Meryl and Bob's potager - april 2021
Growing well
This year Meryl is trying a melon (or two) despite being unsuccessful last year.
There are now 12 varieties of tomatoes - including some orange ones and green zebras, noire and pear and cherry ones, should be a riot of colour!
Plus couple of aubergine plants, and various squash.
Although they had poor and limited produce last season Meryl is still trying to grow red/yellow/orange/violet peppers.
What will not get planted this year are regular green courgettes as she found the last two seasons were very bitter tasting with thick skins. However, she has managed to get a couple of courgettes blanche again which are delicious and sweet and a yellow one as well.
Of course, a variety of mixed salad leaves, spring onions and spinach. Raspberries from Carelle are thriving and early strawberries are on the way as well.
Now that’s what we call Vegetable Gardening!
IGC Members only
If you wish to know more about the vegetables Meryl and other Vegetable Group Members recommend growing, send a note to:
SPRING 2021 NEWSLETTER
Additional Information
Although we are still unable to have meetings as a Club there is no reason why those of you interested in growing vegetables should not share your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your photographs with us.
As you know, there is a Special Interest Group for Vegetables which features on the IGC website but even if you have not signed up to be part of the group I shall be collating everything that I receive from you all and will try to post some sort of monthly report. Thus I would welcome what you send to me.
Spring is here despite the fact its presently rather chilly with this wind, but the forecast is good in a day or two and it is time to get into the potager and prepare the soil with compost and mulch where necessary to eliminate weeds.
Now I look forward to hearing what you are all doing so please drop an email to: igcnewsinfo@gmail.com
In the meantime I can give you some hints about ideas for March/April
WHAT TO SOW
Summer beetroot could go into soil warmed under cold frames or be planted in gutters which is what Carelle has done, following a tip from gardener and writer, Sarah Raven.
Sow brassica basics, including calabrese in modules in a cold frame. Sprouting broccoli sown in March will produce spears in Winter and early Spring.
There is still time to sow broad beans, onions, leeks, rocket, parsnips and spinach outside but many of you, myself included, will be looking at broad beans in flower and peas looking bushy which were planted in November. For those of you using propagators then it’s time to plant some tomatoes, peppers chillies and aubergines. But all of these would need a temperature of 20 degrees.
WHAT TO PLANT
This is the season now for planting potatoes. and first earlies can go into the ground now. Of course, they need a sunny site and if you chit the tubers they will give a quicker crop.
it may be that you are planting out your beans, peas and tender cauliflower, sewn last year, but you will also now find the young plants for sale which is a good way of getting going if you don't have a cold frame or propagator.
WHAT TO HARVEST
Many of you will have brassicas growing which have probably been harvested already and which continue to do well. Broccoli, winter cauliflower, cabbage and sprouts are all in season.
Rocket has been a great winter salad and perhaps you have some chicory to harvest.
Rhubarb should be popping up now which is a real taste of spring and if you planted Chard last year it should come into growth again this month, as will perpetual spinach.
HERBS
If you grow only one edible crop then make it herbs! Rosemary, thyme, sage and marjoram will grow as shrubs in a sunny spot as perennials.
Then there are those herbs grown from seeds annually like basil and coriander and parsley. Chives and mint will carry one endlessly and so will parsley if it has sufficient moisture.
Tell me what your favourites are and which are successful for you.
Happy Gardening everyone and I now count on you to get in touch!
Kind regards to all,
Joy Collett
order seeds in spring
Meilland Richardier's brochure covers a variety of unusual vegetables and plants for delivery within France. Their catalogue is sent quarterly so to obtain this log in to: https://www.meillandrichardier.com/commande-catalogue/
A Squash with a difference
Gem squash ( Cucurbita pepo var. pepo )
Gem squash ( Cucurbita pepo var. pepo )
Gem squash ( Cucurbita pepo var. pepo )
These were grown with success in the Dordogne
Sow gem squash in the sunniest spot in your garden in rich, well-drained soil.
Add some compost to the soil for best results and sow the seeds in rows, 2cm deep and 1m apart.
Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged as this will cause the seeds to rot .
