Spidra's Terry Walton's Allotment garden

Terry dug up some of the potatoes he’s had in containers in the greenhouse and harvested about 9 off the one plant. Though his potatoes had lush green tops, he seemed pleased that that vegetative growth had not come at the expense of the tubers.

He’s disappointed in his broad beans, though. He says that usually by this time of year he would have been a fortnight (at least) into harvesting his broad beans but they’re not ready yet this year.

Also, keep checking out the Jeremy Vine home page because Terry is now posting little videos of gardening tips. This one is about Terry’s famously evil concoction of fermented rhubarb leaves, which he swears keeps the cabbage white butterflies and their larvae away.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

BBC Radio 2 has sent cameramen down to Terry’s allotment and he’s now filming short video vignettes for The Jeremy Vine Show’s home page. I encourage you to check them out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

Terry just released a new podcast episode today. “Richard and Terry head down to the allotment for another episode, with tips for your tomatoes and secrets about sprouts. Even the tadpoles get a look in.”

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edit: I just discovered they added a little video tour of Terry’s allotment on the Jeremy Vine Show home page. Check it out! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

On Terry’s May 9, 2008 appearance on The Jeremy Vine Show, Terry mentioned that that the ‘Sugar Pie’ pumpkin seeds had germinated and were doing well in his greenhouse.

On Terry’s May 9, 2008 appearance on The Jeremy Vine Show, he mentioned that the broad beans are growing so well and fast that you feel as if you can see the progress every day.

On Terry’s May 9, 2008 appearance on The Jeremy Vine Show, he mentioned that the broad beans are growing so well and fast that you feel as if you can see the progress every day.

Terry refers to his sweet peas and other flowers as his way of apologizing to his wife for spending so much time at his allotment. He’s potting up his sweet peas now. He is also potting up his tomatoes in his greenhouse. He supports them with 8 foot canes that he puts up at a 30 degree angle so the ripe tomatoes will hang down like bunches of grapes. He pounds a large staple into the roof of his greenhouse to hold the top of the cane.

He was asked by Valentine Lowe what sorts of new vegetables he tries. He replied that last year he tried kohlrabi, the year before he grew salsify and this year he’s trying Italian seeds of rucola/arugula that he was given. He tried pak choi once but it all bolted nearly immediately in the Rhondda weather.