Plot 30

Courgette and Zuccini crop Another bumper crop harvested on 8 July 2018 that were mere tiddlers the day before: We like to pick them while still relatively young, before they have morphed into large marrows. A combination of the continuing hot weather and a good daily soak has resulted in courgettes and zucchinis galore, 50% of which will probably be given to friends, relatives and co-workers. I mean, they are nice in all manner of different recipes, but human physiology dictates how many can be consumed in a day... Let's see if 2019 will turn out to be just as good...

An experiment. Having previously planted in April 2018 approximately 24 broad bean plants of the Witkiem variety with moderate success - the allotment mice also had their share - I want see how feasible it is to plant somewhat later than that recommended on the seed packet, while not being an actual October/November late sowing, with the intention of getting yet more produce before the year is out. Firstly I dig over, fertilise and water a section of plot sufficient to harbour roughly the same number of plants: On this occasion I choose the Unwins 'Meteor' variety of broad bean, having never tried this before. By the way, I still very much recommend the 'Witkien' variety mentioned in that while not being a huge cropper compared to the more mainstream makes, the beans are far less woody when fully grown.  In terms of taste and quality I thought it won hands down compared to many others I have tried.  So did the mice. June / July 2018 has been exception