In My Seed Box for 2019 - Carrots

My planned year of the carrots, never really happened as I would have liked, I did end up with a whole lot of carrots but in 2019 I'm going to be more organised. I bought far to many carrot varieties in the Wyevale 50p seed sale in 2017 but who can blame me when I'm getting £34.21 of carrot seeds for £6 or putting it another way 12 packs for the RRP of 2 it's a no brainer. 

I could not resist the four packs of Carter Seeds from Poundland that were being sold off at 10p a pack, so I have added them to the list below:0

As planned last year, looking at the information from the packs below I will be sowing 7 row per bed at 300mm centres in the following order, based on their sow & harvest dates.

1st Bed  

Amsterdam 2 (Solo)          - Jan
Amsterdam 3                 - Jan
Early Nantes 2                  - Jan
Nairobi                              - Jan
Early Scarlet Horn            - Feb
Early Nantes 2 Frubund   - Feb
Romance F1                     - Feb
Cascade F1                      - Feb

2nd Bed 

Autumn King 2                  - Mar
Chartenay Red Cored       - Mar
Early Nantes 5                  - Mar
Jitka F1                             - Mar 
Nigel F1 Hybrid                 - Mar
Paris Market - Atlas          - Mar *
Royal Chantenay 3           - Mar
St Valery                           - Mar

Review Of Seed Stocks in Zippy Bags

Chantenay Red Cored
St Valery - Sarah Raven Collection - sow by 2017
Jitka F1 - Sarah Raven Collection - sow by 2017
Royal Chantenay 3 - Sarah Raven Collection - sow by 2017

Review Of Seed Stocks in Packets Sow By 2016/ 2017

Early Scarlet Horn - 1500 seeds - £1.49 - Unwins - Sow By 7/2017
Early Nantes 5 - 6m seed tape = 5 rows - £2.99 - Mr Fothergill - Sow By12/2017
Nairobi - 500 Seeds - Marshalls Best Before 7/2017
Nantes 2 - Frubund x 2 packs - 500 seeds - £2.69 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2017
Nigel F1 Hybrid - 500 seeds - £2.29 - Thompson & Morgan Sow By 12/2017
Paris Market - Atlas - 2500 seeds - £1.99 - Thompson & Morgan  Sow By 12/2017
Sugarsnaps 54 F1 - 500 seeds - £1.99 - Unwins - Sow By 7/2017

Review Of Seed Stocks in Packets Sow By 2018/ 2020

Amsterdam 2 (Solo) - 1500 seeds - £2.19 - Mr Fothergills - Sow By 2020

Baby Chantenay (Cascade F1) 350 seeds - £2.80 - Mr Fothergills - Sow By 2020
Early Nantes 2 - 500 Seeds - £2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020
Early Nantes 2 Frubund - 500 Seeds - £2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020
Flyaway - 400 Seeds - £2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020

Nandor F1 Hybrid - 350 Seeds - £2.69 - Kew Urban Garden  Collection - Sow By 12/2019
Nigel F1 - 500 seeds - £2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020
Rainbow - 300 seeds - £ 2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020
Rainbow - 250 Seeds - £2.49 - Marshalls - Sow By 9/2019
Romance F1 - 400 Seeds - £2.99 Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020

Sugarsnaps 54 F1 - 500 seeds - £2.80 - Mr Fothergills - Sow By2019

Review Of Seed Stocks in Packets Sow By 2021

Amsterdam 3   - 400 seeds - 10p Poundland Carters Tested Seeds - Sow by 7/2021

Autumn King 2 - 400 Seeds - 10p Poundland Carters Tested Seeds - Sow by 7/2021

Early Nantes 5 - 400 Seeds - 10p Poundland Carters Tested Seeds - Sow by 7/2021

Rondo              - 400 Seeds - 10p Poundland Carters Tested Seeds - Sow by 7/2021

