Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 113 Entries. Monday, January 2 View Page Happy New Year to all, lets hope we have a more temperate growing climate rather than the high/low's of 2022. Todays sunshine opened the vents of my propagating greenhouse so will suit the Onions inside.   Monday, January 2 View Page 7 leaves on most of the Onions in 7 inch pots filled with Coir, think they will need moving on in a couple of weeks.   Wednesday, January 18 View Page Moved my remaining Onions into 2nd greenhouse enclosure after potting on into 9 inch of Coir/perlite 70/30 mix. 9 leaves on the onions.   Sunday, February 5 View Page Planted out seven Onions into their final growing area, able to keep temperature/lighting as per their previous greenhouse. Now in 60 litre Air Pots filled with Coir/Perlite mix 70/30   Monday, February 6 View Page Have Broad Beans. Swede, Kohl Rabi and Beetroot underway in my heated greenhouse.   Wednesday, February 22 View Page Planning to grow four Onions in my Autopot system this year, therefore I have potted them into 25 litre white pots and they will be left a couple of weeks to root into the new Coir before setting up on the watering system.   Sunday, March 12 View Page First real snow of the winter but not expecting it to last, not helping with the onion tunnel heating costs!   Sunday, March 12 View Page Inside the onions are being kept warm under a thick fleece inner tunnel cover + electric heating/lights.   Monday, March 13 View Page What a difference a day makes - milder weather for a few days so planted out my last onions into my homemade frame. 4 in Autopots and 6 in Airpots.   Monday, March 13 View Page Have installed electric heating and lights so can keep similar growing conditions for the plants.   Saturday, March 25 View Page Planted out two Kohl Rabi into my enclosed frame bed, will be able to open when the weather warms up.   Saturday, April 1 View Page Recovered my netted tunnel ready for planting out. This is fine Enviromesh helps to keep pests away and also gives protection from strong winds. I take this of overwinter to stop any snow damage.   Friday, April 7 View Page Planted 3 Kohl Rabi into the netted tunnel, surrounded by my polycarbonate cloches as still frosts at night.   Friday, April 7 View Page Also Parsnips which I think will do better outside now rather than in the hot greenhouse.   Friday, April 7 View Page Started to move my seeding Onion bulbs out of the Barn into the greenhouse, not keeping well so had to strip most down fully. Should do better in the sunlight.   Wednesday, April 12 View Page Found a double Onion, will remove this and replace with a spare which I have growing in the tunnel.   Wednesday, April 12 View Page Also found one with new leaf trapped in neck, damaged trying to free it but hope it will grow out now.   Wednesday, April 12 View Page The double onion had a wonderful root structure so that was not the problem and the coir compost was evenly moisture. It measured 12.6 inch circ. x 9 inch high. (always the early largest ones which double? )   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Onion with trapped leaves still not free - cut neck down even more   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Best Autopot Onion in homemade frame   Wednesday, April 26 View Page Airpot onion in the same frame, similar but not quite as large as autopot best.   Sunday, April 30 View Page pleased with growth of my 2 Kohl Rabi in the frame bed   Sunday, April 30 View Page Planted out second sowing Broad Beans   Sunday, April 30 View Page Aubergines started   Sunday, April 30 View Page Not doing to well saving seed from my best Onion bulbs, had to strip them down to remove decay but the healthy core not growing strongly yet.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Started Cantaloupe Melons and Chilies, rather late perhaps but not required for shows until late Sept.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Peppers also late but will see what the summer weather produces.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Planted first Runner Beans outside, weather has changed from very wet and cool to hot and dry.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Heavy Potato plants now all out, mainly in 120 litre pots.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Aubergine plants look well and now all planted in 90 litre pots filled with coir in the greenhouse.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Kohl Rabi plants growing very strongly, having to water twice a week.   Saturday, May 27 View Page Kitchen Potatoes all up, will need to earth up this next week.   Saturday, June 10 View Page 'what a difference a day makes' yesterday heating on in the house - today 30c in the garden. Increased shading on onion tunnel and tried to cool but still only able to keep at outside temp.   Saturday, June 10 View Page Late with my Tomatoes but will plant out now from these small pots.   Saturday, June 10 View Page Trying a few early Radish (hope they do not run to seed) just beginning to grow away, need to keep pests off.   