Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 40 Entries. Monday, January 2 View Page i have just gotten my first soil test done and to be honest the numbers have shocked me a little now please bare in mind i have not added anything to my patch yet this season so these figures are how the patch stood at the end of last season . if you have any comments feel free to contact me via email Monday, January 2 View Page page 2 of the report where do i go from here i wonder !! adding things is easier than removing i guess Wednesday, March 14 View Page seems to have been a very long winter my shoulder is still far from right and im finding it hard to do simple tasks hoping it settles down for the growing season. i have been working on my soil this winter to try to get it better balanced here is where i stand right now ph =7.2 nitrogen =58.7 ppm phosphorus=510 ppm potassium =1719 ppm calcium =5934 ppm magnesium =745 ppm sodium =100 ppm boron =4 ppm copper =7 ppm manganese =26.1 ppm iron =48.6 ppm sulphur =219 ppm zinc =26.8 ppm organic matter =14.7% CEC 40.7 base sat % K = 10.8 CA = 72.9 MG = 15.1 i have added very little this year no manure or composts and only some micro nutrients. roll on the growing season good luck all of you Wednesday, March 14 View Page sorry about last post it looks so confusing after i posted it here is my results in chart form regards mal Tuesday, May 8 View Page i have made a tunnel for one plant this year not as big as id have liked but it will have to do Tuesday, May 8 View Page it opens up on both ends and the sides roll up also to give better air flow if it ever gets warm here Tuesday, May 8 View Page had to make a sort of inner tent last weekend as temps got to 3c below freezing Tuesday, May 8 View Page 1450 menting just getting started a little troubled by yellowing on second leaf Tuesday, May 8 View Page a little closer look at yellowing i can only think its down to soil temps its sat at around 52 f maybe its locking up the n a little ive given it a drenching with seaweed to see if it perks up Tuesday, May 8 View Page this is a 633 langley i want to use it as a cross with menting 1450 it also planted in tunnel in an open bottom half barrel and will be pulled once pollenation has been achieved Tuesday, May 8 View Page ive not grown in a tunnel befor and it poses all sorts of issues from overheating to humidity and watering programme now as easy as i thought you really need to be on the ball at all times or its game over Tuesday, May 8 View Page This year has been so cold so far its hardly been sunny at all since march so even though i have planted up in the tunnel im still falling behind outside i need to get some marrows going but cannot even get on the ground to till as its so wet. I wont be planting as much this year as im continuing to have a problem with my shoulder so im taking it a little easier and see if i can get it sorted Good luck everyone have a great season and thanks to all who have given me seeds again Wednesday, May 9 View Page starting my marrows today my lineup is thomas 70.1 x2. thomas 85.5 x3. baggs 66.x2. hollinrake 125 x2. hollinrake 91 x2 . wursten 70.5 x1. and one of my own carter 94 already in the ground . Wednesday, May 9 View Page i started my heavy and long cucumbers today line up is wursten unknown weight x4. thomas 85.5 cm x3 . thomas 88 cm dmg x5 . hollinrake 11.21 x4. hollinrake 9.65 x 2 oh yes i also started a long gourd for in the greenhouse wursten 122 Wednesday, May 16 View Page i have been having trouble with my 1450 menting plant i just does not look right and i have decided to put my out door plant in with it and decide at a later date which to keep so the race is now on this also means i have no plant to put outside this year so im putting all my eggs in one basket so to speak Wednesday, May 16 View Page some people have been asking how i intend keeping the tunnel cool in hot weather this is how i have done the cover first time i have been able to roll it up in the weather we have been having lately Wednesday, May 16 View Page here it is a little closer i used delrin clip buckles to hold the cover Wednesday, May 30 View Page well i have decided which get the spot menting 1450 gets the chop this weekend Wednesday, May 30 View Page the langley 633 gets the spot sorry joe !!! Friday, June 1 View Page well the 1450 menting is no more it got relegated to the compost heap so i only have one chance this season with the 633 langley its moving along quite nicely now its at around 5 feet and growing steady. the weather has cooled off again now but temps in tunnel are around 70f so im not to worried its a race now to get a set before i run out of space in my tunnel. Tuesday, June 12 View Page fair size leaves developing on the 633 langley Tuesday, June 12 View Page its moving along at a pace now almost 10ft its a little slow on the sides but im hoping they catch up soon Tuesday, June 12 View Page a couple of flower buds showing in the tip who knows i may even have some luck this year Sunday, June 24 View Page this year is proveing a difficult one for sure here is my one and only plant this year its the langley 633i have a poll plant also but its out growing its space i need a set soon before i run out of tunnel Sunday, June 24 View Page here is my hope of setting a fruit these at around 16 to 17 ft mark im setting the main up ready for a set soon i hope the vine running across the pic is the poll plant main it needs to go soon as im out of space Sunday, June 24 View Page we what a strange year its been so far to much rain high winds cool temp and now to cap it all i changed my manure supplier this year only to be given the gift of aminopyralid contamination now ok this doesnt really effect cucubits but my giant maters beans and taters are in for a hard time for sure and i have also spread it and all but two beds on my allotment which are having a rest year ,well i guess i might be having a year off next year tilling the hell out of my plot oh well such is life !!! Friday, June 29 View Page here is a nice looking five lober on the 633 its been setup nice and a good s bend given to the vine ready for pollenation i have one problem with it i dont have any males to pollenate it with Friday, June 29 View Page after going begging to my friend terry smith i managed to get a single male off the 1581 ghaye again its problematic the flower opened yesterday still looked in pretty good shape and the pollen looked good i had no choice but to try it who knows what will happen i dont have a clue if it will take or not Sunday, August 12 View Page day 40 on my 633 est is 372 # been doing 17.2 # per day last ten ok no massive kin but my pb is only 394# Sunday, August 12 View Page no a bad shape i dont think seems to be growing in a good way Tuesday, August 14 View Page dap 42 a new pb for me taped @ 412# Tuesday, August 14 View Page another shot of it growing ok so far hope i can keep it going now as i want to donate it to a charity later on will the pkn gods be on my side ?? Sunday, September 2 View Page 633 langley day 60 309 ott 656# average 13.2 per day last ten Tuesday, September 11 View Page 633 langley day 70 739# ott 322 8.3# ten day average Tuesday, September 11 View Page 633 day 70 739# Thursday, October 4 View Page well not long left in the season i need to keep this going a couple more weeks or so last time i measured it it was 338 ott so 850# day 90 the plant still has some life in it but nights are getting colder now so blankets and fleece are on every night now Monday, October 22 View Page well thats it people its on its way to ireland managed to move it without any equipment other than a pallet and straps oh ye and eight men it been a blast this year roll on 2013 Friday, October 26 View Page nice pic of the kins ready for weighoff in ireland Monday, October 29 View Page well back home now had a great weekend a little disapointed with final weight of 798# 10% light to chart but hey doubled my pb so cannot complain roll on next year Monday, December 31 View Page happy new year every one all the best for the coming season oh ye my daughter in law is in labor right now so when will baby ruby-leigh arrive ???