Alphabetical Listing

                                           Sowing            Harvest

Amsterdam 2 (Solo)         - Jan - July         Apr - Oct
Amsterdam 3                    - Jan - July         Apr - Oct
Autumn King 2                 - Mar - Jul           Jun - Nov
Cascade F1                     -  Feb - Jul          Jun - Nov
Chartenay Red Cored      - Mar - Jun          May - Oct
Early Scarlet Horn           - Feb - Jun          May - Sep
Early Nantes 2                 - Jan - July          Jul - Dec
Early Nantes 2 Frubund  - Feb - Oct           Apr - Nov
Early Nantes 5                 - Mar - Jul           May - Oct
Flyaway                           - May - Jun         Aug - Oct
Jitka F1                            - Mar - Jul          Jun - Nov
Nandor F1 *                      - Mar - Jul          Jun - Oct
Nairobi                              - Jan - Jun         Jul - Nov
Nantes 2 - Frubund          - Feb - Oct         Apr - Nov      
Nigel F1 Hybrid                - Mar - Jun         Jul - Dec
Paris Market - Atlas*         - Mar - July        Jun - Oct

Rainbow                           - Apr - Jun          Jul - Oct - Thompson & Morgan
Rainbow Mix                    - Mar - Jun         Jun - Sep - Marshalls          
Romance F1                    - Feb - May        Jun - Sep          
Rondo                              - 
Royal Chantenay 3          - Mar - Jun         Jun - Oct
St Valery                          - Mar - Jul          Jun - Nov
Sugarsnaps 54 F1           - Mar - Jul          Jun - Nov - Mr Fothergills
Sugarsnaps 54 F1           - Apr - Jun          Aug - Mar - Unwins

* Short ideal for starting  in loo rolls 

Sow Date Listing

                                           Sowing           

Amsterdam 2 (Solo)          - Jan
Amsterdam 3                    - Jan
Early Nantes 2                  - Jan
Nairobi                              - Jan
Cascade F1                      - Feb
Early Scarlet Horn            - Feb
Early Nantes 2 Frubund   - Feb
Romance F1                     - Feb
Autumn King 2                  - Mar
Chartenay Red Cored      - Mar
Early Nantes 5                  - Mar
Jitka F1                             - Mar
Nandor F1                         - Mar
Nigel F1 Hybrid                 - Mar
Paris Market - Atlas          - Mar
Rainbow Mix                     - Mar - Marshalls
Royal Chantenay 3           - Mar
St Valery                           - Mar
Sugarsnaps 54 F1            - Mar
Rainbow                           - Apr - Thompson & Morgan
Sugarsnaps 54 F1            - Apr

Flyaway                            - May

Germination 10 - 21 days

Rows  250 - 300 apart

An interesting thread re the different sowing times for Sugarsnaps 54 F1 and Varieties that will over winter on the Grow Your Own Grapevine Carrot Confusion

Other cold tolerant varieties are Eskimo (T&M) and Marion (Marshalls),

Beetroot Pickling

Without reading the title of the post can you guess what I did today ? 

Before

After

Beetroot Harvest

Today the focus was on beds 7, 9 &10 all which had beetroots in. Bed 7 right at the back of the photo to the right of the greenhouse is a mixture of weeds and beetroots. Bed 9 had beetroots that were too small to harvest about six weeks ago, and bed 10 was a last minute sowing once the bed became free in an attempt to get a late harvest which appears to have worked. 

At the end of the morning I had harvested all the Beetroots and filled up a bucket with them. So within the next couple of days they will be cooked off and pickled. 

Beds 10 & 9 are now clear of blue water pipe hoops and any form of weed membrane so that the Robin can get at any slugs or other tasty morsels that he may find, before I cover up the beds for Winter next weekend.

Bed 7 in the background had all the beetroots removed but there was not enough time for me to clear the weeds. 

I've turned up the shelf on the side extension to the store and I stacked more composting materials.

Daleks 2 & 3 were once again topped up with the vegetation off the beetroots, comfrey, leafs and paper shredding's and watered in layers.

Next major visit, clear the weeds in bed 7, cover beds 9 & 10 for winter, harvest the spuds from bed 11 and take down the climbing frames on beds 14 & 15 weed and leave uncovered for a week then cover.

Make some more soft bricks and replace those that have got brittle.    

In My Seed Box for 2019 - Beetroots

Note to self - Last year I made a note to myself not to buy anymore Beetroot seeds in the Wyevale sale for the next two years, you don't need them, or at least if you do then don't buy so many packs, be selective just go for the Boltardy unless you happen upon different coloured say yellow beetroots! and make sure they have a Sow by date of at least 2021.