Growing them
Gem squash ( Cucurbita pepo var. pepo )
Gem squash ( Cucurbita pepo var. pepo )
Steamed or boiled with butter and any seasoning you like - a meal in itself.
A favourite is topped with cheese.
SEPTEMBER MEETING UPDATE
What a lovely turnout from you all for our September meeting. I think everyone was ready for a reunion and a chance to catch up after all these months as well as an exchange of gardening news.
We talked about the Harvest Photographic Competition and I hope I have encouraged all of you to send in a photo. The more members who partake, the more fun it will be. You will all have received Jacquie Strasser's details on the competition - just remember that the cut-off period is end of September so take a photo of your prize veggies soon and arrange a floral decoration too!
There were twelve of us and as usual everyone had a chance to make their contribution and tell us, particularly, what went well and what was disappointing.
COURGETTES
This seemed to be a vegetable that most of us grew and was very varied in success.
Both Leonie and Joy said they were not good this year. The fruit formed but never matured and just dropped off, so little harvest. Lynda had a crop, but they finished early and Sheila's courgettes were all flowers. However, Carelle reported an excellent season and grew three types, green, white green and yellow. Helen Harrison and John had great success with theirs which they grow on the compost heap, together with their butternut squash.
TOMATOES
Leonie grows hers from seed and they were great this year. Helen Gray grew hers from a supermarket tomato and dried the seeds before planting with great success. Lynda had good tomatoes this year, as did Carelle who recommended "Dona", Sheila was pleased with hers and Cilla showed us some of her "tutti fruitti" cherry tomatoes which are sweet and delicious. Barbara, our new member, told us that she has a polytunnel and really had too many tomatoes so it seems that tomatoes did not let us down this year. Joy's tomatoes are rather late: the first batch suffered from too much rain so the replacements are doing well and there has been some harvest but still loads to ripen.
CAULIFLOWERS, BROCCOLI, CHARD, CAVALO NERO, CABBAGE
Leonie had great cauliflowers as did Joy, but Cilla was disappointed that hers dried up and discoloured. She had brought one along and Helen G looked up possible causes on the internet. It could be a lack of magnesium but having looked into it more it seems that cauliflower does not tolerate heat and is a vegetable to be planted in Spring and should form before the Summer.
Broccoli was good for many of us as was Chard. Helen G. had a great three or four months of it and Carelle said she grows several different colours which were all good. Cilla has been pleased with her cavalo nero as was Carelle. Both Joy and Leonie have just planted cabbage, brussels and broccoli for the season ahead.
POTATOES
Great spuds for Leonie, Cilla and Helen G. who grew hers in a bucket with success and I think many of us were happy with our harvest.
SQUASHES
This is the season for the Pumpkins of various descriptions and Butternut Squashes. Barbara was pleased to say she had grown some squashes, as have Iain and Steff, Helen, John and Joy. Joy's Turks Turban have climbed over a "jungle jim" with great success and the butternut squash are overtaking the potager. I can see it’s going to be soup and roasted squash all Winter!
SOFT FRUIT
New members Iain and Steff Boatman seem to be the stars of the soft fruit show - they have harvested gooseberries, blackcurrants, raspberries. Barbara has started a soft fruit bed and lots of us have had a good season with raspberries and loganberries.
OTHER
Many more vegetables and fruit were talked about - salads were good; runner beans and haricot verts, aubergines, beetroots, peppers, leeks, sweet corn and melons all had their moments with many of us - and the list goes on.
I hope I have not missed some items you mentioned. The main thing is that we were able to swap information and it seems as if we have all enjoyed a great harvest, despite the heat in the last two months.
Happy times with the cameras!!
Best Wishes to all
Joy
May UPDATE
Dear all,
We had hoped to be able to join together for our end of May meeting but alas and alack it is not possible. However, we are a very proactive group with plenty of enthusiasm as well as ability and I much appreciate all your input. Instead of contributions to a report this month I thought it would be appropriate to see some of the good produce photographed for the IGC members to see.
Hopefully rain this week but no hail?
Enjoy your garden and let us try to get together before too long.
Regards
Joy
april newsletter
See the Photogallery below
Hello Everyone,
It’s been perfect weather for planting out this week.
