Seed circle 1

One of the joys of forums is that some run various seed circles.This I have joined the GYO Tomato seed circle.I have grown and harvested Early Tanana and Latah as my contribution.
In return I will get upwards of 40 new varieties to try next year.
Some of the varieties I am looking forward to trialling.
I originally got these seed from the Allotments 4 All last year.Without this I would never have heard of these varieties and hopefully I can introduce 20 other people to grow them.
They are both early season varieties so the bad weather and blight this year didn't affect them.
Early Tanana comes from Denali seeds in Alaska and if it can grow there the UK will pose no problems.
Latah originally came from Real Seeds who are well worth a look for something slightly out of the ordinary.

Tomato seed saving.

Harvested my first Beijing Yellow tomato today,the taste is nothing spectactular but I am saving the seeds.I also harvested some Slovenian Black tomatoes that have a much nicer taste and likewise am saving seeds from them.
It's a production line at the moment.
Harbinger,Reisentraube and Slovenian Black have been fermented,cleaned and are now drying.
Latah and Early Tanana have been dried and bagged up for the Grapevine seed circle.15 packets of each will hopefully be enough.

Seed saving Tomato seeds

A simple guide to saving your own tomato seeds.

Here is Early Tanana,Koralik,Latah and Monkey's Ass in their containers at various stages.

Stage 1 remove seeds from the tomato,I tend to use a penknife.I put them into containers,add water,give them a stir,cover them and leave for 3 days.I label the pots.I stir this smelly mixture on a daily basis.Then I pour off the water and rinse several times in a sieve.I then pour the seeds onto a plate and cover them with kitchen tissue.I then put them somewhere safe and forget about them for a week or two.

After a week the seeds should be dry so I use a pair of tweezers to separate them and place them on a plate.

Then they get bagged up and labelled.I then put them away until required

Saturday at the allotment.

I spent a nice saturday morning watering and weeding

My first White lady runner beans,Charlotte potatoes and a couple of Flyaway carrots.I also dug up a couple of Early Nantes from a failed sowing earlier in the year.

 I weeded my Gem Squash area and have a tiny Gem squash,just hoping for some nice weather to encourage them.

 I weeded my Brassica cage which contains Falstaff brussel sprouts,Primo cabbage,Green and Purple kohlrabi.I also weeded the Helenor swedes and Snowball turnips nearby.It's amazing how quickly the weeds grow.

The tomatoes are still hanging on,leaves are being regularly stripped and there are a number of Shirley,Harbinger,Losetto and Maskotka green tomatoes.
The afternoon was spent in the garden emptying one section of my compost system and filling/mixing another section.I will use it to fill up flower troughs and plant some lettuce in them.
I have started saving Latah and Early Tanana tomato seeds for my Seed Circles and have a batch of the former drying off in the Utility room

This week at the allotment

A decent week's weather.Much weeding has been done.

White Lady runner beans,ready to be harvested in a day or two.

 The Headstart sweetcorn is fattening up.

 I gave my neighbour some of my Hungarian Zucchini and they have had a decent sized one,mine are still a way off having been planted later.Here is my first Black Beauty courgette about 4 inches long,hopefully the first of many.

Today's harvest of Pentland Javelin,still more to come.I also harvested my first Primo cabbage and some Charlotte potatoes.
In the garden I have potted up some Koralik,Sungold,Dwarf Mr Snow and Tasmanian Chocolate into large buckets.
I have managed to eat some Early Tanana which were a bit on the bland side and Latah which after a bit of sunshine had a decent taste.I also have had a few Piccolino cucumbers from the Conservatory.

Start of another month.

I managed to get a bit of weeding and harvesting done today before the rains arrived

 My first attempt at growing swwetcorn,this is Headstart F1 and there are some cobs showing.

 In between my sweetcorn I have planted some Black Beauty courgettes which are flowering but as yet no fruits,

 The runner beans are climbing and are in flower but as yet no beans

Due to the blight on the plot I have cut down the haulms and this is today's harvest of Pentland Javelins,I also harvested some Charlottes,the last of the Albignesian Wight garlic and an Early Nantes carrot.
The Early Onward peas have finished so are now in the compost bin.
I don't hold out much hope for the allotment tomatoes and seem to spent ages snapping off discoloured leaves,at least there are a few green tomatoes which have had a borage mulch to see if it gives any protection.
I have planted rows of Autumn King and Flyaway carrots,Ishikara spring onions,Axima and Blue De Solaise leeks.
I have finally had some Latah,Early Tanana and Koralik tomatoes from the garden,some Chioggia beetroot and some Piccolino cucumbers.
I have potted up Sungella,Principe Borghese and Sweet Million tomatoes as well as a batch of Sweet Genovese and Purple Basil.

Plantings and potting up.

I have been a bit behind with what I have been planting and potting uo so here's an update.
I have started pots of  Painted Lady runner beans,Hungarian Zucchini and Partner Gherkhins.
On the tomato front I have potted up Losetto,Koralik,Sweet Million,Beijing Yellow,San Marzano,Monkey's Ass and Principe Borghese.
Into flower buckets I have potted on Reisentraube,Sungold,Latah.Mortgage Lifter and Slovenian Black tomatoes.
On the peper/chilli front I have potted on Napia Early Pointy Red Pepper,Alberto's Locoto and Black Hungarian Chilli.
I have potted up Marketmore cucumbers,Thai basil,Piccolino cucumbers,Moonlight runner beans,Catmint and some Helianthus Sungold.

Weekly Update

The last of my tulips,a rather nice variety called Pacific Pearl,this week I have been deadheading my Daffodils and as the council have resumed green waste collection I can do lots of weeding and pruning.

I have started Paton's Twins Giant Pumpkin,Blue Solaise Leek,Purple Sprouting Broccoli,Primo Compact Cabbage,Romanesco Cauliflower,Koralik tomatoes and some French Winner Marigolds.
I have potted on Principe Borghese,Shirley F1,Anaheim Chilli and Black Velvet Nasturtiums.
I have also repotted my Rogue seed Beefsteak and Early Tanana into larger pots in readiness for going outside.
Down the allotment in between showers I have finally planted a batch of Babbington Leeks which I received in a seed swap.
I have got fed up of the lack of space in the conservatory so I have reorganised the blowaway and put in a couple of Reisentraube,Latah,Slovenian Black and Early Tanana tomatoes together with the obligatory tray of Marigolds.