At 10p a pack from Poundland I could not resist and bought 2 packs of Globe 2 (100 seeds per pack). I also could not resist a couple of cheap packs from Wilko at 25p a pack and then when they dropped to 10p a pack, well it would be rude not to buy a few more now wouldn't it?  

Review Of Seed Stocks in Zippy Bags

Action F1 *                - 250  Seeds - £2.49 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 2016

Burpees Golden       - 125  Seeds -           -  Premier Seeds Direct - Sow By 12/2019

* Baby Type Beets ready in 10 weeks start off in Space Saver Greenhouse 2nd week of March 

Review Of Seed Stocks in Packets Sow By 2018 - 2020

Alto F1                     - 150  Seeds - £2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020

Detroit 2                  -  300  Seeds - £2.29 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 2020

Detroit 6 Rubidus    -  200  Seeds - £2.69 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 2019

Globe 2                    - 200  Seeds - £0-20 - Carters                       - Sow By 2020

Kestrel                     - 150  seeds - £2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 2019

Moneta                    - 150  seeds - £2.99 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 2020

Perfect 3                 -  275  Seeds - £1.65 - Mr Fothergill's            - Sow By 2018

Red Ace F1             - 150  Seeds - £2.69 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2020

Solo                         - 200  Seeds - £2.49 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow By 12/2019

Review Of Seed Stocks in Packets Sow By 2021

Cylindra                  -  150  Seeds - £0.25 - Wilko  - Sow By 2021

Cylindra                  -  150  Seeds - £0.25 - Wilko  - Sow By 2021 

Cylindra                  -  150  Seeds - £0.25 - Wilko  - Sow By 2021

Cylindra                  -  150  Seeds - £0.25 - Wilko  - Sow By 2021

Cylindra                  -  150  Seeds - £0.25 - Wilko  - Sow By 2021

Cylindra                  -  150  Seeds - £0.25 - Wilko  - Sow By 2021

A couple of packs bought at 25p and 4 more picked up when 10p pack in the sale 

Alphabetical Listing

                                       Sowing            Harvest

Action F1                       Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct

Alto F1                           Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct

Bettollo F1                      Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct

Boltardy                          Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct

Cardeal F1                     Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct

Cylindra                          Apr - Jul             Jul - Oct

Detroit 2                         Apr - Jul             Jun - Oct         

Detroit 6 Rubidus           Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct

Globe 2                          Apr - Jul             Jul - Oct

Kestrel                            Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct     

Moneta                           Mar - Jul            Jul - Oct

Pablo F1                         Apr - Jul            Jun - Onwards        

Perfect 3                         Apr - Jul            Jun - Oct

Red Ace F1                    Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct                   

Solo                                Mar - Jul            Jun - Oct

Wodan F1                       Apr - Jul            Jun - Onwards     

Boltardy is one of the best beetroots and a gardeners favourite. Good quality, globe shaped , dark-red, well flavoured roots up to 100mm (4") across, and the variety that I normally go for however the Wyevale 50p seed sale is responsible not only for the amount of packs I have in the seed box but also the various varieties. 

Altro is a Hybrid cylindrical beetroot that produces straight roots that stand proud above the soil, but can be earthed up keeping in good condition for longer periods, and will produce more consistent diameter slices for pickling and that is what attracted me to pack when I bought it.  This was also why I bought six packs of Cylindra from Wilko as they are only 25p a pack and were dropped to 10p a pack in the end of season sale.  

When To Plant

Beets are fairly frost hardy and can be planted in the garden 30 days before the frost-free date for your area. Although beets grow well during warm weather, the seedlings are established more easily under cool, moist conditions. Start successive plantings at 3 to 4 week intervals until midsummer for a continuous supply of fresh, tender, young beets. Irrigation assures germination and establishment of the later plantings.

Dates based on guidance from Garden Focused based on the last frost date for Sutton Surrey of the last week in April, suggests Beetroots are sown in the 4th week of March. BUT that is assuming sowing directly in the ground, and as I will be starting off the beetroots in the Space Saver garden or allotment greenhouse I intend to sow a couple of trays earlier in 2019 in say the 1st or 2nd week of March. I may even try some early in the ground under a cloche, it's not as if I don't have enough seeds!

