Poppy the Pumpkin and Blackpool

Took the head Gardener to see the Blackpool illuminations last night the highlight of his visit was going to the pub just like his Grandad.He then spent most of the time looking out of the wrong window at the hotels instead of the lights.

Today me and Linda have been digging out a path in to the plot where there is a hill I just wanted to level it out and get some more soil for the Onion bed

I have also carved Poppy the pumpkin ready for all the trick or treaters photo below

TUNNEL VISION

Today I finally managed to get the cover on the tunnel with the help of Ted and Linda, it was quite windy but it went well without any major problems. This will enable me to grow much more under cover next year. I am now going to make all the beds another plank deeper to give the roots of the crops more to go at. I also intend to start my bags of spuds off under cover i have been reliably informed that this is what some of the top growers do so i will give it a try.

I managed to swap a large bag of Onions for 12 Blue plastic drums a couple of weeks ago, some of these will be placed in the large tunnel for Parsnips and long Carrots. I will be taking delivery of my Pendle Improved Leeks from Dave Metclfe at the beginning of December. I have the grow lights rigged up already and this week purchased a soil warming cable to give bottom heat to them and my Onions. I will be sowing some Onions mid November and have some plants ordered from Vin Throup for collection early January

I have also received some seeds from a grower of giant veg in Cornwall they are giant Cabbage which can grow in excess of 70 lb some Marrow seeds from a 111 pound er and some from a 707 pound Squash which should be interesting. thanks again David

J.B.A.

As previously mentioned I called in to see Iain at JBA on Monday what a top bloke, he Gave myself and Linda a full guided tour of the Farm I have never seen so many Spuds in one place. it was not possible to take any photos due to all the Spuds being stored in the dark to preserve them. I also got loads of advice on growing techniques plus dare i say it some free samples of Potatoes who said Scotsmen were tight.I also bought some Fertilizer and some Nutrimate to help with the growing of my crops next year. All in all a very worthwhile visit thanks again Iain.
I shall be attempting to cover the polytunnel this weekend weather permitting it was a bit too windy in the Pennines last weekend.

Pumpkin Progress

A quick update on Poppy the pumpkin there has not been any growth for the last couple of weeks so I have now harvested it at around 50lbs.The head Gardner can be seen checking it out below.

As for the Tunnel the polythene has arrived and will be fitted this weekend weather permitting I am also planning to call in at JBA seed potatoes on Monday as I am working north of the border again next week

A Grand Day Out

Had a day out in the Yorkshire Dales visiting a good Friend of mine here is a link to his site not veg related.

http://www.eyespymag.com/  he lives in a marvelous location with magnificent views I have put a photo of the view from his decking on this post.

Now for the best bit, on my way I called to see Vin Throup Legendary Yorkshire Onion Grower, to buy some seeds for his magnificent Onions. I also ordered some plants for January collection. What a lovely informative Bloke I picked up loads of tips and had a good look round his set up I could have stayed all day. He showed me his Onion store brilliant the largest ones weighed 14+ pounds and the Quality onions around 6 pounds each can't wait to start growing them next year. 

Tunnel Overwinter Onions Vin Throup

Construction is now well underway with the new Tunnel I have decided to put mesh round the bottom and Polythene round the top this should help to keep it cooler and still protect the crops within. I scrounged the mesh found the pipe so the cost for the frame stands at around £100. The polythene has been ordered today at another £100 so the finished article comes in at £200 not bad for a 30foot by 15foot Tunnel

My over winter Onions arrived this week I have chosen 3 varieties which Radar Autumn Champion & Senshyu Yellow the plan is to grow these in the new tunnel and hopefully they will be ready earlier than the spring planted sets giving them more time to develop a good colour in time for the early shows as there is a class for 3 Onions grown from sets in all my earlier shows. These are now planted and i have spaced them 6" apart and 12" between rows 30 of each variety in the bed.

