Picture posting is enabled for all :)
Hazel I sow nearly all my vegetable seeds direct in the ground and almost nothing has germinated this year as either they've been washed away in heavy downpours, rotted in waterlogged soil or if they have then been eaten by slugs. I've no beetroot, carrots, chard, courgettes, French climbing beans, lettuce or spring onions from at least two sowings of seeds. I've just sown a third lot of runner beans in the hope that I may just get some pods in late October. Fingers crossed for next year! I've probably got the most colourful plot on the site though!https://twitter.com/Sofaflyer/status/226324298493747201/photo/1/large
Yes, I never used to like pot marigolds, thought they were too garish and invasive, but now I know they are slug, pigeon and crap summer-proof and they brighten up my plot , I'm a big fan! ;D
Then when you find that unbeknown to you, farmers are using weed killers on there land and it ends up on your plot this is the last straw!( and straw is often the operative word)
I thought it was more or less my fault. As a complete newbie I made many mistakes. Putting out stuff and asking myself the next day: where did I put it? Cannot find a sign of them anymore......Unexperienced, not aware of slugs, rabbits and the fact that in the North 'spring and summer' are a bit late..... :). And yes, the red onions I picked up yesterday are rather small....and yes, I thought it was all my fault.....not putting compost in and so on because I thought that here we have rich soil.Reading all your comments on a 'bad season' I just think: what will next year bring? Not making the same mistakes as I did this year, getting a bit more experienced, knowing a bit better which seeds to buy, planting out in time, better control of slugs, maybe a better summer, less rain.....I am very curious what next year will bring and am dreaming of enormous crops, gardens full of flowers............. :)
plenty of leeks in, they are really resistant to most things