This has been a funny old year and the weather has been a tad erratic, many of my crops have had a poor harvest but my poor archway has been hit the hardest. Of course I’m comparing this all to last year with the bumper crop of pumpkins and beans that I got from the archway alone. I harvested 34 munchkin pumpkins in 2014 and this year I have a grand total of 4! The borlotto beans have also been a dissapointment, only growing up to 3 feet in height and giving me a handful of pods. Luckily I still have a large jar full of dried borlotto beans left over from last year!
I don’t blame the weather entirely, although I put the young plants in on time and manured the archway earlier in the year with well rotted manure. The problem with the beans is that I wasn’t here to pick them so they quickly went to seed and stopped producing any more fresh pods.
Now last year the archway was completely covered with pumpkin leaves, the actual plants climbed right up to the top of the arch and I struggled walking through because it was so full! I guess every year is different and when it comes down to it it does all depend on the weather, we can try our hardest but if the sun doesn’t shine for long enough then there is nothing we can do.. Hopefully next year will be different and my archway will be brimming with life again!
13 thoughts on “The Poor Old Archway”
As disappointing as it is for you, I am slightly relieved that it’s not just me having this problem. My Munchkins are yieldless at the moment, the weather has been so erratic that I think they’ve just given up. On the upside, I now have my frame ready for next year and will be able to try again then. I’ve been hearing all over that this year has been an odd one for growers, even some of our veteran lottie holders are struggling with low or no yields. I suppose the great thing about allotments and gardening is that there’s always next season. Here’s to a new year, more stable weather and lots of fresh produce!
I know exactly what you mean, at first I thought it was just me but it seems quite a few people are having problems this year. My frame is falling apart so it looks like I’ll have to fix that before next year! But yes, here’s to a better growing year and I hope you get lots of lovely little munchkins next year
Perhaps they sensed that your heart was somewhere else this summer.
This comment made me smile and I guess my heart has been somewhere else this year!
I didn’t have the best luck with my Borlotti’s either. Didn’t even fill half a jar with the beans. It’s so easy to compare year to year and be hard on ourselves. On the upside, my tomatoes and Dahlias did amazing this year!
It’s very easy to compare years and like you said, somethings did better than others and we should be grateful for that
Katie, I tried Munchkins this year after seeing your success; I have exactly the same issue - the plants aren’t quite up to shoulder height and all but one pumpkin are golf ball sized. Better luck next year - I’ll be trying again too.
It’s such a shame isn’t it but here’s to next year!
Maybe disappointing, but not so bad. I like the archway, even when it is bare. I may just be easily amused, but is an attractive touch to the landscape, showing ingenuity and gumption. Both traits of any good gardener.
That’s very true, even though the archway is slowly falling apart. Looks like I’m going to have to use that gardener’s gumption to fix it next year
I Always fail with some crop. This year I was too optimitic/ a damn fool with some of my cabbage and left it without any protection from the cabbage butterfly. The catapillars had a feast and left me with nothing but the stems. Never do that mistake again. The cabbage I did protect is doing fine and it so nice to reap some cavolo nero each time I pay the allotment a visit. By the way my Arrow potatoes were a great success, I can’t fault them in any way and they were really big too.
We live and learn by our mistakes and it seems we are constantly learning which is great! So sorry to hear about your cabbage, those darn caterpillers!
Thank you! And thank you for responding my comments!