Spoke to Vin Throup the Legendary YORKSHIRE Onion Grower last night, and will be meeting him next week to obtain some Onion seeds ready for sowing mid November. 

NVS West Yorkshire District Association show & Smithy

First of all I will get it out of the way and congratulate Smithy on beating some Welsh veg Grower who's name escapes me at Malvern, well done Mate. My fortunes yesterday were not as good. I decided to stage my onions and a few other bits at the West Yorkshire NVS district association Autumn Show in Leeds the home of Leeds United. On arrival it became obvious that I may be a little out of my depth but as I had spent £5 on petrol I decided to table my exhibits. The classes I entered were Onions under 250g twice, 5 potatoes Coloured , 3 different varieties of Potatoes 3 of each,Tomatoes, Cucumber,and a collection of four veg on an 18" X 18" base not to exceed 16 points. I chose Garlic Peppers Beetroot and French beans at the time I was under the impression that Garlic was a 15 point veg, it would appear my advisor from the Midlands got it wrong! this cost me a card only a third but it would have been the only one of the day. The onions looked as good as the rest mine are the ones on the front Left in the photo so I was disappointed with the result on them. All my other exhibits were well beaten by far superior veg. I would say that the whole thing was well organised and supported with Quality veg and Flowers but then it was in Yorkshire. enough said

Harrogate

Visited the Harrogate Autumn show today what an experience, there was one thing that really caught  my eye in particular it was a stump root Carrot called Abaco. The photo is from the 3 stump and 3 long Carrots class there were around a dozen exhibits on the table all the stumps were Sweet Candle except for these which scored the highest points (17) I duly went across to Exhibition Seeds Stand and bought some seeds.

I will still grow Sweet Candle to see which I prefer they are not as long but are a really nice shape with a smoother  finish. there were some cracking leeks and Onions I now need to get some Pendle Improved from somewhere and some decent Onion seed.

I did gain some confidence in the fact that had I exhibited my Vento Onions they would have almost certainly got a card there were in my opinion none to touch them so I will be entering them next week at the NVS West Yorkshire da. show next week and will se what happens.

there were other areas where I may have picked up cards and I will be concentrating on these next year all in all a cracking day out some snapshots of the day can be seen below.

Zoo Magazine

I have had a veg picture published in this weeks Zoo Magazine page 31. This must be a first it is a valid excuse for you to buy it though.lol.

Weekend Baking and SAS

On Sunday I considered baking a cake but thought I would leave that to the Southerners. Instead I spent the day tidying up a bit and continuing with the construction  of the new Tunnel I have decided it will have mesh around the bottom to about a metre then Polythene above. I also pulled some Parsnips from the Kitchen bed they were massive shame about the canker, tasted OK though went well with the Sunday roast. Poppy the pumpkin is still growing and is 5 foot round now so won't be a record breaker
Also check out the link below re my work, its in the News of the World so no longer secret. I work on the same team as this Guy !!! real men work with the SAS and do not bake cakes lol
www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/900397/Who-dares-swindle.html

JBA potatoes Potato Growing Forum

Iain at JBA Seed Potatoes has launched a new Potato growing forum well worth a look
http://www.growingpotatoes.co.uk/
check it out .

Last weeks Show Photos

Back from Ireland I have been on to the Garden briefly today between the rain I was hoping to carry on with the new tunnel but the weather stopped that happening I hope it is better tomorrow. I have some good under 8oz Onions that I may enter in a couple more shows with anything else that looks good from the garden at the time.

below are some photos from last week as promised.

Westport Ireland

Working in westport this week, a beautiful place to be if it ever stops raining and the mist clears I will be able to see it. I will post some photos soon when I can get a fast enough Internet connection.

