Update on the strawberries

Look at these beasts, since getting a bit of a thinning out they've bushed up really really well, lots of flowers, big leaves and looking good.  I'm hoping I'll be making strawberry jam this year

My kids have left home (ie tomatoes are in the greenhouse)

After a week of camping, a weekend of looking after stepson and a weekend of something else I've finally go the tomatoes out of the house and into the greenhouse!

We've got 16 plants in there:

• 2 gardeners delight (small, cherry variety)
• 2 alicante (regular bog standard type)
• 4 san marzano (italian plum variety)
• 4 greek 2008, original (big fat, juicy greek variety found in greek salads)
• 4 greek 2009, 1st generation (big fat, juicy greek variety found in greek salads)

I grow my tomatoes in pots as my greenhouse floor is concrete (why is it concrete? for security, strength and to keep the weeds down)

The pots stand in big trays and (this year) I'll be watering them mostly from the bottom (ie, the tray they stand it). This should help them develop strong roots, stop the roots floating near the surface and also keep the weeds down. My trays should also keep off any pesky slugs, snails that dare to venture in.

I gave them the usual team talk, wished them well, stroked their leaves and saluted them, all the best my fine little plants, mummy loves you very much.

What NOT to do with your seedlings

This blog is about success and failure, and here's one of my failures, I'm ashamed that they got to this size before I planted them out.

Of course I've got excuses, but it's no use to these little things.  If they fail on me, then I've only got myself to blame.

Normally I'd be planting broad beans, french beans, peas & sugar snap peas when they were about 3 or 4 inches tall, and not like this (so tall they're falling over)