Charlie Foulkes, Singer/Songwriter

growing, growing, gone

This is the page where I get to show off the veg I grow. All organic, of course. I do not use pesticides... I want to eat these veg safe in the knowledge that they haven't been sprayed with anything nasty. Infact, I don't use any chemicals in the garden. My opinion is that gardens are meant to be FUN, and no garden is so important that it merits the use of heavy-duty chemicals.


Birdseye chillies (2004). Believe me, these little rippers really go with a bang.	They turn red after a while...	What the plants actually look like.


The largest is possibly a Jalapeno type of chilli, I grew a mixture. Although 20 cm long, it is milder in flavour than the small ones.	Spinach and turnips (under the mesh). April 2005.

Aubergines start out like this, about the size of a gob-stopper.	Before you know it, you've err, got a lovely pair (2004).

Broccoli (started sprouting just after these shots were taken) amidst marigolds (companion planting) and wild poppies in our veg patch. Summer 2004.	The veg patch, first year round - runner beans, sweetcorn etc. enclosed by a young buxus hedge. Spring 2004.

Young French beans, corn, and courgettes, late April 2005. I am hoping we have seen the last of the frosts now in SE London! See below what they looked like later on.	A bit tricky to see through the mesh, but these are the brassicas - sprouts, calabrese and some caulis (not shown). Last year we had caterpillars on the calabrese, so this year I am growing under cover of "wondermesh". I believe this is a good solution for the organic gardener.

The sweetcorn, courgettes from above in June 2005.	A tiny, weeny, baby sweet pepper.

Some very young tomato seedlings growing in the leanto.	What they look like now (late April 2005).
Young fruit on my "Gardener's Delight" tomato plants. Opposite, a large beefsteak tomato, "Brandywine". This year I have also managed to grow "Rosadel" and "Santa" as a point of comparison with the GD. I'll let you know how they taste! June 2005.


One of the raised beds. These are made out of link-a-bord. Yay for link-a-bord! A lightweight solution to one of the problems that tiny female arthritic gardeners face... i.e. trying to nag their boyfriends into building them raised beds!	Something exotic - "Thai" aubergines, not full grown yet. July 2005.
This bed contains carrots, mini-pumpkins and onions (top half), turnips(covered), and spinach and chard (under the trellis). Early days yet (late April 2005) but tis looking good so far. Amazed I have finally got some Spinach to germinate! Sowing List for 2005 Tomatoes - Aubergines - Chillies - Sweet Peppers - Sweetcorn - Lettuce - Spinach - Chard - Turnips - Carrots - Brussels Sprouts - Calabrese - Broccolli - Cauliflower - Leeks - Onions - Spring - nions - Pumpkin - Courgette.... oh, and French Beans.... (Right) What the vegetable patch looks like now, June 2005. The tomatoes are in plastic red and green tubs on the left. Gardening stalwarts will notice that my spinach has bolted, LOL. I give up, I'm sticking to chard from now on. ;-)

A tiny courgette. July 2005.	Baby sweet peppers. July 2005.

Brandywine (beefsteak tomato) - fruitng at last. I had no idea that these have a reputation for being difficult to get to fruit!	Miniature pumpkin "Munchkin", first fruits. They will be rather larger than this, although not full size pumpkins.