Dan Cleans up at Ingleton

Had a day out today in to the Yorkshire Dales, to Dans of  http://www.allotment-diary.co.uk/Exhibition-show-vegetables.html local show. It was great to meet him and see his exhibits. We arrived just as the Show opened to the public and Dan was surveying the tables as we entered ,his exhibits were excellent and he had scooped most of the main prizes (well deserved) good job he has a van as he would need it to transport all the trophies. Carrots were amaizing in my opinion slightly better than the ones Smithy won with last week at Leicester must be the Northern air. My wife Linda took a photo of the 2 of us for my blog I will name it Team Yorkshire. what a handsome pair we are. Dan does not look that happy to say he has just cleaned up, he never offered to get the drinks in either true Yorkshireman.

Show

I came across a different side to showing today. I tabled 40+ exhibits and got 6 first 10 second 5 third which was enough to win most points in veg section, we checked the cards 4 times to confirm this. When I mentioned this to another exhibitor they said that they would not be happy if a local did not win, several of our society turned up to help a struggling show. I will not be attending next year enough said on that
the judging was fair and correct apart from the marrow class where a large Courgette won 3rd over a Blyton Belle of good shape and size with flower still attached more than enough said I will post photos of my entry's as soon as possible

Celery and Show

Well thats the show staged will return at 4 to see the results.

On the Celery front the red Star has done really well with little care apart from loads of water and a weekly dose of Calcium to keep the heart rot at bay, the one in the photo should hopefully give me a red card, but there were some good contenders in the class when I staged mine

Work in Progress and Another Show Tomorrow

Work is well underway with the construction of the new 30ft x15ft Polly tunnel I have managed to sink all the 14 scaffold poles and fit all the gas pipe hoops. I have also constructed one end of the framework that will have an opening window for ventilation I have not decided weather to cover the structure with mesh or polythene but there is no rush to make the decision at the moment.

I have another show this weekend in the next village to us which is
Meltham I have never been before so I do not know what to expect. I intend to Table around 40 exhibits, some will be recycled from last week so we will see what happens. I have harvested my pot leeks (grown for fun ) and will be exhibiting the largest one in the any other veg class I have also managed to recycle my Blanch Leeks (just) they still look OK for local level and may get a card. I now know that I can do much better next year and am aiming for a card at Harrogate just to p**s of Ed Miliband (if you look on Smithy veg at the comments on the post Leicester 2010you will see what I mean) lol.

ME AND LINDA IN'T PAPER

Finally got in to the local paper, if you click the link below you can see the photo. I would have bought it but at £20 I think it is a bit steep.  Robbing ********
http://huddersfieldphotos.newsprints.co.uk/view/15790834/pc280810aflower_02_jpg

More From The Show

I had a good show yesterday it was my local Village show and the biggest turnout ever with over 50 ehibitors the tables were packed with good quality ehibits. I tabled 48 exhibits and ended up with 30 cards 10 firsts 10 seconds and 10 thirds it was a bit hectic getting ready as I had been working all week and had little time to prepair.
the cards were awarded as follows
First                                   Second             

Blanched Leek                  Potatoes                                    
Onions from Sets dressed    Lettuice               
Carrots                               Beans dwarf Kidney
Dwarf Beans                       Cabbage as Grown
Runner Beans                      Plate Parsley        
Any other veg Celery          Tomatoes             
White Potatoes                   Cabbage White      
Swedes                              Collection 4 veg     
Shallots                               Carrots                   
Thornton Ross Top Tray     Blanched Leek        
Third
Dwarf Beans,Tomatoes,Potatoes White,Sweedes,Cabbage White,Parsley Plate,One Flower One Veg,Marrow,Cabbage as Grown,and Turnips.
I won 5 Trophy's
Top Tray , best exhibit in onion Class,most prize money in veg class,best exhibit in veg class for Onions from setts Dressed and Garden News Shield for most prize money in Show
I have also been invited to join the committee that organises the show which I will be doing in due course
My next and final show will be next week this is also at local level. I will be attending Harrogate but not exhibiting to see what i have to aspire to.
I also entered the Smithy Veg stupid grin of the year contest while recieving a couple of trophies we will see what hapens at Christmas when he dishes out the awards.

AND THE WINNER IS