In this monthly post my aim is to talk about what I am growing, planting and harvesting. Showing my successes and challenges. Inspiring others to grow food in whatever space they have.

My Space

I have six large troughs and three small ones on the balcony rail. 

My compost mostly comes from bokashi composting my food waste, and that of one of my neighbours. I also sometimes get extra food waste from friends who live on a narrow boat (when they are moored nearby) and from advertising on ShareWaste. My wormary also adds a bit of extra nutrients as does coir blocks and seaweed powder. 

Main sources of inspiration and advice from; Vertical Veg, Charles Dowding and Huw’s Nursery on You Tube.

I practice “no dig” gardening. For a simple but informative overview of what no dig is all about, and the key principles behind it, check out this post on Happy Home DIY. 

What I am planting this month

  • Wildflower bee mix
  • Sweet Peas
  • Camomile
  • Marigold (saved from last years plants)
  • Spring Onions (White & Red)
A super sunny day for sowing
  • Repotting Runner Beans into bigger pots
  • French Beans
My Runner Beans are growing so fast!
  • Pea shoots
Just soak overnight, lay out evenly spaced and cover with compost.
  • Another row of carrots (Milan variety)

Harvesting

  • Pak Choi
  • Carrots
  • Kale
  • Purple Sprouting Broccoli
  • Sorrel (salad leaf)
  • Oregano
  • Chicory (outer leaves)
  • Lambs Lettuce
Small but very tasty carrots!

Successes

Runner beans – the seeds germinated really well and the plants are going crazy! A bit too fast growing as they can’t go out until the risk of night frost has passed.

Spring Onions – the batch I planted last month have just started coming up. I find spring onions take quite a while to germinate.

Carrots – the seeds sown last month are just starting to come up. I have already started thinning to prevent over crowding.

What hasn’t gone so well

Pea shoots – I think it was still a bit too cold at night last month for them to germinate but worth a go. I am sure the current batch will do better.

Aphid attack – the warm weather has encouraged aphids very early this year. I mange them with a soap water spray a couple of times a day. The purple broccoli and kale seem most susceptible.

Fennel – this was planted last autumn and had been have a good growth spurt with the warm weather. Then some of the plants leaves have been going a bit yellow and then seem to be eaten by something. Doesn’t look like aphids but spraying with soapy water in case that helps. Not grown fennel before so not used to their predators!

Related posts

Over to you…

What have you already planted this year?

What have you got planned?

Are you going to try anything new?