First of all, a big heat to warm the soil and then plenty of rain this week. Possibly the tomatoes are not going to like the rain and my French neighbour said I must spray them with bordelaise to prevent mildew. I think we are all fighting slugs and snails. Some of these bio packs of granules really do not seem to work for me - the snails carry on regardless!
Thank you to so many for your input in this report. I have tried to take an overview of everyone's planting and harvesting but of course this is really just a snapshot so please don't be offended if I have not mentioned all the things you grow. We are a very industrious group I think and there is an excellent amount of produce out there. Perhaps next month we shall be set free and can talk around the table with a cup of tea and cake!
HARVESTING
Artichokes are ready and beautiful this year. Leonie Mercier is delighted with her crop and so is Carelle Sherwood - see photos from both.
Joy’s peas and broad beans are being gathered now daily and are a great success.
Chard and Spinach are being harvested: Helen Gray has been eating delicious Swiss Chard and so has Carelle who sends a photo.
Herbs are being grown and harvested by lots of you: Helen has rocket, parsley and thyme as has Carelle with coriander, dill, etc. -
Plenty of you have lettuces and radishes to pick now as well.
Rhubarb: This seems to be a popular fruit. Several of you report good pickings, including Richard Evans, Martin Garfoot and Carelle but I know lots of you grow this with success.
- Soft Fruit
Strawberries seem to be ready for Meryl though slugs are having a good meal and Joy’s tayberries are forming - lots of blossom .
Lucy is disappointed with her gooseberries, but she has good strawberries and currants.
- Potatoes
Martin's Agata and Rosabelle potatoes are coming along nicely and Meryl's potatoes are bushing up whilst Lucy Sheppard says hers have gone into overdrive! Cilla has started earthing up and Helen Gray's potatoes are poking their heads out of the soil, so signs are pointing to an excellent crop for you all. Joy's haven't yet shown signs of life which is worrying: but I didn't chit them so they are taking their time.
- Leeks and Onions
It is time to get the leeks in and several of you have done so. Meryl, Carelle and Martin report good looking produce but Lucy says her spring onions haven't germinated. I had that problem last year - it seems they are fickle. Martins onions are doing well as are Cilla's.
- Tomatoes
We all love to grow tomatoes and whether it is from seed or bought seedlings they do well. With an absence of seed packets Helen G. scooped out the seeds from a shop bought tomato so we look forward to those results.
There is always discussion as to when they should be planted out: the French firmly believe it should not be until after the Fete des Saintes Glacé around the 12/15th May, says Val.
Cilla has planted Coeur de boeuf, Roma and Tutti frutti and Joy always loves to include the pineapple tomato - Ananas as well as Black Crimea.
- Peppers and Aubergines and Courgettes
Meryl’s are settling in nicely as are Carelle’s. Joys are still in the cold frame as are Val's but will be ready to plant out soon. Val thinks she will have tomatoes, peppers and chillies to spare once we can travel again.
- Curly Kale and Black Kale and cauliflower.
Val has been keeping hers under cover to protect the seedlings.
Cilla reminds us that last year she found some ‘kalettes’ + and bought the plants back from UK. She says they were supposed to be little kales growing on a stalk like sprouts! She says they were disappointing and dry because of the very hot dry weather but she left them in and they turned into something amazing this year - a bit like sprouting broccoli; she has been eating them for 3 months!
Joy has planted out her cauliflower which presently seems impervious to pests.
- Beans
Time to get those beans in! Cilla has planted out her runner beans and they look great. I have put out my haricots verts from the cold frame and some are strong but others have succumbed to snails - despite the granules. My runner beans are still forming in the cold frame.
Cilla says she hasn't has a lot of success with them in the past but my experience is that they do well with a bit of rain and hate too much heat which I suppose is why we all eat them in the UK and they are less known in France.
SEEDS
Carrots by Meryl, with beetroot, Rainbow Beet, Goldeneye and Red Beet being sown by Martin.
PROBLEMS
Lettuce: Sue Hicks has been growing lettuces but sends us a photo of one which is sorely eaten. She wonders what you all think it is - have a look and let us know. It could be vine weevils or slugs perhaps?
Fig Tree: Martin Garfoot has a fig tree which is not fruiting. He wonders what the fix could be so have a look at his photo and tell me what you think.
