BEST MOMENTS ON THE LOTTIE THIS YEAR??

[betula]

It has not been an easy year with the weather.

I am still learning and I was thrilled to produce a couple of cucumbers in my little lean type glasshouse.

Carrots were no show last year,this year I had a good crop and no fly,really pleased about that.

First time I have grown squash and had small success,want to do more next year.

My sweet peas were fab,really pleased with them.

What were your best moments?? :)

[betula]

[grawrc]

Fabulous globe artichokes and both potatoes and onions were great crops. I've successfully grown celery for the first time and, like you I've had a wonderful display of sweet peas. The asparagus was great as were the raspberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries. All in all a pretty good growing year despite the weather.

[manicscousers]

getting lots of beans, squash, parsnips, potatoes, onions..things for storage..soups and stews..it will really make a difference, come the winter months..
lots of berries for cordials..good for colds etc..it's been a good year, for lots of things and we still have cape gooseberries and sweet potatoes to come.
getting communal chickens has to be the highlight, we've averaged 12 eggs per week got rid of lots of slugs, snails and weeds and got lovely, fresh eggs in return  ;D

[Lauren S]

Being my first season on my lottie I seem to have had beginners luck.
Potatoes...Cara. Rooster, PFA, Ulster Sceptre, Vales Emerald, International Kidney and Charlottes all gave very good yields.
My cabbages early in the year were also great.
Sweet corn was so tasty, my only complaint was I didn't grow enough.
Broccoli...Just had my first picking tonight, was very delish.
Runners were also tasty...I've left several still on the frame to turn into seed for swaps.
My caulis are still maturing and look very healthy (fingers crossed).
Shallots, garlic and onions still keeping me going for the kitchen.
peppers and chillis a little smaller than packets said, but oh well, at least they grew.
Loads of courgettes, now made into soup for winter.
Borlotti beans I'm leaving for the beans inside, they are still growing.

My Cinderella pumpkins are doing great. (posted pics earlier this week)

Last but no means least, I'm delighted with the dahlias I grew from seed. The bees have loved them all season and still they are going strong.

Took these pics yesterday

[Tulipa]

Sounds a wonderful year Lauren, and with such a wonderful place to have your allotment too, sounds like heaven. :)

Which Dahlia seeds did you sow?  They are wonderful and I would love to have a go.  Well done, I am quite envious!

T.

[thifasmom]

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love your shed Lauren S :).

my success in the garden have been lots of salad greens, radishes, tomatoes ;D ;D ;D, carrots, beetroot, spring onions, onions, courgettes till the cows come home :-X ;D, cucumbers, chillies, lots of pakchoi from multiple sowings, radicchio :-X the bitterness is a bit much so wont grow again. Chinese cabbages, peas, broadbeans and dwarf french beans did well early in the season. the runnerbeans were slow to come but we are enjoying a late crop and my fennel have finally iced the cake with fat stems for the autumn. i was really pleased this year as it was my first year growing with garden actually ready on all counts to grow food. so next year can only be better, i can hardly wait :D.

[jonny211]

Chickens laying well and the arrival of four new purebreed chooks... very pretty they are as well. Also good amount of maincrop and second early spuds with no blight and few holes in them. Masses of peas but nearly half the pods suffered from pea moth grubs.
Lots of good garlic.
Good crop of tomatoes in the greenhouse despite the lack of sun.
Looking forward to brusssel sprouts galore, have 10 plants on the go  :P

[Flighty]

Everything! Well it was my first full year on the plot.
Among the best flowers were the sweet peas and with vegetables it was the runner beans 'Painted Lady'.
A best moment was seeing and photographing 'Frog Newton' sitting on the edge of the well hidden washing up bowl plot pond as you can see here...
http://flightplot.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/pottering-and-pondering/

[Lauren S]

Sounds a wonderful year Lauren, and with such a wonderful place to have your allotment too, sounds like heaven. :)

Which Dahlia seeds did you sow?  They are wonderful and I would love to have a go.  Well done, I am quite envious!

T.

I grew Suttons *Redskin Mix* and Suttons *Minstrel Mix*

http://www.suttons.co.uk/pd_112406_Dahlia_Minstrel_Mix_Seeds.htm

[Tulipa]

I grew Suttons *Redskin Mix* and Suttons *Minstrel Mix*

http://www.suttons.co.uk/pd_112406_Dahlia_Minstrel_Mix_Seeds.htm

Thanks Lauren, I definitely feel a Suttons order coming up.  I have some tubers which I am hoping to keep through the winter but they are big cauliflower type and these look much better for picking, and will make my lottie more colourful. :)

Thank you. :)

T.

[Biscombe]

Great to hear all your best bits! what a lovely thread Betula ;D

A bit predictable  ::) but I'm over the moon with the chillies, I've grown them for a few years but not on this scale before! All the colours, shapes tastes! Just loving it!

Aubergines are still going strong, I took a crate into the staff room last week, must grow less next year! sick of freezing meatless aubergine balls!

Spuds were good too, still eating our last crop from April! 

[thifasmom]

Aubergines are still going strong, I took a crate into the staff room last week, must grow less next year! sick of freezing meatless aubergine balls!

pray tell, recipe please :).

[Deb P]

I think my best bit this year was when my shed was up and usable.....I know I didn't grow it, but... 8)

[Barnowl]

First cucumbers and first melons

[twinkletoes]

...that's easy......when I discovered by accident a fantastic perfect cauliflower the size of one I would normally buy in the supermarket!   ;D ;D ;D   Second best moment was taking home my haul of 5 butternut squashes.  I still enjoyed everything else though..... ;D
twinkletoes

[norfolklass]

best moment: first ever strawberries, warm from the sunshine and eaten straight from the plant ;D
everything else comes a very close second!

[Biscombe]

Aubergines are still going strong, I took a crate into the staff room last week, must grow less next year! sick of freezing meatless aubergine balls!

pray tell, recipe please :).

Another vague recipe from Bis!! guessed the recipe really...................

BBQ aubergines in skins until soft inside

Meanwhile, cook up some onions and garlic and herbs and spices of your choice

Whizz up all in the food processor with an egg

Keep adding bread crumbs and flour until you can roll the mix into balls

Freeze

[kt.]

It has to be my Carmen cucumber.  Got loads off one plant (12-14").  And Calabrese.

[thifasmom]

Aubergines are still going strong, I took a crate into the staff room last week, must grow less next year! sick of freezing meatless aubergine balls!

pray tell, recipe please :).

Another vague recipe from Bis!! guessed the recipe really...................

BBQ aubergines in skins until soft inside

Meanwhile, cook up some onions and garlic and herbs and spices of your choice

Whizz up all in the food processor with an egg

Keep adding bread crumbs and flour until you can roll the mix into balls

Freeze

thanks Bis will try that, sounds yummy will probably add some heat IE scotch bonnet to it as well ;). how do you cook them bake/ fry ???

[Biscombe]

I shallow fry, but either way I suppose  :) now why didn't I think of adding chillies!  ::)