to say that the broad beans that I ate yesterday were ones that I grew on the plot. Sadly that’s not so and it looks like I won’t be doing so either as mine are totally infested with blackfly. The first variety I sowed were so bad that I pulled them up during the week and got rid of them. In their place I’ve sowed more beetroot and lettuce, and a packet of carrot Autumn King.
The other ones aren’t so bad, but that’s not saying much! The ones I ate were kindly given to me by plot neighbour Joe, being ones he planted last November. Even these weren’t that good as despite having plenty of long pods they contained surprising few fully grown beans.
I had six courgette seeds, two of which I gave to Joe and of the other four just one appeared only for it to be completely nibbled away! I’ve been given a few more so I’ll try again.
On a happier note I’ve had potatoes, lettuce leaves, lots of strawberries and today I ate my first raspberry.
It’s good to see the birds again now they’ve finished nesting, and last week a jay flew across the allotments and there was wren perched on top of a bundle of bamboo canes singing it’s heart out. I keep seeing sparrows on the non-flowering Iceberg rose, presumably eating the greenflies.
Apparently Missy Fox had four cubs a few months ago, a bit later than usual probably due to the cold weather, but sadly one of them was found dead during the week. It looked okay so we guess that it had been poisoned. Last year’s cub Digger is still around and certainly living up to his name!
is a lifelong lawn lounger, sofa flyer and book buff
19 responses so far ↓
fraggle // June 14, 2009 at 5:19 pm |
I’m on way back from air show.red arrows as spectacular as usual, robin got himself a postcard/photo autographed by the leader of the red arrows then asked him to do another for you! which I’ll pop in the post. X x
Flighty // June 14, 2009 at 6:03 pm |
Fraggle it sounds like you had yourselves a good day. Thank Robin for doing that, it’ll have pride of place on the shelf when I get it! xx
Georgie // June 14, 2009 at 7:19 pm |
Hi Flighty
Sorry to hear about your Broad Beans. I noticed a few black fly on one plant today but nothing much to concern me and also my first pod forming. And that’s on the seeds you sent me. There are no black fly on Crimson Flour’d – you said you’d heard that they were more resistant – but I’ll keep a close eye on both. If it get bad I’ll pinch out the tips and give the plants a blast with the hosepipe.
G x
Flighty // June 15, 2009 at 12:34 pm |
Georgie thanks! I got rid of the rest this morning and I’m now debating if I should sow some more this week. You can tell how bad it was as I pitched the tips out and sprayed them all of which made no difference!
I’m now keeping a close eye on the runner beans as I like these much more than broad beans! xx
nikkipolani // June 14, 2009 at 8:15 pm |
That’s too bad about your beans, Flighty. But garden casualties will happen. One year, I got an infestation of tomato hornworms that so grossed me out, I just took down the two big plants. Congrats on the first raspberry!
Flighty // June 15, 2009 at 12:39 pm |
Nikki it certainly is! There’s always highs and lows every year, and these are definitely the latter!
I had a couple more raspberries this morning, and lots more strawberries. It’s clearly going to be a good year for soft fruit, as there lots of berries forming on the blackberries as well. xx
fraggle // June 14, 2009 at 8:19 pm |
We did have a lovely time, they had to close gates as so many people there, the last plane to fly was really loud scared the younger children, I think it was a Vulcan x x
Flighty // June 15, 2009 at 12:45 pm |
Fraggle that’s good! If it was the Vulcan
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Avro-698-Vulcan/1396805/L/
then I’m not surprised! xx
fraggle // June 15, 2009 at 3:00 pm |
It was a Vulcan according to the newspaper over 58.000 people attended before they had to close gates and turn people away, luckily I purchased advanced tickets x x
Glo // June 15, 2009 at 8:54 am |
Good to hear that you had a taste of your first raspberry of the year ~ that would cheer you up after the bean experience! Also fortunate that fellow allotmenteers (is that a word?) share their harvests!
Interesting about the baby foxes!
Flighty // June 15, 2009 at 12:50 pm |
Glo it looks like there’ll be lots of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries which is good!
It is indeed and fellow allotmenteers are generally very generous.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for the foxes! xx
mrs K // June 15, 2009 at 10:49 pm |
Plant nasturtiums right beside your runner bean plants. Old fashioned but it does work quite well and stops major infestations.
Old fashioned Marigolds under roses for greenfly.
Don’t ask, my Grandfather taught me and I am now 71.
And spray with soapy water – neither black or greenfly like it.
Flighty // June 16, 2009 at 9:25 am |
Mrs K the allotment site has suffered a major blackfly infestation this year and despite trying all these it really made little difference, especially to the broad beans. I’m told that it’s never been as bad as this so hopefully it is a one-off and that it’ll be better next year. xx
re // June 16, 2009 at 9:47 am |
Pity the sparrows didn’t eat the blackfly on the broadbeans huh?
Flighty // June 16, 2009 at 11:01 am |
Re indeed a pity! xx
Louise // June 16, 2009 at 6:36 pm |
I always sow courgettes/squash in pots before planting out, and make sure they are a good size before doing so. Good luck with your next batch. We have been eating strawberries and raspberries from the patch, and the redcurrants and gooseberries are coming along nicely. What about Digger, rather a pest really! x
Flighty // June 17, 2009 at 6:10 am |
Louise I must start doing that! Thanks.
It’s a good year for soft fruit by the look of it.
He is a bit of one but I’m prepared to put up with his antics, at least for the moment! xx
Ellie // June 16, 2009 at 8:03 pm |
How annoying about the broad beans. I’ve had a similarly miserable crop – well, I haven’t had a crop because I pulled up all my stunted plants. I’ve noticed that the autumn sown beans don’t seem to be as badly affected, so I’ll try that this autumn.
(First raspberry – very impressed!)
Flighty // June 17, 2009 at 6:12 am |
Ellie it certainly is. I’ve got some seeds left over so I’m going to plant them today. It’s late I know but fingers crossed! I think that I’ll do the same.
Thanks, and a few more since! xx