my 6 best leeks up which are in the picture, I have transplanted my swedes and kohl rabi, moved the carrots and parsnips to their growing tubes and started my tomato seeds. I started some beetroot seed from the EGVGA earlier this week and they have germinated already. Sunday, March 17 View Page I have potted up some celery this weekend. They are in the propagator set at 20C, we had a -4C this week which only maxed out at 2C in the day time. Sunday, March 17 View Page I was hoping to plant my giant cabbage this weekend but we have also had some very heavy rain and the ground is too wet. Sunday, March 17 View Page My swedes look good and need potting up. Sunday, March 17 View Page My carrots and parsnips are looking ok. Sunday, March 17 View Page My carrots and parsnips are looking ok. Sunday, March 17 View Page My onions and Leeks are now begining to gain speed, next job this week is to get the tunnel sheet on. Sunday, March 31 View Page The weather has improved a little in the past couple of days and has warmed a little, I have put my tunnel sheet on and planted my swedes, 6 of my own strain and 6 Monarch from P&P. Sunday, March 31 View Page I also planted 6 cabbage yesterday, little later than usual but so is Spring!! Pumpkin seeds start tomorrow! Sunday, April 14 View Page I have had a good plant up today, parsnips, carrots, leeks, onions, potatoes, celery and beetroot have all gone in the tunnel. Sunday, April 14 View Page I didn't like the weather on the 1st April when I usually start my pumpkins so I delayed until Last Sunday, they are now coming through, this is the 1694 Meier which is the EGVGA seed of the year. I also started Watermelons and cantalopes and they have germinated well. Sunday, April 14 View Page This is what I didn't like about the weather, -2C near burnt my cabbage off! Ever wish you waited another week??? Sunday, April 14 View Page Lucky I had a heater in with the new potatoes, Red Duke of York as usual. Sunday, April 21 View Page Planted my first pumpkin today, this is the EGVGA seed of the year the 1694 Meier. I have a 1310 Sweet to plant tomorrow. Sunday, April 28 View Page My cabbage are now getting over their frost damage, this may cause them to seed, I have 6 more to plant out this week so they will be a bit of a backup. Sunday, April 28 View Page I had the opposite problem in the tunnel last week, the sun came out when I was at work and scorched some of my plants, this is the worst damaged parsnip. Sunday, April 28 View Page But the rest of them look ok. My onions and Leeks also had a bit of scorch. Sunday, April 28 View Page My swedes have escaped any damage, I have the tunnel well vented every day now no matter what the forecast is!! Sunday, April 28 View Page I have gone for the 993 Vincent* this year, nice looking plant. Sunday, April 28 View Page I also have a 1303 Sweet. Sunday, April 28 View Page And here is my 1694 Meier. Wednesday, May 8 View Page The 1694 is growing slowly, it looks a bit pale but the weather has only improved in the past week. Wednesday, May 8 View Page 1303 Sweet Wednesday, May 8 View Page My 993 Vincent* seems to be growing faster than the pumpkins so far. Wednesday, May 8 View Page Swedes have started to bulk up, they were much bigger this time last year. Wednesday, May 8 View Page My onions have got over their scorch and have put some growth on in the last week. Wednesday, May 8 View Page My leeks still look a little pale after they were cooked a couple of weeks ago. I think they will be ok though. Wednesday, May 8 View Page Parsnips look well. Wednesday, May 8 View Page Giant Kondor potatoes are up but again behind last year. Sunday, June 2 View Page I haven't posted for nearly a month as it has been that cold that nothing was really growing, last weekend we even had a frost! Since then the weather has warmed up and growth in the past 5 days has been a lot better. This is my 993 Vincent* just about has a vine now, stronger than my 2 pumpkin plants. Sunday, June 2 View Page My 1303 Sweet in the same tunnel as the 993*, just about to vine, I am growing these 2 plants in a flag pattern. Sunday, June 2 View Page And the 1694 Meier has started to grow, this one has a whole tunnel to itself, 30 foot long by 25 foot wide, this is the most room I have ever given a pumpkin. Lets hope it works! Sunday, June 2 View Page I forgot to say the 1694 picked up some scorch today in the hot sun, This is a row of runner beans in the top end of the Miere tunnel outside the 30 x 25 space. Sunday, June 2 View Page Just as well have a look at the rest of the veg, I am trying some long carrots and parsnips for the first time, I have lost 1 carrot already due to a blocked water dripper but the rest of them have rooted down to the end of the second tile so far. Sunday, June 2 View Page I have planted out marrows today, 6 in all. Plants were very pot bound but the weather has been too cold up until now to plant out. Sunday, June 2 View Page Cabbage are still way behind. Sunday, June 2 View Page I have also lost 2 swedes so far due to internal rot, I was too slow getting the first Boron on I think. I have never lost a swede this early. Sunday, June 2 View Page Parsnips look good. (so far) Sunday, June 2 View Page Carrots are doing fine. Sunday, June 2 View Page My leeks look ok I think? Sunday, June 2 View Page This is my best onion at the moment, now beining to swell. Sunday, June 2 View