Start of the winter slow-down but still quite warm

Odd end to the year as it is still quite warm for the time of year; 14°C tops during the day and no night frosts. Considering the extreme cold of last year when we were getting -1°C during the day, this is a complete turn around.

See the following posts from last year:

http://vegetableben.blogspot.com/2010/12/end-of-november-assessment.html

http://vegetableben.blogspot.com/2010/11/coldest-november-night-ever.html

Anyway, all this delayed winter weather means that all the winter sown broad beans (Bunyards Exhibition), peas (Feltham 1st) and onions (Senshui) are all sprouting and up. Let's hope the mild winter continues and we do not get any sever frosts / snow to damage these crops. Although, they are all under some protection.

December, January and February are slow months - but only 12 weeks till it all kicks off again...happy days!!

Cut the hedge

Early peas are up!

Early cauliflowers

Winter lettuce

Spring onions

Leeks

More winter lettuce

Autumnal plot

Bare cherry tree

Drying house - currently drying wood

Brassica plot - been burning stuff on here

Carrot 'feature'

Empty plot

Onions are up

Peas, broads and onion bed

Peas are up

Peas under cover

Broad beans are up

Under a small poly-tunnel

Bare apple tree

Bamboo poles for peas

Bird feeders relocated

Clematis nursery

Trimmed hedge

Bare fruit bushes

Holiday pottering

Tidy shed

Sown 'Feltham First' Peas 

Pea Frame

Moose! (thanks Jo)

Inner security door 

Bottom plot

Refelted shed roof

Cool but sunny autumn day

New 'ranch' skull motif

Tidy shed 2 

Seed bank

Soil pH and Vegetables

As I am using a 3 plot rotation systems for next year, I will need to get my soil pH roughly correct for the types of vegetables in in each section:

• Plot A = Potatoes and Parsnips
• Plot B = Brassicas
• Plot C = Peas, Beans, Onions and Squashes

Most plants prefer a pH between 6 and 7, as this range gives you the best access to nutrients and avoid any deficiencies and diseases.

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Soil-pH.svg/512px-Soil-pH.svg.png 

Crops and pH

• Plot A = Potatoes (5 to 6.5 pH) and Parsnips (6 pH) = so 5.5 to 6 pH
• Plot B = Brassicas, Swedes and Beetroot = 6.5 to 7.5 pH 
• Plot C = Peas (6 to 6.5 pH) , Beans (6 to 7 pH), Onions (6 to 7 pH) and Squashes (6 to 7 pH) = 6.5 pH
• Extra small plot for Sweetcorn (up by Runner Beans) = 6 to 7 pH

Next purchase = pH testing gadget

Worth noting:

• Chicken Manure Pellets are slightly alkaline
• Wood ash is alkaline
• Raspberries and fruit like acid soils

Links

• RHS Chicken Manure = http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=297
• RHS Wood Ash = http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=621
• General pH Veg chart = http://www.thegardenhelper.com/soilPH.htm

Clearing and rotating the plot

Sown winter lettuce and cauliflowers

Cleared sweet peas

Mad an onion drying thing

Dug over plot

Harvested butternut squashes

A full green waste bin

Finished the path and carrot bin area

Fresh earth

Top pilot for brassicas

Planted some parsley (thanks Gaz)

Made wicker fence from raspberry canes

Planted red and white onion sets

Cleared raspberry area

Cut back tree for better growth

Onion rows

Rainbow chard 

Decorative bit