Leeks finally have new home

I finally managed to finish glazing the greenhouse I'm using this year to grow my leeks in.  It is an 6 x 8  house which I picked up a couple of weeks ago for the lifting.  There was no glass with it but I had glass from a previous expedition up North and as I'm not glazing right up to the eves just now so that it does not get too warm I thought "jobs a goodun". As you can see I've created a bed down each side of the house and started transferring my leeks in.  They are at 12in centers and the support is 15 in apart and 28 inch from the ground.  This is loosely based on my good friend Neil "Islay malt" Muirhead's design so if it all goes pear shape we know who to blame. All I hope now is that my resident (onion & leek loving) voles do not find their way into this green house.   

This is my Parsnip bed.  as you can see the heavy snow and cold weather has had a fairly drastic effect on them.   I have at least 2 blank stations out of my 20, the ones in the back ground have been singled and are now starting to move on. They are about 3 inch high, the variety is Polar.  Its the first time I've grown this variety.  As you can also see I am attempting to grow in a peat bed with stations cored out and filled with my mix.   

 

At last my tatties are starting to show through.  I'm about 4 wks behind from last year and with my first show at the end of July it will be tight.  I've 100 bags in this year with the following varieties:- Harmony, NVS Sherine  The Bishop for whites, Blue Belle, NVS Amour, Kestral, Maxine & Purple Eyed Seedling for coloured.  I also have a bed with vales emerald and pixie which I find can "scrub" up quite well.

Leeks and Furry things

It been a couple of weeks since I last put anything on my Blog.  Up until this weekend the weather up here in Morayshire has been terrible with hail snow and gales all contriving to make sure I don't get my dream of benching reasonable veg at this years Scottish NVS Branch show at Kelso. I've been busy trying to get caught up and finnish off the greenhouse where I want to grow my Leeks in.  In between times I've played a couple of games of rugby but that can wait for another time.  I've also had some problems with furry creatures,  A family of short tailed voles have taken up residence in the garden and  have found a tray of leeks and some of my Globo onions very tasty.  Also have a rabbit in the veg plot see below.   

Above is my second sowing of red Star needing re potting and about 9 inch.  

 This is my early sowing now about 14 inch and will be planted out this week as we are finally due so good weather

 Now got all my Kelsea onions into their feed tubs.  This is my first attempt at these onions and I'm really worried that the foliage is so soft

 Here are my Leeks I'm pleased with them but they need out into there main bed.  This I have finnished and hope to get them in over the next couple of days.  They have 14 inch collars on them.  

 Here are my shallots which have taken a fearful battering from the wind and snow but seam to be recovering.

 And here is the rabbit that has decided to take up residence between the veg plot and the washing green.  And yes its a Black one

 Well that the up dates just now at the "Pondarosa"

Warm Weather at last

Well folks I've been a bit busy lately and was having difficulties with my camera. Finally got some photos so here is where I'm at.

Show tatties now all in.  NVS Sherine, The Bishop & Harmony for whites.  NVS Amour, Kestral, Blue Belle, Maxine and Purple eyed Seedling for coloured and all planted in JBA potato mix.  Lets hope it does exactly what it says on the label.

Also finally managed to get one of the Green houses that got last month erected. As you can see I've got some of my Leeks in it just now.  Happy with the finished article.

 This is my Kelsea Onions I've just potted them into my 25 kg Tubs which are old cattle and sheep mineral lick tubs.  I'm using JBA Onion & Leek mix and spraying once a week with SB invigorator.  I'm going to grow them in these tubs in the green house I've just finished.  It my first attempt at large onions so here goes.

 These are my leeks they currently are in 5 ltr pots and have 14 inch collars on. I've lifted one in an attempt to let you see how thick they are.  Again this is my first attempt at growing these so will it be show or soup?

And lastly my Celery.  As you can see its about 10 inches. Again this is my first attempt at growing and I only have 9 plants from 30 left as I had a disaster at pricking out.  I have a second sowing which is about 5 inch and I'm hoping that this will allow me to show at some later ones.