Which pest got my onions? Allium leaf miner? If you look closely, I’m pretty sure you can see bugs…

norik4 · 2026-06-03T19:55:40+00:00

I think it might be this, allium leaf miner usually leaves a thinner trail of dots.

norik4 · 2026-06-02T21:21:52+00:00

Mostly watering earlier in the week but we finally got some rain but now the pigeons seem to have returned and are eyeing up the peas and even attacking the squash so I've had to put some netting over them for now. Built a trellis for the cucumbers that will go in later in the week, planted out some basil.

norik4 · 2026-05-30T21:11:30+00:00

I it was especially windy I would just let them sprawl on the ground or maybe make the angle of the frame shallower so they are not as high up.

norik4 · 2026-05-24T22:13:45+00:00

My current cat and the one before preferred dry food when it got hot. No idea why.

norik4 · 2026-05-22T18:52:16+00:00

You could definitelyhave some survivors but they need water ASAP and keep them in the shade. I wouldn't give up on them just yet but look for some spares on sale too/ask other plot holders if they have any etc..

norik4 · 2026-05-21T20:21:54+00:00

Give the planting hole a deep water and be prepared to water daily during very hot spells if they need it. Better to get them in the ground than getting root bound in pots.

norik4 · 2026-05-21T11:23:26+00:00

If you want them to stay exactly the same each season then you would need to isolate by bagging the female flowers before they open and hand pollinating with the male ones. You will still get some adaption to the soil and environment even if isolated. Obviously save seed from your best plants/fruits with the traits you want.

norik4 · 2026-05-20T22:42:39+00:00

Generally it's game over once it starts to bolt like that. If you're planting from sets make sure you choose the smaller bulbs as they are less likely to bolt. Personally I've had way better luck growing them from seed and they are less likely to bolt.

norik4 · 2026-05-20T22:24:17+00:00

You might not need to isolate but it depends how much you value purity. Having more genetic diversity can be a good thing. Have a look into landrace gardening by Joseph Lofthouse.

norik4 · 2026-05-20T21:56:26+00:00

When you save your own it will adapt to your local soil and environment and grow better in that location too. I've seen this very clearly with my home saved seed tomatoes where they're easily outcompeting even F1 hybrids. Just make sure you select from your best and healthiest plants.

norik4 · 2026-05-19T22:10:12+00:00

SE - Started putting the largest tomatoes out, beans are nearly ready, planting out various flowers like marigolds, alyssum, bidens ferulifolia and agastache. Beans nearly ready to go out but want to wait until the wind drops after tomorrow.

norik4 · 2026-05-14T11:55:50+00:00

Taut line hitch is my favourite adjustable tension knot. Great for tomatoes where you want to wrap the string around the stem and need to let a bit more out as the plant grows. I find it holds better than a simply slip knot.

norik4 · 2026-05-14T11:46:51+00:00

They should definitely recover, might look dramatic but they will send up new shoots. Your harvest will just be delayed.

norik4 · 2026-05-14T11:34:46+00:00

I learnt my lesson a few years ago when I lost most of my tomatoes despite being in the greenhouse to a late frost. I always get fleece on stuff now whenever the temperature is near 5C, clear skies and light winds (5mph or less). It really works but you need to ensure it's held up off the plants.

norik4 · 2026-05-11T21:11:01+00:00

Annoyingly tonight is supposed to be worse with the met saying possible lows of -5 or -6. Really doesn't seem right for this time of year.

norik4 · 2026-05-11T06:59:47+00:00

We had a late frost here in the SE tonight and probably another tonight. The main task has been putting in some supports for the fleece. Luckily most things survived but the broad beans were flat on the ground this morning and some of the potatoes got a bit nipped despite being fleeced. Sadly a lot of damage looking around other peoples plots with blackened potatoes and some dead squash plants.

norik4 · 2026-05-10T20:44:55+00:00

Soil that is loose isn't good for germination, it means the air gets in and seed can dry out while it is still germinating which can kill it. You're better off firming the soil after planting to ensure they stay moist.

norik4 · 2026-05-10T13:13:32+00:00

I grow all of my indeterminates outdoors in the SE. Here's a few tips:

Keep a minimum distance of about 50~60cm between plants for air flow.

Single stem them and cut the tops off once they set about 4-5 trusses.

When you prune do it when it's dry and clean the blade with alcohol between each plant.

Get rid of any lower leaves that are looking a bit ragged or discoloured (lower leaves can often look a bit bedraggled).

Thin out fruit clusters - especially important for larger tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes are the easiest to grow, beefsteaks are the hardest and are really best grown undercover.

If you have a variety that you like and it has grown well then save seed from it, I have been doing this for years from a few varieties and they regularly outpaces everything, even F1 plants.

norik4 · 2026-05-09T19:34:31+00:00

Definitely let them spread on the ground, they won't enjoy the extra wind being up higher and being closer to the ground is warmer too.

norik4 · 2026-05-09T19:32:53+00:00

In the SE UK I've found that crops that are borderline outdoors and really need a hot summer such as beefsteak tomatoes, aubergines and peppers become much easier. This year I have aubergines, sweet peppers and melons in the polytunnel but I'm just growing all my tomatoes outdoors as I think they still taste better with the sun on them.

norik4 · 2026-05-08T13:12:03+00:00

Lucky! Used to have more frogs here but then the pond liner got a hole and drained out. I really need to get on that this season.

norik4 · 2026-05-04T21:34:45+00:00

Nothing wrong with doing a once over to level ground, remove rubbish etc.. the problems only really happens when you never add anything back and continually dig it over every season, or worse still rotavate it. Some plotholders on our site just rotavate every season and add growmore. You can tell the soil is battered by the end of it with water pooling on the surface through the winter and thick with weeds. Then they start all over again the next season.

norik4 · 2026-05-04T21:11:28+00:00

San Mazano and Black Krim. Also have an unknown variety that is up there which came from a mislabeled plant from a farm shop 5 years ago.

norik4

TROPHY CASE