Care

Frequent shallow cultivation is important because beets compete poorly with weeds, especially when small. Because beets have extremely shallow roots, hand weeding and early, frequent and shallow cultivation are the most effective methods of controlling weeds in the rows. Deep cultivation after the weeds are large damages the beet roots. Like most root crops, beets need a fertile soil (especially high in potassium) for vigorous growth. Keep your beet plants uniformly supplied with moisture for best performance.

Harvesting

Beets can be harvested whenever they grow to the desired size. About 60 days are required for beets to reach 1 1/2 inches in diameter, the size often used for cooking, pickling or canning as whole beets. Beets enlarge rapidly to 3 inches with adequate moisture and space. With most varieties, beets larger than 3 inches may become tough and fibrous. Beets may be stored in a polyethylene bag in a refrigerator for several weeks. Beets also may be stored in outdoor pits if the beets are dug before the ground freezes in the fall. Cut off the tops of the beets one inch above the roots. Beets store best at 32°F and 95 percent humidity. Do not allow them to freeze

Planning and Reviewing November in Previous Years

Reviewing the diary over the last five years for November

2012 - My First November and second month of owning an allotment was mainly spent cutting down the weeds and exposing what lay underneath and discovering all manor or debris to dispose off . It took me two weeks to cut back and stack the weeds and debris on pallets and pens created to hold them and I covered the weeds to allow them to dry out for burning. My shed was ordered and the base went in mid month and on the 18th November the shed was erected.

2013 - Mainly clearing up the plot, planting over wintering onions and creating a pop bottle greenhouse and collecting leaf's.  

2014 - Harvesting peppers, making slug traps, washed the greenhouse, clearing weeds and covering beds for winter. Collecting coffee grounds.  

2015 - Took on additional plot on Spencer Road as I thought there would not be anywhere to drop off and pick up at Mill Green once the development was completed and negotiations re it's formation were not very good with the Council and Redrow at that time. 

2016 - Two plots on two different allotment sites Mill Green and Spencer Road , Paving slabs off freecycle, Walking Onions purchased, First Frost and Final Potato harvest, Grow Your Own Magazine Grapevine Forum Member of the Month for November 2016. last Harvest of carrots. Vandalism and the burning of polytunnels and break-ins on Spencer Road Allotment, meeting with the police. Making Planting membrane. More sheds broken into so upped the security on the shed.          

2017 -  Started looking at what was in my seed box . Thompson & Morgan listed my blog as one of Nine Notable Seed Bloggers and pondered the Question "What Happens when you cross and Allotment with A structural Engineer" Work started on clearing Plot 1 of vegetation. Jersery Plants Lucky Dip Trees arrive. First draft of Plan Layout for both plots released. 

Below is the to do list in no particular order and catching up with what actually happened in October and what has slipped. 

Mill Green - Plot 1

• As much infrastructure works as the weather will allow - Subject 
• Water Butts - Fix taps 
• Guttering to Shed - TBD
• Extension to shed - rear - built minor modification required   
• Cut Roof Joists to bed sizes - Ongoing
• Make Bread Tray Saw Horses - Done
• Paint Joist cut to bed sizes - Ongoing 
• Lay the paving for the greenhouse - TBD 
• Erect the greenhouse - Timbers Cut for base need to be treated  
• Tidy Up the Allotment - Ongoing and looking better all the time
• Remove Hawthorne bushes from the wall - TBD
• Install Kerb Edging all around the plot - TBD
• Stockpile Timber ready for burning  - Ongoing
• Install Flower Beds - TBD   
• Plant Spring Bulbs - TBD

Mill Green - Plot 1A

• Weeding - Never ending job   
• Clear the greenhouse - To Be Done 
• Rhubarb Bed to be created - clearance of weeds in current location and move when ready
• Tidy Up the Allotment - Ongoing and looking better all the time 
• Clear area behind the Greenhouse - TBD
• Clear Seating Area - TBD
• Plant Raspberries against the Wall - TBD

Home

• Planning - As they turn red

Reminders

• Purchase vent opener for new greenhouse.- Not Yet

To Do List NOV Week 2 Squash / pumpkins - start to use Week 3 Brussels Sprouts - begin to harvest if any had survived !