Friday 19 February 2010

The beginning of the season...


Super Aguadolce broad beans, first planting under cover.


Pomodori Italiano!



A few days ago I started to get a little buzzy feeling about this year's growing season. Opening my seed box and seeing all the potential is such a thrill. I think I learnt a lot last year, my first true season. For a start, I sowed far too many tomato seeds and each sprout I potted on, and on, and I found it impossible to throw any away. Not only did I become consumed by tomato plants, I left myself with no space (in the conservatory) to sow anything else. Also during the season I wasn't prepared with what to put in after things had finished. This year I want to have brassicas or something ready to go in after my broad beans. I may only put a couple of tomato plants at the allotment because of the whole blight thing last year which totally depressed me. I now have a strange grudge against last years tomato bed. For me it seems poisoned. I don't know what I should plant there. Perhaps I'll find something that will help clarify the ground?

I am sure it's because I have some italian blood coursing through my veins that tomatoes are very important to me. I worked on an Italian film last year, as the UK art director and I got a tip from the production designer that the best flavoured tomato to eat straight is a variety called Datterino, it's a cherry sized tomato. I tried immediately to source it on the internet but couldn't get anything in England. Fortunately I have a 'almost' Auntie in Italy, she brilliantly sourced me a couple of packets. The other variety I am keen to grow is Cuor di Bue, which top chefs Giorgio Locatelli and Raymond Blanc both champion as a cooking tom. Finally I realised last year I absolutely love beef tomatoes so I am also planning to have a couple Marmande plants.

Mmm.. what else shall I be growing?

Oh yes, Diary: today I planted some broad beans, Super Aguadolce variety in the ground which I prepared with some pongy poultry manure and lime. I covered them with my cold frame which I made last year. Note, last year I put the broad beans in in October and over-wintered them, they did quite well. I wanted to try starting them in root trainers this year, which I will but today I saw an opportunity to see what would happen if I tried them this way - we'll see eh?I also pruned the autumn raspberries to the ground too. They need to be weeded around and be fed/ top dressed.

4 comments:

Kella said...

Great to see you back in the gardening swing.

If your tomato bed isn't huge then you can always try my method its has worked for me two years in a row with excellent results.

http://kellasvegeplotandothermusings.blogspot.com/2009/05/couple-more-tasks-done.html

You can also see it a bit more with the tomato plants growing beautifully underneath it in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrSCRN43dhk

Bountiful crop growing wishes and vibes being sent your way for the year 2010.

Jo said...

It's so exciting when we start off our first seeds of the year. Your tomatoes sound interesting, I'll be watching your progress with them with interest.

Tash said...

The life biggest glory, is not never defeats, but is the servant repeatedly fights repeatedly ..................................................

to translate - hopefully correctly?

allot of veg said...

Sorry you too suffered with the dreaded blight, I'm in two minds whether to bother with toms at all this year but then the smell, the taste, the satisfaction of nipping out of the door for a snack - maybe it will be OK this year...