...with her prediction that the weather would not be suitable for gardening this weekend. It is still windy and wet here. I was hoping to get over to the plot this afternoon just to drop some peelings off but the rain has started again. I'll keep a look out but in the meantime I'll stick with GQT on Radio 4.
I did go through all my seeds yesterday so work out what I might need to buy for next year and to separate out some seeds to give away to colleagues. In particular, I am going to give away most of my packets of tomato seed because of the blight problem on our site. Nearly all of these tomato seeds came free with magazines - I don't have a particular tomato seed-buying habit (honestly). I have bought Ferline and Legend to try out next year. I have loads of seed in terms of types of veg rather than quantity but many of them could really do with using up next year. I am also going to give away any duplicates (again due to freebies - gratefully received) and some others that I don't fancy growing again (e.g. the Lady Godiva squash). It turns out that the only seeds I really need to buy are celery, celeriac, potato and pumpkin/squash. And I found a £5 garden centre voucher left over from my birthday some months ago so that was nice.
I think I will dig up the paths on Plot 35 over the remainder of Autumn and the start of Winter so if I can't get out this afternoon, I'll focus on drawing up a new planting plan. If I do manage to get over to the plot, I'll pick up some Jerusalam artichokes and a cabbage to go with a patridge I bought from the Farmers Market earlier.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Plum gin gets the thumbs up
It was very windy and quite wet yesterday so not a good day for gardening. So, I spent the day doing stuff around the house including making mincemeat for the festive season and bottling up my plum gin which had been in the making for the required 3 months. My word, the plum gin is good! Nipped round to my neighbour's to try it with her. It was a hit. It tastes deceptively non-alcoholic which can only mean trouble.
It was drier and less windy today so I nipped over to the plot for an hour in the afternoon. I had lots of kitchen scraps and lawn mowings to take over. While there, I quickly dug over Bed 5 where the green manure was growing. The soil felt easy-going and I was impressed by the lack of weeds there. The green manure is a hit too then.
Fingers crossed for a clear weather window for next weekend...
It was drier and less windy today so I nipped over to the plot for an hour in the afternoon. I had lots of kitchen scraps and lawn mowings to take over. While there, I quickly dug over Bed 5 where the green manure was growing. The soil felt easy-going and I was impressed by the lack of weeds there. The green manure is a hit too then.
Fingers crossed for a clear weather window for next weekend...
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Tubers revealed
I hadn't been over to the plot for a couple of weeks as I was laid up with a nasty cold. It was lovely to get some fresh air at the 'lotment today though. The ground was wet this morning with some drizzle but it cleared up a bit in the afternoon.
I was planning on cutting down the Jerusalem artichoke stems and was considering harvesting a few tubers. As it was, when I arrived, one of the bigger stems had been blown over revealing some its tubers. Bingo! I cut down the stems and lay them over the ground to keep off hard frost.
I checked Bed 7 to see how the sprouts were doing. I picked a handful (literally) as some were already looking blown. I also pulled up a cabbage and cut off a few small florets from the remaining calabrese plant going to seed. After washing the artichokes and a spot of raking over what was Bed 1, I left with my harvest.
The artichokes are now in a large batch of Jerusalem artichoke and carrot soup (some for me and some for my lovely neighbour who brought me soup when I needed it last week) and the calabrese florets are in my tummy.
I was planning on cutting down the Jerusalem artichoke stems and was considering harvesting a few tubers. As it was, when I arrived, one of the bigger stems had been blown over revealing some its tubers. Bingo! I cut down the stems and lay them over the ground to keep off hard frost.
I checked Bed 7 to see how the sprouts were doing. I picked a handful (literally) as some were already looking blown. I also pulled up a cabbage and cut off a few small florets from the remaining calabrese plant going to seed. After washing the artichokes and a spot of raking over what was Bed 1, I left with my harvest.
The artichokes are now in a large batch of Jerusalem artichoke and carrot soup (some for me and some for my lovely neighbour who brought me soup when I needed it last week) and the calabrese florets are in my tummy.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
What I did with that extra hour
It was quite sunny this morning but as I was going to leave for the plotment it starting to shower. It soon cleared and I headed over with the intention only to add some veg peelings to the compost heap (a bit too wet for digging). I stayed for a little while longer though to do a spot of handweeding round the leeks. I harvested the remaining beetroot, some of which I'll give to some friends. I also spotted a couple of parsley seedings nearby that were starting to put on some growth - remnants of one of the 2 parsley plants I transplanted earlier in the year. I dug them up to plant in the border at home. Hopefully, they'll continue to put on growth and it'll be possible to harvest some over Christmas.
