Green Tomato Curry and shared Veg

Last month we featured part one of the Marconi Belles journey. We left the story tantalisingly poised over winter, after a few unexpected hurdles had been overcome in relation to the extent of bind weed which stymied initial progress. We pick up the tale early in the new year (2019)......All words and pictures courtesy of Foggy Hau and the Marconi Belles


February 2019 and our thoughts turned to the Summer … we needed a polytunnel. We managed to get a secondhand large domestic polytunnel with the help of a grant from our WI.

On a sunny March day we had the wonderful help from the Chelmsford Probation Service with the construction of our lovely green polytunnel. The frame was up in a few hours, frame taped and cover on … it was all done by 2pm! We had great advice from everyone on the Allotment site about the details of polytunnel construction and siting. Thank you everyone who gave us the advice … it really made a difference to our success over the Summer.

We had nothing to lose in 2019 … our first Summer and we tried to grow everything. In both, the polytunnel and the raised beds, we grew tomatoes and cucumbers to see if the results would be different. We found the polytunnel gave us a longer harvesting whilst those outside had a sturdier growth however they still gave us a good harvest and enough to share around. Chillies and aubergines grew well inside the polytunnel even though we were late with planting them.



In the raised beds we had flowers for cutting, leaf beet, lettuce, spring onions, beetroot, carrots, peas, mange tout, herbs, raspberries, radishes, a bumper crop of climbing french beans (in one week we picked a total of 25kgs!) however the runner beans were not great. In the spare space within the membraned areas (at ground level) we opened up two patches and grew tomatillos, pumpkins and courgettes. We knew they would grow BIG from the results in 2018 so we made sure had plenty of space to wander around this time. We were watering anywhere between 2 to 4 times a week during the summer as the vegetables were growing away like crazy. Each time we would take home a bag or a sack of harvested fresh goodies. Let’s say we got creative with the gluts! As WI members we try to avoid food waste so our freezers, preserving pans and recipe files got busy … green tomato curry anyone?

We had finally settled into our little allotment by the Autumn and seen a whole season of growing. On reflection we felt it was a successful season … grew some veg; a bit of soft fruit; cut some flowers for the home; swapped fruit and veg with out fellow plot holders; and made time for a cuppa and shared our experiences together.


image courtesy of www.raylawphoto.co.uk

In October, at the allotment association AGM, we were awarded second prize for the best newcomer plot on site. We had set out to grow some bits and pieces for the year and steadily improve our plot over the years whilst supporting each other. To be honoured at this stage after 20 months was a pleasant surprise but not our goal.



In 2020, we have plans to improve our plot and expand our team … so watch this space!

Marconi Belles WI have a Facebook page and website. If any ladies would like to join a local WI (come along to a monthly meeting as a visitor) please contact via the Essex WI website www.essexwi.org.uk … we’re over 9000 members and 214 WI’s in just this County.