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

What I am sowing & transplanting

  • Runner bean babies have been planted out (photo taken early May)
Runner beans newly planted out in a trough with bamboo poles.
  • Salad leaves seeds sown (I sow a few every two weeks to space out the harvest)
  • French bean babies have been planted out (photo taken mid May)
Runner beans newly planted out in a trough with bamboo poles.
  • Extra carrot seeds in gaps in rows

Note; the beans spent day / evening time outside for at least a week before being transplanted. This process is called “hardening off”. It is important to ensure that the shock of moving from inside to outside doesn’t kill your new plants, or severely stunt their growth.

Harvested

  • Kale
  • Lambs Lettuce
  • Sorrel
  • Fennel (1st time growing this)
  • Chicory (leaves used in salads and sandwiches)
  • Oregano
Freshly harvested fennel in a blue bowl

My Space

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

A balcony with 6 wooden troughs all growing vegetables

My compost mostly comes from bokashi composting my food waste, and that of one of my neighbours. In non lockdown times I also get extra food waste from friends who live on a narrow boat (when they are moored nearby) and from advertising on ShareWaste. My wormary adds a bit of extra nutrients, as do 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. 

Successes

  • Wildflowers and marigolds sown last month have germinated
  • Spring onions planted in the last two months are coming up
  • Runner beans survived the high winds just a day after being planted out
  • I had left the stumps of the runner beans in the ground last autumn as I didn’t want to disturb the leeks that were growing in front of them. These have sprouted and are growing vigorously! Turns out this is something some gardeners do. They won’t all come back but many will!
  • French beans are thriving and starting to flower
  • Pea shoots are growing well
  • Carrots sowing has germinated
  • First of the salad seed sowing are coming up
  • Seem to have aphids under control for now!

What didn’t go do well

  • The Black Kale is struggling, got very attacked by aphids. I am spraying them with soapy water every day. This seems to be working and they are growing new undamaged leaves.
Black kale with some shrivelled leaves.
  • One of my troughs has rotted and needs replacing. Not the best timing with the lockdown situation! I have someone lined up to make another one (not my skill set) but it’s going to take a bit of time. As I have tomato plants turning up very soon to go in this trough I have had to think of a solution.
A wooden trough with one rotten side. An orange fabric collapsable trough is inside.

Related posts

Over to you…

What have you already planted this year?

What have you got planned?

Are you going to try sowing anything new?