Growing more and better

We’ve looked back over the last few years to be clear about what we are trying to do: namely, to get more and better crops.

1. Earlier crops

We started with “grow tunnels” last year. Two failed, though the others worked.

This year, we have been successful with strawberries again, and will do two more next time.

We also tried extra early potatoes and are reasonably pleased with the results, as we are with the second earlies.

We weren’t so lucky with the broad beans, having to re-sow twice.

2. Encouraging pollinators

Apparently, pollinators love yellow, so the pansies have been brilliant — as have the dandelions.

3. Bigger crops

It’s too early to tell for most crops, but the overwintering onions are great this year.

4. Disease-resistant crops

All the potatoes are new varieties or variants, so we are hoping for better results. The same applies to three of the four peppers.

The tomatoes are both old favourites.

The early melon is a completely new idea.

Somehow, we lost all the Scarlet Emperor seeds and are experimenting with Enorme instead.

Similarly, the tomatoes “Gardener’s Ecstasy” are a new variety.

The courgettes and squash are all traditional for us.

Red chard and golden yellow celery have both been chosen for colour during the winter.

5. Drought-resistant crops

Only time will tell.

6. More flavour and flowers

Early days for flowers.

7. Later crops

We added a late maincrop potato to mature in November and December. We wait to see what develops.

And, in addition to tasty, fresh food, we get:

Friendship, cognitive activity, physical activity, fresh air, lots of fresh, tasty food — and fun talking about what went wrong.