Not an Inch to Spare
(Continued)

To grow leeks big enough for showing, Jeff sows them on about January 18 in the greenhouse, which is not heated 'except when it is very cold and then I use a gas cvlinder to stop things freezing'. To get the leeks well blanched, he plants them into 10in (25cm) deep holes made with an old broom handle.

The greenhouse is used to grow aubergines, sweet peppers and chillies - 'We like them hot as Marion was born in India!' - tomatoes and cucumbers. Aubergines are grown in large pots and, with regular watering and feeding, generally provide four to five fruits per pot.

Above: A path separates Jeff's veg plot, with the greenhouse and fruit cage on one side and a large bed for everything from onions to peas and beans growing on the opposite side.

Jeff likes to grow his cucumbers two to a growing-bag to control their watering. 'I make sure the size of the holes is just right to allow me to water and feed them.'

Favourite show tomatoes are 'Piranto' followed by 'Big Boy' and he often wins prizes with both of them. He also grows 'Gardener's Delight'

'I feed with Tomorite when I remember and at least once a week'. The tomatoes are grown in the border soil.

Below: 'Mammoth' onion, a variety which he grows specifically for local shows.

One of the heavyweights of Jeff's garden is cabbage 'Marvelon', which can tip the scales at up to 6lb (2.7kg). He also likes to grow, smaller cabbages like 'Verona' and often tucks them in between two rows of early potatoes to save space.

'I also grow 'Quickstep' but that goes to feed the tortoise up the road as there are only the two of us and we can't eat it all,' says Jeff with a grin.

Shallots are grown to be evenly sized and a good colour. Jeff likes 'Hative de Niort', 'Golden Gourmet' and 'Showmaster'. He grows them in the same bed as his 'Mammoth' onions from Robinsons.

Jeff also manages to find space for fruit, which he grows in a netted cage to stop the birds spoiling any he has 'his eye on' for the show bench.

Marion's tomato 'methi'
    This is a good way of dealing with a glut of tomatoes, especially any which have split. Jeff and Marion like to eat it as a relish on top of cheese on toast.

                900g (2lb) ripe tomatoes
                1 tspn cumin seed
                1 tspn fenugreek seed
                Salt
                Drop of vinegar
                Oil for frying
                2 tbsp sugar

    Skin the tomatoes by putting them in a bowl and pouring boiling water over them. Put them in a pan and reduce them by half by simmering them. Mash them and set aside.
    Grind the cumin and coriander seeds with the salt and a drop of vinegar in a pestle and mortar. Fry these spices in a little oil, then add the reduced tomatoes and enough sugar to taste. You should end up with a fairly sloppy consistency which will keep in the fridge for a few days. Sometimes Marion adds a few chillies to the tomatoes for a hotter finish.

'I like 'Whinham's Industry' gooseberry but I find it never wins - judges always seem to be looking for the green ones,' he says. He also grows a thornless loganberry, blackcurrants, redcurrants and raspberries including 'Autumn Bliss'.

'The fruits were quite good this year as they've had plenty of rain but they are not so sweet as there's been much less sun, so I leave them on the plants longer than normal for them to develop a bit more flavour.'

Now Jeff has retired he finds he is busier than ever and devoting more time to his other hobbies.

'I like to spend an hour and a half in the garden before playing a round of golf then I get back for another hour in the afternoon before going off to play bowls some days,' he says. And that is as well as finding time to help look after his granddaughter Louise three days a week.

'She comes and helps in the garden and loves to pick the fruit and you can always tell where she's stood on a row - it's where the gaps are!'

With all this going on, Jeff admits that he never has time to sit down and enjoy the show garden he has created. 'The enjoyment comes from the doing and from getting a few first prizes.'

Above left: Making use of every inch - shallots share a narrow asparagus bed.
Below: Jeff has a large bed for his dahlias and sweet peas, which are also grown for the show bench.