Page potatoes. Sunday, June 2 View Page Celery Sunday, June 2 View Page Beetroot Sunday, June 2 View Page Tomato Sunday, June 2 View Page Watermelon grafted to a Triumph rootstock. Sunday, June 2 View Page Cantalope melon grafted to a Triumph rootstock. Sunday, June 2 View Page And finally (I think) here are my cucumber that I planted last week. They have grown well in the past 7 days, will put up trellis soon. Sunday, June 16 View Page Everything still behind but looking well, the first show this year is 3 weeks later which is just as well. Today has been a day of wind and rain again but this next week looks a bit better. Sunday, June 16 View Page My 993 Vincent* has a female bud but it is only about 4' from the stump, will have to wait for the next one. Sunday, June 16 View Page No females on the 1303 yet but the plant looks well. Sunday, June 16 View Page 1694 Miere. Sunday, June 16 View Page My onions are making good progress. Sunday, June 16 View Page I have managed to put up a frame for my cucumbers this year, should be better as it is not attached to the tunnel and when the wind blows (it does blow a lot in Cornwall!) the frame will not shake the cucumber off! Sunday, June 16 View Page Parsnips look well. Sunday, June 16 View Page And my watermelon is looking good, I am enjoying growing watermelons this year as in theory the plants should stay healthy through being on a rootstock, there is nothing more dissapointing than growing a plant and getting a melon set only to have it die at an early stage. Sunday, June 23 View Page I think I have just caught a couple of leaves on my 1694 Meier with roundup, hopefully no long term damage but time will tell. Sunday, June 23 View Page We have had very strong winds all weekend an it has rolled the side vines over on my 993 Vincent* Sunday, June 23 View Page My 1303 sweet is in a more sheltered stop and looking well though it should look like this in May! Sunday, June 23 View Page My best looking onion is going well at 15.5" circ. This is a Peter Glazebrook seed. Sunday, June 23 View Page Watermelons are making progress. Sunday, June 23 View Page Leeks. Sunday, June 23 View Page And my cucumbers are climbing well, once again it seems to be a summer to grow under cover! Sunday, June 30 View Page Very pleased with my Onions this week, a lot that can go wrong yet! But the best one has put on 2.5" circ in the last 7 days and is now 18" circ, the other are catching up as well. Sunday, June 30 View Page Leeks are also doing well, still pale but still growing. Sunday, June 30 View Page My 1694 Meier seems to be getting over the roundup scorch though you can still see it. Sunday, June 30 View Page The 1303 Sweet has a female bud on the main vine which should open sometime this week. Sunday, June 30 View Page The 993 Vincent* has a female on a strong secondary which looks like it will open on tuesday and there is another on the main which will open at the enad of the week. I plan to pollinate both of them. Sunday, June 30 View Page Swedes are bulking well now, my cabbage are not though the pigeons have had a good go at them this week. Sunday, June 30 View Page A lot of growth in the last 7 days. Tuesday, July 2 View Page Pollinated a 993 Vincent*xself on a side vine this morning. Thursday, July 4 View Page Pollinated 933 Vincent x self on the main and 1303 x 1694 also on the main. Sunday, July 7 View Page My 1694 Meier has put on a lot of growth in the last 7 days, no fruit set yet and the one on the main looks damaged with the roundup so I will pollinate on the secondaries. Sunday, July 7 View Page Runner beans are now begining to flower. Sunday, July 7 View Page Parsnips look well with a lot of top, the temperature has reached 25C this afternoon so I have opened up all of the sides on my tunnel. The forcast is set to hit 30C in Cornwall this week,m they said on the radio that it has been 7 years since we saw 30C. Sunday, July 7 View Page My onions still look well with the best one taping 19.5". Sunday, July 7 View Page Best onion shot, the phone is shrinking! Sunday, July 7 View Page Leeks are still pale and growing. Sunday, July 7 View Page Cabbage are looking rough and have had every problem possible. Sunday, July 7 View Page My watermelons have got some spots on the older leaves, does anyone know what it is? Sunday, July 7 View Page Cucumbers have a good colour, no females yet. Sunday, July 7 View Page Celery looks well. Sunday, July 7 View Page My 993 Vincent* and 1303 Sweet have nearly filled their space, don't know if pollinations have worked yet. Tuesday, July 9 View Page pollinated 1303 Sweet x self on the main and another 993 Vincent* x self also on the main. Sunday, July 14 View Page 1694 Meier x self looks to be set, this one is on the main. Sunday, July 14 View Page The Meier plant is growing fast though there is a lot of scorch with the hot weather, we had highs of 30C this week, I'm not complaining! We have a summer at last! Sunday, July 14 View Page My second 1303 sweet looks set. Sunday, July 14 View Page And here is a 993 Vincent* on the main vine, there is a bigger one on a side vine but I think I will go with this one. Sunday, July 14 View Page 1303 and 993* plants Sunday, July 14 View Page Onions and leeks are still growing well, my best onion is measuring 21" circ today, it;s the one in the center, the next best one measures 19.5" circ but is a lot taller than the 