Saturday, June 10 View Page Planted out my last Runner Beans yesterday in netted tunnel, need to sort out supports.   Saturday, June 10 View Page Cantaloupe Melons in side small tunnel, hope this will keep them warmer - no problem today as 30c+ outside.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Aubergines have grown well with the hot weather but now attached by a brown aphid - sprayed and powdered   Sunday, June 18 View Page Beetroot have grown well but 2 of the 3 have run to seed - cut out seeding growth.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Late runner beans in open tunnel reaching for their canes, outside ones covered in blackfly - spraying   Sunday, June 18 View Page Late Broad beans in flower but all attached by blackfly - spraying but difficult to cover all areas   Sunday, June 18 View Page Early Carrots in open tunnel have been attached by carrot willow aphid and this has taken new growth out, ones in netted tunnel ok so far.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Chili now planted in final pots of coir.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Long Cucumbers planted in coir.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Heavy Cucumbers   Sunday, June 18 View Page Kohl Rabi in frame are the largest so far.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Long Leeks   Sunday, June 18 View Page Cantaloupe Melon in front tunnel   Sunday, June 18 View Page Largest Marrow plant.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Parsnips   Sunday, June 18 View Page Peppers in Autopot system   Sunday, June 18 View Page Potatoes looking sick- do not think it is disease more wind/cold damage - but its checking them   Sunday, June 18 View Page Growing a few inside and they are fine   Sunday, June 18 View Page Pleased with Radish growth, started a little earlier and so far they have not run to seed   Sunday, June 18 View Page Sunflowers beginning to grow away - been to dry for them with cool NE winds.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Have one Swede in top tunnel and it is the largest now, may be to hot/dry through the summer.   Sunday, June 18 View Page First Tomatoes planted with a few very late still to plant next week   Sunday, June 18 View Page Pleased with Water melon growth in greenhouse raised bed, trying to shade from strong sun and keep well watered.   Sunday, June 18 View Page Finally update on Onions - have grown far higher this last month but at the expense of girth. Hot/dry weather (no rain at all for over 5 weeks) has brought Spidermite attack - sprayed and will have to continue.   Sunday, July 9 View Page We have our garden open on the 19th, a little early to see really large vegetables but I am growing over 20 kinds so there should be something to see. First Runner Beans in flower today and good weather for them to set - hope for a better season than last year.   Sunday, July 9 View Page Onion heads in flower, hope the bees are aiding pollination but I try to brush over them each day.   Wednesday, July 12 View Page Early Cucumber has grown quickly with the warm weather however we now have cooler conditions and growth has slowed.   Friday, July 21 View Page Have a Watermelon set, earlier than usual for me, plant looking healthy so far.   Friday, July 21 View Page First Tomato set on Domingo, not a large mega bloom but trying to set them fully now.   Friday, July 21 View Page About 20 growers attended our open evening, after a wet day it did dry up enough for them to look around. We have the garden open again on the 30th pm so hope summer will have returned by then. Starting to thin Runner Bean trusses.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Featured Onion has only grown slowly through July, barely 27 inches circ. today but now 22.5 inches high with green leaves. If we have a little more sunshine through August I can expect another 1nch or two in circ.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Watermelons have set well despite suffering a Spidermite attack.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Watermelons have set well despite suffering a Spidermite attack.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page First Aubergine set, a little close to soil level, may have problems if it grows deep.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page First Long Chili set, will need to thin these out to one or two per plant   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Longest Cucumber is still reasonably green but not making much more length, perhaps it will increase in girth and make a heavy?   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Heavy Cucumbers are later but look to be growing well.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Radish growing in all directions instead of straight up, should have given them more room when planting.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page No large megabloom Tomatoes set but smaller ones growing without problems so far.   