Blue tomatoes and mouldy melons by Steve Ott
By: Steve Ott
The grafted tomatoes ( 'Conchita') seem to be growing well
I've grown a mixture of tomatoes this year including 'Sungold', 'Alicante', 'Red Cherry', 'Ferline', 'Gardener's Delight' and a heritage variety called 'Stripped Stuffer'. I grow 'Ferline' as an insurance policy against blight as it does have good resistance (although little flavour), however I always find it difficult to germinate. Every other variety comes up like weeds, but out of the half a dozen 'Ferline' sown only one showed any interest in growing. The same thing happened last year. Anyone else have that experience?
In the greenhouse I have three plants of 'Conchita' which were grafted plants from Suttons and so far these are growing really well alongside some aubergines and peppers.
Pepper-wise this year I'm growing some 'Dulce Italiano' from Seeds of Italy as well as some 'Bell Boy' and a few grafted chilli peppers. The latter are from Delfland Nurseries where I also bought some grafted cucumbers. From what I've seen of grafted plants before they seem to be well-worth the extra cost, so I've high hopes for some good crops this year, weather permitting!
We have a glut of lettuce at the moment so are trying the recipe for lettuce soup in the July issue of KG this lunchtime – a first for me. Let you know how it tastes!
The only failure so far, apart from the 'Ferline' (and the cherries that the birds ate AGAIN while still green) has been the melons which seem determined to rot off. I wonder if the peat-free compost doesn't suit them particularly, although that is partly my fault as I still tend to overwater (the surface quickly dries out although the rest of the compost is fairly moist), and nothing kills melons quicker than over watering. Live and learn!
Current Issue: June 2012
Edible crops for little plots
Expert advice for growing your own fruit and vegetables
WIN over £1758 worth of products*
Including the new KÄRCHER Window Vac
Plus... Grow strawberries with Toby Buckland... Bob Flowerdew answers your gardening queries... Leeks and dwarf beans made easy with advice from Joe Maiden and Andrew Tokely...
PLUS:
• Next issue on sale: 1st June 2012