Winners & Losers (2013)

Just before I sit down and prepare my seed list for 2014, here's my annual list of how things got on last year. I think most growers will agree, it was a much better growing year than in 2012. 

Winning Veg: Sweetcorn. The fact that sweetcorn was in the 'last chance saloon' category prior to the 2013 growing season, but performed so well, it simply had to win. The plants were slow to establish but flourished during the decent summer months and produced lovely full cobs. And as for the badger, it caused no damage this time around. 

Winning Fruit: Gooseberries. Again, this was another that failed to produce like it should in 2012, but last year's bushes were heaving with fruit. Crumbles and jam making were very much the order of the day. 

Best Newcomer: Sweetmax (Butternut Squash). All the squash did well thanks to the long summer days, but the sweetmax proved exceptional in terms of taste. 

Last Chance Saloon: Tomatoes. I have done well with tomatoes in the past, but generally they tend to ripen while we are away on holiday and most have gone over by the time we return. As such, we don't get a decent payback for the effort we put in and last year's variety were next to useless. I'm trying a different variety this year and will grow them at home in growbags, to keep a closer eye on them.

Most over-grown: Kale. A vegetable I think we should be eating more of and what's more, it's dead easy to grow. But, quite frankly, neither I or the family really like it, so there's always loads left on the plot. I'm not sure why I bother with it and it won't have a place in 2014.

Sadly Missed: Cabbage. I like a pointy cabbage, but haven't grown them for years. I'll grow them in place of the kale this year. 

Sweetcorn; 2013 winner

Potato Day

I met someone while in hospital last year. I guess it's hard not to, confined to bed on a ward full of people.

To be honest, I was more interested in keeping myself to myself, in the hope that I'd manage to get out before I caught whatever the guy in the bed opposite me had. I have no idea what his affliction might have been, but he had the sort of expression that suggested he'd been there far too long and wasn't getting any better.

Thankfully a bed shortage ensured I didn't stay on any one ward for long, as my bed was offered to more deserving people. It was after one of these moves that I met Reg.

I passed much of the hospital boredom by listening in on other peoples visits by family members and on one afternoon, Reg was passing strict instructions to his wife on jobs to be completed, pertaining to fruit and vegetables. After they left, I enquired as to whether it was a veg patch at home or an allotment he tended, after which the seed of friendship was sown.

It was through this passing acquaintance that I learned about Potato Day. Over 80 varieties of seed potato available to buy (by the tuber if required) at the local community centre, for one day only, courtesy of the local allotment association.

With my unhealthy fascination in trying to find the perfect baked potato, such a choice excites me more than you'd know, so January 18th can't come soon enough. I'm not sure how such a local event could have passed me by all these years, so I'm indebted to Reg and I hope he's fighting fit and able to attend himself.

2014

Despite not posting since September I am still here. Alive, yes, although not kicking as hard as I would like.

And if the start of this year is anything to go by, 2014 is going to be a real test.

The wife has broken my business laptop and last weekend I put my back out. She had no hand in that, mind you, that was all down to a game of darts. Clearly my ageing bulk is no longer as supple as it once was, or perhaps I was simply too tense following the laptop discovery.

So it's been a torrid start to the New Year, which also brings with it the prospect of some big changes.

The wife? Alas, she's a dab hand at breaking things, but the marriage is just about surviving. Work definitely needs to change, though, although being nearer fifty than forty doesn't make a change of direction easy (just ask my back).

The one thing that will remain constant, however, is that vegetables will be grown. I just hope I find more time in 2014 to report on their progress.

Happy New Year to you and yours, wherever you may be.

Jacket Potato - The final result of 2013

Just a quick post to update on my quest for the perfect jacket potato.

Sadly, none of this year's harvest can be considered a winner. The 'Bonnie' I mentioned in the previous post had the best size about them, despite being a second-early. But, wireworm damage meant their use as bakers was limited.

Of the maincrop, the Red King Edward fared best. The Pentland's I grew all succumbed to damage too, whereas the red KE were unharmed. Not a single tuber was lost to slugs or wireworm.

Red King Edward

The downside is that they were not big enough to be considered for jacket spuds. But, they were a nice medium size and the quality of the potato was great. We've used them for wedges, which were excellent, and I'm sure they will perform equally well for roasties too.

So, the quest will continue into 2014. Cara currently set the benchmark and I'll probably do a row of these next year, to which all others will be compared.