Barry Cuff takes a look back through his notes on what happened on his Sturminster Newton plot last year
A wet, mild start to December kept us off the soil to avoid causing damage to its structure. Most of the mulching was done from paths and planks laid across the plots. It also meant that annual weeds – especially groundsel, chickweed, red deadnettle and Speedwell – continued to grow, but these can also act as a green manure to be dug in at the end of winter.
There were a few main jobs through the month:
- manure or compost
- Removed the old leaves from the brassicas
- Covered the salad leaves with fleece when frost was forecast
- Continued harvesting winter crops as required
- Weeded the strawberry bed and the currant and gooseberry plot
Our 2025 in review
The long summer drought affected some vegetables more than others, despite being watered daily. We were lucky the alotment has a deep well and good storage containers on site – and even more so that it did not run dry!
BEETROOT – Successional sowings from March to August ensured a constant supply for salads and pickling.
BROAD BEANS – Started in the greenhouse and planted out in February. Two varieties of different maturing times. Average yields, but finished producing earlier than usual due to the drought.
BRUSSELS SPROUT – 2024-sown plants finished cropping in March. Started harvesting 2025-sown plants in mid-December – they were smaller buttons than usual, but tastier.
BROCCOLI (PURPLE SPROUTING) – 2024-sown finished producing spears in March, and we have just started picking the 2025 crop.
CABBAGE – We only grow Red Drumhead for coleslaw and stir frys, and they have done exceptionally well.
CARROT – Successional sowings of Early Nantes from April to September ensures we always have fresh roots. Many will stay in the ground until early spring.
CAULIFLOWER – Three varieties to harvest between October and March this year, with smaller heads of those harvested so far. We cut our first Cendis at the beginning of December, and will have Aureo to cut from March 2026
CALABRESE – It was a good year, with many side shoots after the central head was harvested.
CELERIAC – Poor seedling establishment (possibly diseased) so we had to buy some plants. They have done very well, producing some good roots. Six plants left in ground to lift this year (now protected with straw in case of hard frosts).
CELERY – As with the celeriac we had poor seedling establishment and decided for the first time in many years to give it a miss.
CHICORY (FORCING) – Roots lifted in November. Cut first chicons on 20th December, and will continue cropping until February
COURGETTE – A good year despite the drought.
CUCUMBER – A good year: we grew an outdoor variety (Gergana) seed which we got from from Lidl!
FRENCH BEANS – We did have below normal yields due to the drought
GARLIC – The 2025-planted bulbs were harvested in August, and we had a good yield. This year’s crop was planted in early November, and is looking well.
LEEK – Finished harvesting 2024-sown plants in March. The new crop is looking well, although generally smaller than most years. Will continue cropping until February/March.
LETTUCE – Monthly sowings of Little Gem ensured fresh lettuce to cut from April to October (November in the greenhouse!)
MANGETOUT – Below normal yields, and also finished cropping early due to the drought
ONION – We had a good yield of Bonus, grown from seed. It’s a variety that stores well over Winter. We had fewer lost to white rot.
PARSNIP – Finished lifting 2024-sown crop in March. 2025 crop established well from sowing in April, and will continue to crop for the next few months.
PEA – Average yields, and finished early due to the summer drought
POTATO – Not a bad year, despite drought. All the earlies, second earlies and early maincrop varieties did well: the main crop less so.
RUNNER BEANS – A fair crop, but another that finished earlier than usual.
SALAD LEAVES and ROOTS (ORIENTAL) – Established well from seed, and we’ve had good pickings.
SQUASH – Both Crown Prince and Butterfly butternut gave a good number of fruits.
SWEETCORN – Slightly less cobs per plant than usual.
GREENHOUSE CROPS – Both tomatoes and peppers did exceptionally well in the summer heat
FRUIT – We had excellent yields of strawberry, currants and gooseberries, though the raspberries were poorer than usual.
