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I have read, with a great deal of sympathy, all the tales of woe many growers have experienced this year.
I consider myself VERY lucky indeed.
I planted the following seeds in mid-March in a heated propagator:
Roma VF Tomatoes
Peperoncino Chilli's
Peperone Dulche Italiano Peppers
All germinated succesfully and, when they were large enough, were transferred to individual 3.5" pots and placed on a sunny windowsill.
In about mid-April, these pots were placed in an unheated growhouse and were planted out in larger pots at the end of May.
I have 5 tomato plants, 4 pepper and two chillis.
Despite the awful weather in May, June, July & August all have survived without any sign of disease. Most have been blown over at least three times, damaged by cats & my kids etc. but have somehow come through.
The current spell of settled warm weather over the last three weeks (the best since April) has done wonders and all fruits have ripened / are ripening nicely.
We've been eating the tomatoes and Chillis for the last two - three weeks. I think that the peppers will be ready in the next week.
This is only the second year that I've grown veg and, as for timing, I don't think things are that much later than last year. On Gardner's World last Friday Monty Don said that anyone who started growing veg in the last two years has seen the worst of two extremes (heat 2006, wet 2007). I am encouraged by his words.
I have a relatively small south-east facing walled garden that, at the height of summer, gets the sun from 6:30am to 5pm.
I also grow the following herbs:
Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley & Bay. These did suffer early on but have really picked-up since August.
I had a crop of fresh figs between July & August and my Olive tree has fruited for the second year. Although there aren't as many large olives this year (maybe half a small jars worth).
This is certainly a very enjoyable 'hobby' and one that I'm sure I'll carry on with year after year.
I consider myself VERY lucky indeed.
I planted the following seeds in mid-March in a heated propagator:
Roma VF Tomatoes
Peperoncino Chilli's
Peperone Dulche Italiano Peppers
All germinated succesfully and, when they were large enough, were transferred to individual 3.5" pots and placed on a sunny windowsill.
In about mid-April, these pots were placed in an unheated growhouse and were planted out in larger pots at the end of May.
I have 5 tomato plants, 4 pepper and two chillis.
Despite the awful weather in May, June, July & August all have survived without any sign of disease. Most have been blown over at least three times, damaged by cats & my kids etc. but have somehow come through.
The current spell of settled warm weather over the last three weeks (the best since April) has done wonders and all fruits have ripened / are ripening nicely.
We've been eating the tomatoes and Chillis for the last two - three weeks. I think that the peppers will be ready in the next week.
This is only the second year that I've grown veg and, as for timing, I don't think things are that much later than last year. On Gardner's World last Friday Monty Don said that anyone who started growing veg in the last two years has seen the worst of two extremes (heat 2006, wet 2007). I am encouraged by his words.
I have a relatively small south-east facing walled garden that, at the height of summer, gets the sun from 6:30am to 5pm.
I also grow the following herbs:
Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley & Bay. These did suffer early on but have really picked-up since August.
I had a crop of fresh figs between July & August and my Olive tree has fruited for the second year. Although there aren't as many large olives this year (maybe half a small jars worth).
This is certainly a very enjoyable 'hobby' and one that I'm sure I'll carry on with year after year.
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