There are a few sprouts appearing on the Brussels in Bed 7 which is very exciting. Only on a couple of plants but that's ok. Some look to have blown a bit but I might start harvesting a few next weekend to freeze if they are good enough. The aim is have enough for Christmas dinner. Fingers crossed.
There are a few sprouts appearing on the Brussels in Bed 7 which is very exciting. Only on a couple of plants but that's ok. Some look to have blown a bit but I might start harvesting a few next weekend to freeze if they are good enough. The aim is have enough for Christmas dinner. Fingers crossed.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Surprise in the garden
I didn't make it to the plot last weekend so there is lots of catching up to do. Last Saturday, I focused on the garden and tidied up one of the borders - planted out some herbs from pots and moving some perennials around. I also took some cuttings of said perennials as insurance.
Before leaving for the plot yesterday, I popped outside to water some pots. I went over to look at the leaves on the two vines that I planted out a few months ago. On Gardeners World on Friday night, there was a tip on there about removing leaves from a vine to allow more light to get to any grapes and encourage ripening. One of the vines has yet to fruit but previously I had spotted a couple of bunches of small green fruit. I was expecting to see them there but was pleasantly surprised to find they have turned a gorgeous shade of purple. I suppose I should try a couple before the birds do.
I finally headed over to the plot at lunchtime and there wasn't another soul to be seen. It was a lot warmer than I was expecting - a perfect day for gardening. So much to do - where to start? I decided to tidy up the raspberry canes at the entrance to the plot. They were a right mess and I'd been meaning to sort them out for months. I dug most of them up and lined them up along the path at the top.
After a bit more digging I called it a day. I returned today mainly to collect some chard for a curry this evening. It was slightly cooler today and a bit wetter. Rain stayed off for most of the day but the grass around the plot was sopping wet. As well as the chard, I also took a Greyhound cabbage and some beetroot. There were loads of slugs in one of the cabbages. I evicted them and throw them into Bed 9. The buckwheat has flowered and is provided food and entertainment for lots of little flying critters. I'll give it another week before digging it in.
The crops that are there are generally flourishing. The leeks look like they are growing at least. The Jerusalem artichokes are reaching for the moon by the looks of things. I think they are taller than they were last year.
Things do look messy but I can sort that out over the next couple of months. I am seriously considering digging up all the paths between the beds because it is so difficult to get them tidy. I think that might allow me to make the plot look a lot tidier next year.
As well as the short spells of gardening, I have also ordered some garlic and blight-resistant tomato seeds. I look forward to getting the garlic in this month or next. I'll strive to get a more impressive harvest of the garlic next year and will try out some hardneck types with their edible scapes.
Before leaving for the plot yesterday, I popped outside to water some pots. I went over to look at the leaves on the two vines that I planted out a few months ago. On Gardeners World on Friday night, there was a tip on there about removing leaves from a vine to allow more light to get to any grapes and encourage ripening. One of the vines has yet to fruit but previously I had spotted a couple of bunches of small green fruit. I was expecting to see them there but was pleasantly surprised to find they have turned a gorgeous shade of purple. I suppose I should try a couple before the birds do.
I finally headed over to the plot at lunchtime and there wasn't another soul to be seen. It was a lot warmer than I was expecting - a perfect day for gardening. So much to do - where to start? I decided to tidy up the raspberry canes at the entrance to the plot. They were a right mess and I'd been meaning to sort them out for months. I dug most of them up and lined them up along the path at the top.
After a bit more digging I called it a day. I returned today mainly to collect some chard for a curry this evening. It was slightly cooler today and a bit wetter. Rain stayed off for most of the day but the grass around the plot was sopping wet. As well as the chard, I also took a Greyhound cabbage and some beetroot. There were loads of slugs in one of the cabbages. I evicted them and throw them into Bed 9. The buckwheat has flowered and is provided food and entertainment for lots of little flying critters. I'll give it another week before digging it in.
The crops that are there are generally flourishing. The leeks look like they are growing at least. The Jerusalem artichokes are reaching for the moon by the looks of things. I think they are taller than they were last year.
Things do look messy but I can sort that out over the next couple of months. I am seriously considering digging up all the paths between the beds because it is so difficult to get them tidy. I think that might allow me to make the plot look a lot tidier next year.
As well as the short spells of gardening, I have also ordered some garlic and blight-resistant tomato seeds. I look forward to getting the garlic in this month or next. I'll strive to get a more impressive harvest of the garlic next year and will try out some hardneck types with their edible scapes.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Autumn is definitely here
I don't think I'd been to the plot for 2 weeks until today. I was away last weekend. It hasn't rained for a while so everything looked bone dry.