Wednesday, August 2 View Page Growing a few Sunflowers (not very sunny weather so far) most are starting to flower - perhaps early for Sept shows.   Saturday, August 12 View Page Finally have a Cantaloupe Melon set, very few female flowers so far which have not set, turned yellow and dropped of, like the small one in the photo   Saturday, August 12 View Page Watermelon continues to grow and should make a decent entry by end of Sept.   Saturday, August 12 View Page Bell Pepper plants have all set at least one, though this was ok until I looked closer and found blossom end rot.   Saturday, August 12 View Page Tomatoes growing steadily, supported truss hoping it grows larger, this year the fruits have set better without blossom end rot.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Runner Beans doing well, should have a long bean to show.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Large Tomatoes generally are good, however looked underneath this one and found rotten area starting.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Heavy Cucumber dropped off plant overnight, this is the second one so have better supported the remaining three.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Looking to show this Onion next week, as grown. First show.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page All my Swede have now rotted away.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Lost another Kohl Rabi, just collapsed with heart rot. Only two left.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Parsnip has run to seed, keep cutting out seeding side shoots, but must be affecting weight of root now.   Wednesday, August 23 View Page Mildew started on Marrow leaves this week, sprayed but it takes some controlling.   Monday, August 28 View Page Large sunflower heads have now drooped over horizontal, hoping the stems do not snap.   Monday, August 28 View Page Obtained new seeds this year for the widest head, but think some must have been mixed up as one is already over 4.5 m tall.   Monday, August 28 View Page Good win at first Onion show in the Northeast, 7.66 kg (16.85 lbs)   Monday, August 28 View Page Good win at first Onion show in the Northeast, 7.66 kg (16.85 lbs)   Tuesday, September 5 View Page Attended Seaham Giant Veg. and NPLS show, all a high standard. Did manage wins with Onion, Heavy Cucumber, Kohl Rabi & Beetroot   Tuesday, September 5 View Page Seaham is really a commercial port but it does have an attractive sailing harbour.   Tuesday, September 5 View Page Finding it harder to grow a large Aubergine this year, had to remove this small one which had split and started to soften, I blame the changeable weather.   Thursday, September 7 View Page Hardly had the shading on the Onion tunnel since end of June but now need it in Sept. Sun all day & 30c in the garden.   Thursday, September 7 View Page Tunnel Onions have reasonable tops for this time of year but are drying back quickly.   Thursday, September 14 View Page Stanley onion & leek show, won heaviest onion. Same weekend won Blyth show with 17lb 6oz including top and roots.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page New World Record Onion at Harrogate show, grown by Gareth Griffin 19lb.77lbs. over a lb. above the previous record and over 3lbs more than my second placed bulb.   Tuesday, September 19 View Page He also won the three Onion class.   Saturday, September 30 View Page Good Malvern show, made better by having a World record Bell Pepper 750g.   Saturday, September 30 View Page Also had 5 other wins - single Onion   Saturday, September 30 View Page Three Onions   Saturday, September 30 View Page Aubergine   Saturday, September 30 View Page Cantaloupe Melon   Saturday, September 30 View Page Longest Cucumber   Saturday, September 30 View Page Also set a new record for the Largest Runner Bean Leaf.   Friday, October 13 View Page With our mild autumn weather the Tomatoes have continued to ripen, these are on the second truss but nothing over 5lb.   Friday, October 13 View Page Cleared out my Onion tunnel, said I would not grow in raised beds again but with the new world record grow it looks as if I will have to construct a small in in here.   Wednesday, November 1 View Page Forming new Onion bed using Insulation boards and starting to fill with Ecothrive compost.   Wednesday, November 1 View Page Seed Onions have germinated well time to prick out into 2.5 inch pots of canna Coir.   Saturday, November 18 View Page Onions growing well under 24hr lighting, now ready to pot on into 4 inch. In Coir but will start to introduce some soil in the compost.   Monday, December 4 View Page Onions have had over 5 weeks of 24hr lighting, now reduced to 10.5hrs during the day (not that they know yet as they are still in their grow tent) Moved on the best with sixth leaf showing into 5 inch pots, half in Coir half in new soil compost. Snow and ice here at present so will wait for weather to change before moving them outside into the heated greenhouse.   Monday, December 18 View Page Started [potting on Onions into 7 inch pots, some in coir others in new soil mixture.