21" onion, the 19.5 is on the near row far right. Sunday, July 14 View Page Cucumbers are setting. Most look long so far. Sunday, July 14 View Page Lost my best watermelon this week, I guess the Triumph rootstock isn't the answer. Sunday, July 14 View Page This one is grafted to an AG root. Time will tell! Sunday, July 14 View Page I have never had to ventilate my tunnel this much, I leave it like this all night, don't need much cover at the moment. Sunday, July 14 View Page Marrow and cabbage are finally looking like they are growing well. Sunday, July 21 View Page Looks like the 1694 Meier has set, plant is nearly filling the 25'x35' space now. Sunday, July 21 View Page This happened to my 993 Vincent* this week! Sunday, July 21 View Page But I do have another 2 on the main, this one is a self pollinated and if I need the next one it will be open. Sunday, July 21 View Page My 1303 Sweet also looks to be set, I like the shape of this one. Sunday, July 21 View Page Best onion is at 22" this week. Sunday, July 21 View Page But I think this one will overtake now, it is 21" this week and a very much higher neck. Sunday, July 21 View Page Leeks are still growing. Sunday, July 21 View Page I have cucumbers set on all plants now. Monday, August 12 View Page No posts for a few weeks as we have been very busy at work(happens every July!) So now I need to get back to the giant veg, beans need thinning. Monday, August 12 View Page I am down to 7 swedes now, I have lost 5 to rot. Monday, August 12 View Page Radish are looking better, they had an attack of aphids last week but I think I have got them now! Monday, August 12 View Page I have also lost 2 leeks, they just collapsed and rotted, I think it got very hot for them a few weeks ago, temps are now around 18 to 20C daytime and 14 to 16C night. Monday, August 12 View Page I have a new best onion, this one is near 24" around and still growing slowly, all 9 onions have still got green top and at the moment they are all sound. Monday, August 12 View Page My watermelon grafted to an AG has 2 melons on it. Monday, August 12 View Page This one grafted to a Triumph rootstock has 3 small melons that have flowered, I am leaving the bees do the work. Monday, August 12 View Page Cucumbers are getting bigger! Monday, August 12 View Page My 933 Vincent* is an ugly shape so lets hope she holds, I have resisted taping any pumpkins or squash as it is usually dissapointing when I do! Monday, August 12 View Page And here is my 1303 Sweet, The 1694 has an open pollinated pumpkin on a side vine as the 2 on the main have given up. Monday, August 12 View Page My cabbage have made a comeback and now look half decent, the second one from the top is the biggest. Sunday, August 18 View Page My onions have still got some green leaves, this one is now 24". Growth has slowed down now. Sunday, August 18 View Page I have lost the last watermelon grafted to the Triumph rootstock, it done this overnight on Tuesday. Sunday, August 18 View Page I still have the plant grafted to the AG, hopefully it will stay! Sunday, August 18 View Page Still 1303 still growing. Sunday, August 18 View Page And this is my 1694 Meier, open pollinated on a side vine. Sunday, August 18 View Page We have a large crop on our tomatoes this year. Sunday, September 1 View Page My 1694 Meier is making steady progress, I hope to take this one to Southampton in October. Sunday, September 1 View Page The 1303 Sweet looks bigger but still no tape on it! Sunday, September 1 View Page And the 993 Vincent* also looks bigger but no tape. Sunday, September 1 View Page Still have green tops on my onions, this is the best one which is now 24.5" circ. Sunday, September 1 View Page The 3 against the tunnel sheet are now all bigger than the others so probably like it a bit cooler than the ones in the middle, we have had a hot summer this year and the tunnel has got too hot more than once. Sunday, September 1 View Page My watermelon grafted to the AG is still hanging in there, it has another 4 weeks before my first show so I hope it will stay firm. I have cut off the smaller one this week which weighed in at 17.5lb on the bathroom scales. Sunday, September 1 View Page my marrow patch has gone mad, the one in front is about to rot I think, but I have 5 more growing on the other plants. Thursday, September 5 View Page Been fishing this afternoon! First time I have ever caught fish! My freind John was kind enough to take Maddie and myself out on his boat from Mousehole Harbor, we were only out for about an hour............... Thursday, September 5 View Page ...............and we caught 52 mackerel!! Wednesday, September 11 View Page Pumpkins are still growing, can't wait to get some veg to the scales but still have just over 2 weeks to go! Sunday, September 22 View Page Been fishing again with John, 79 Mackerel today! You can see Penzance in the background. The sea was a lot calmer today. Sunday, September 22 View Page We came back in as the sun was setting, I was talking to Joe Atherton recently and he was telling me that he has fished from the small island in this picture. Thursday, September 26 View Page Getting ready to head off to the National Giant veg show at Malvern, very pleased with my oinions. Thursday, September 26 View Page Got a pumpkin and squash ready to go as well, will be interesting to see how they weigh tomorrow, still haven't taped them.