I didn't know what to expect as things can change quite a lot in 2 weeks. Things looked ok. The cabbages are nearly ready to harvest so I'll probably take one next weekend. The green manure has grown to about 8 inches high already. The Jerusalem artichokes have grown to almost twice my height (I am about 5 foot 8 btw). Many of the leeks look like they are finally taking off. The squash has started to develop an interesting orange/green stripey look. The forecast suggests that there might be a frost later in the week so I wanted to harvest the squash if possible.
The first job was to plant a redcurrant bush into Bed 3. I dug it out of the garden yesterday as part of a tidy up and I figure that the soil in Bed 3 is too rough right now for veg. Might as well have something more solid occupying it.
Then I picked some blackberries and veg and added the courgette plants to the compost heap. I gave everything a good watering before coming home.
I am very pleased with my Autumn bounty.
I didn't know what to expect as things can change quite a lot in 2 weeks. Things looked ok. The cabbages are nearly ready to harvest so I'll probably take one next weekend. The green manure has grown to about 8 inches high already. The Jerusalem artichokes have grown to almost twice my height (I am about 5 foot 8 btw). Many of the leeks look like they are finally taking off. The squash has started to develop an interesting orange/green stripey look. The forecast suggests that there might be a frost later in the week so I wanted to harvest the squash if possible.
The first job was to plant a redcurrant bush into Bed 3. I dug it out of the garden yesterday as part of a tidy up and I figure that the soil in Bed 3 is too rough right now for veg. Might as well have something more solid occupying it.
Then I picked some blackberries and veg and added the courgette plants to the compost heap. I gave everything a good watering before coming home.
I am very pleased with my Autumn bounty.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Bean a while
A bit of a gap between blog posts here.
Last weekend, I dug over most of Bed 3 and added some grass clippings in a token effort to improve that bit of soil. It is very hard and dry so needs lots of TLC. Though clearly it is fertile because I am still picking lots of runner beans. Sssshhhh, don't tell anyone but I am quite glad that I was given some runner bean plants. Maybe I am converted and will grow them next year. I picked a couple of small yellow courgettes and the last of the peas before ripping out the pea plants. In their place, I planted out cauliflowers and purple sprouting. Before coming home, I did a spot more bramble and nettle chopping. At home, in an effort to use up some more plums, I made some plum sauce which I shared with some friends.
During the week, I harvested some cherry tomatoes from the pot on the patio. Not bad. I am very pleased to have some tomatoes this year. I ate them raw as I figured that cooking them would be a shame.
Just popped over for an hour today as I was away for the weekend. I harvested some chard, more runner beans, a couple of cobs of sweetcorn and a marrow. I also did a brief bit of weeding. I am currently cooking up some duck to have with the plum sauce made last weekend. To be served with some sweetcorn, peas and chard.
The buckwheat sown in Bed 5 is up which is great because last time I sowed green manure, it either didn't appear or it got munched by something.
And a few of the globe artichoke plants have been very busy producing suckers which can be removed to make new plants.
One of my more trusted books states that suckers should be removed in early Spring so I am a bit puzzled about what to do. Perhaps I'll take the suckers of one of the plants next week and see how they work out.
I need to spend some decent amounts of time over at the plot in the next few months to clear the bottom of the plot to make room for fruit bushes and strawberry plants that are taking up too much room at home.
Last weekend, I dug over most of Bed 3 and added some grass clippings in a token effort to improve that bit of soil. It is very hard and dry so needs lots of TLC. Though clearly it is fertile because I am still picking lots of runner beans. Sssshhhh, don't tell anyone but I am quite glad that I was given some runner bean plants. Maybe I am converted and will grow them next year. I picked a couple of small yellow courgettes and the last of the peas before ripping out the pea plants. In their place, I planted out cauliflowers and purple sprouting. Before coming home, I did a spot more bramble and nettle chopping. At home, in an effort to use up some more plums, I made some plum sauce which I shared with some friends.
During the week, I harvested some cherry tomatoes from the pot on the patio. Not bad. I am very pleased to have some tomatoes this year. I ate them raw as I figured that cooking them would be a shame.
Just popped over for an hour today as I was away for the weekend. I harvested some chard, more runner beans, a couple of cobs of sweetcorn and a marrow. I also did a brief bit of weeding. I am currently cooking up some duck to have with the plum sauce made last weekend. To be served with some sweetcorn, peas and chard.
The buckwheat sown in Bed 5 is up which is great because last time I sowed green manure, it either didn't appear or it got munched by something.
And a few of the globe artichoke plants have been very busy producing suckers which can be removed to make new plants.
One of my more trusted books states that suckers should be removed in early Spring so I am a bit puzzled about what to do. Perhaps I'll take the suckers of one of the plants next week and see how they work out.
I need to spend some decent amounts of time over at the plot in the next few months to clear the bottom of the plot to make room for fruit bushes and strawberry plants that are taking up too much room at home.
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