I think that is all I wanted to say: keep in touch all of you and if you have extra photos please email them to Jacquie using this address igcnewsinfo@gmail.com
Reards to everyone
Joy Collett
MARCH 2020 NEWSLETTER
VEGETABLE GROUP LATEST NEWS
Hello Everyone!
It certainly is a busy time in the garden right now: Spring has burst forth and there is so much to do: sowing, planting and harvesting as well as preparing the ground.
As promised, I have collated some news from those of you who took the trouble to send it in. I thank all of you for your emails and photographs. It’s all very impressive.
Looking briefly at my "Growing Something to Eat" I see that it’s time to harvest some of our vegetables planted last year which I mention below. It’s the season for rhubarb, winter cauliflower, broccoli, rocket and kale.
Cilla Pickett, Meryl Evans and I have been picking our broccoli, kale, leeks and carrots and I have a very robust row of rocket which makes our salads all the tastier. Actually, I found several uses for the rocket including a chickpea hummus which has a bunch whizzed into it!
It’s asparagus time and Carelle Sherwood sent in a great picture of her produce. I know several of you have asparagus beds and Leonie Mercier has just planted one last month with 20 crowns which should keep the family fed.
In the Propagators
Val Ford sows plenty of seed and has included chilli, sweet pepper, basil cinnamon, coriander, Romanesco cauliflowers, curly kale, courgettes and micro sprouting seeds. She includes photos of some very healthy looking plants. Carelle has butternut squash, Padron peppers and multi-coloured beetroot. Martin Garfoot is growing his butternut squash on the windowsill and Leonie has got tomato, courgettes and butternut squash seedlings on the go. Those squashes seem very popular with lots of you.
Meryl has some heritage seeds from L.A. including Parisian carrots and Slim Jim aubergine which sound different and Helen Harrison says she has now got her seeds out of the shed so we look forward to hearing what she's sown!
In the Cold Frame
Carelle is hardening off her caveola nero and several different herbs. Joy has lettuces and just put in haricot vert, courgette and aubergine seeds in her cold frame. I hope it’s not too early for some of those seeds without heat but I'm relying on that sunshine.
In the Ground
Potatoes: several of us have planted our potatoes. Lucy Sheppard, Meryl, Leonie, Martin, Cilla and I have all got them in the ground: some earlies. Martin is also experimenting with a small pot of potato peelings. That will be interesting!
It’s also the time to put in the Onion sets. Lucy, Martin and Cilla have planted theirs. Martin is growing white Sturon and Red Baron.
Those of you who planted broad beans and peas in November will now have robust flowering plants and I think mine will be ready to harvest within the month: they are looking good.
It’s not to late to plant a row of peas: Leonie has just done that.
Fruit Trees
Strawberries are in flower and Raspberries showing good green shoots. Leonie and Meryl have newly planted raspberry patches and Martin and I confirm some good growth. I have some loganberries and tayberries in blossom which grow against the S.E. wall of the house which suits them well.
Tomatoes
This probably needs a section of its own because lots of you have named your varieties.
Val has grown Kelloggs which she finds large and very tasty. Also the blight free Crimson Crush which I notice has been recommended by my gardening guru Robin Lane Fox "On Gardens" in the FT. He also finds Moneymaker and Shirley to be reliable and top-class which I recollect were grown by some of you last year. And he mentions, too, the trendy purple brown Marron but I think we would have to buy seeds from the UK for those.
I think several of us feel we have missed the opportunity to buy plants with the lockdown we presently have. Let us hope there will be some chances to either exchange or buy later on.
Questions
If you would, please let Martin know if you think garlic be grown from a supermarket bulb. Personally, I suspect you can but that it might not be French variety. He also asks what comments you have about growing mangetout?
Summary
With all of us being confined as we presently are, it’s great to swap information - even if we can't swap plants. Keep giving me your reports. This one is instead of our meeting designated for this Tuesday, 31st March and the next meeting was to be on Tuesday, 28th April so please send me your photos and planting news in time for the April date, assuming that we won't be able to meet together.
Please do all keep abreast of what we are doing and keep me up to date.
Happy Gardening everyone
Kind regards
Joy
