Veg Progress - or Not

Pretty flowers but no aubergines

Encouraged by  last year's success with aubergines (four big fag ones on one plant), I tried them again this summer and they have been a complete failure. We've had lots of rain, cloudy skies and less sun - it just hasn't been hot enough or light enough for them. Not to mention, of course, the dreaded slugs which had a very good meal on the only aubergine that did appear. 

Slug's dinner on a plate

                                        

For some reason - greyness, dampness? - the slugs multiplied like mad and ate through an astonishing amount of vegetables and newly planted flowers. Even collecting them nightly by torchlight didn't solve the problem. Three plants of giant parsley disappeared within a fortnight in spite of wool pellets and midnight visits. 

Some things did well, the garlic, planted last autumn, throve and 18 bulbs are now drying in the kitchen. The striped Tigerella tomatoes, two types of prickly cucumbers, like small hedgehogs, and a green pepper have done well. But seriously trying to grow vegetables in a small London garden is, let's face it, a waste of time and energy. I am going to hold back on most of them in future  and concentrate on those I can rely on. 

       

                                                              Two prickly cucumbers

And a green pepper

                                                   

So,  no more prima donna veg - more herbs and  more of the perennials. My perennial cabbage is growing huge with enormous leaves to match. Even though eaten by caterpillars and slugs it just weathers the annoyance and keeps growing new leaves; sorrel and rocket are perennial too and nothing seems to keep them down.  

Dauntless perennial cabbage

                                       

I've been picking my African blue basil all summer -  it's very handsome and still leafing and flowering; the perennial Babbington's leeks are beginning to seed themselves so in future I should find them  scattered about in the garden, ready for soup.  

I have a happy tomato story: last Christmas my grandson bought me a packet of seeds from a company called Real Seeds, whose purpose in life is to encourage people to collect and sow their own seeds. The tomatoes are called 'House Dwarf Cherry Tomato' and are described on the packet as  'A unique heirloom variety originally from Russia, then brought to Canada in the 1890s. This dwarf tomato plant has been bred for growing in pots on a windowsill.. It makes a short and sturdy bush about 1ft tall that is heavily laden with round red cherry tomatoes'. I sowed them in May and they are now exactly as described,  though outside,  not on a windowsill. They are very healthy and bursting with tiny tomatoes. I shall certainly collect the seeds and try them again next year. 

Sturdy dwarf cherry tomato 'House'