I went over to the plot yesterday after a 2 week break from it. It was lovely and sunny after mid-morning once the fogginess had gone. There were only three of us over there on the lower end of the site. I was surprised.
I was greeted by some more courgettes so I picked them. I removed some big weeds from the two sisters patch while I was there. There are a few cobs of sweetcorn growing but I will wait for a bit longer before harvesting them because they are a bit small.
There is some salad almost ready for picking in one of the raised beds. The Little Gem lettuces need to be thinned next week though. I think that the weather is due to get a little colder in the next few weeks so I should cover the beds with glass asap.
I look forward to more time over there next weekend. I plan to dig up the strawberry plants and bring them home to a couple of large pots. That should keep them safe from the thieves next year...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Robin' the worms
I did focus on the garden yesterday so didn't go to the plot. There was lots of tidying up to do including the tomatoes which are getting very bushy but not very ripe. I have removed a couple of the most mature vines to ripen in the kitchen. A couple of the plants which were obviously planted out too late for fruiting (I was pushing it after all) were removed to make some space for the others giving it a go.
While the tidying and hoeing was going on, the cat slept. She often 'helps' but was clearly not in the mood. However, I did have another little helper (see piccie below).
Before packing the tools away, I did sow some seeds in recently vacated pots on the patio. I sowed onions (Hi Keeper F1 Hybrid), Mispoona (the last lot have been munched I think), Herby Salad Leaf Mixed and Spicy Mixed Salad Leaves. There were only about 10 onion seeds but I have plenty of others to sow in January.
While the tidying and hoeing was going on, the cat slept. She often 'helps' but was clearly not in the mood. However, I did have another little helper (see piccie below).
Before packing the tools away, I did sow some seeds in recently vacated pots on the patio. I sowed onions (Hi Keeper F1 Hybrid), Mispoona (the last lot have been munched I think), Herby Salad Leaf Mixed and Spicy Mixed Salad Leaves. There were only about 10 onion seeds but I have plenty of others to sow in January.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
What's that in my vegetable patch? Is it a monster...?
No. It's a marrow.
I popped over for a couple of hours this afternoon after a spot of shopping. The sun came out and it got quite warm. Warmer than it has been for a week or two. I picked a few courgettes and apples and a small sweetcorn cob. I did a bit of weeding and cut some comfrey and put it into the two compost bins. I should empty the compost bin at the bottom of the plot soon.
Tomorrow, the focus will be on the garden - it needs tidying up. The fennel herb is going mad and is threatening to join the achocha in suffocating the olive plant.
I popped over for a couple of hours this afternoon after a spot of shopping. The sun came out and it got quite warm. Warmer than it has been for a week or two. I picked a few courgettes and apples and a small sweetcorn cob. I did a bit of weeding and cut some comfrey and put it into the two compost bins. I should empty the compost bin at the bottom of the plot soon.
Tomorrow, the focus will be on the garden - it needs tidying up. The fennel herb is going mad and is threatening to join the achocha in suffocating the olive plant.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
A bit close for comfort
Went over to the plot for a potter around. There is flooding and it has reached my compost bins at the bottom. It has not quite reached the raised beds thankfully (see piccie below).
It should be ok - the water shouldn't reach the raised beds. There is a little ledge between the water and the beds and it hasn't rained today (certainly not since 1100). Fingers crossed (there is a lot of finger crossing in this business).
In Bed 1, I planted out some perpetual spinach (about 12 plants), 4 leftover cauliflowers and 1 kale (at least I think it was a kale). I also dug up some of the main crops in Bed 9. The crop was disappointing - each plant only provided about 6 small tubers. I think this is down to the fact that they weren't planted deep enough. Noted.
As well as the spuds, I took home some courgettes, the first cob of sweetcorn and a cabbage. The sweetcorn was delicious (2 hrs from plant to plate).
It should be ok - the water shouldn't reach the raised beds. There is a little ledge between the water and the beds and it hasn't rained today (certainly not since 1100). Fingers crossed (there is a lot of finger crossing in this business).
In Bed 1, I planted out some perpetual spinach (about 12 plants), 4 leftover cauliflowers and 1 kale (at least I think it was a kale). I also dug up some of the main crops in Bed 9. The crop was disappointing - each plant only provided about 6 small tubers. I think this is down to the fact that they weren't planted deep enough. Noted.
As well as the spuds, I took home some courgettes, the first cob of sweetcorn and a cabbage. The sweetcorn was delicious (2 hrs from plant to plate).
Fat baby
Strange title, eh?
Back today after going to the Bristol Organic Food Festival (bought some seeds from Jekka's Herb Farm stall - more about those another time). It has been raining lots this week. It isn't raining just now so I'll nip over to the plot in a mo. I'm a bit worried about flooding though as the river has burst its banks up by the motorway. I have some perpetual spinach to plant out.
When I got back, I was greated by a surprise on the patio. My Achocha ("Fat Baby") has made some cool, spiky fruits. The first piccie below shows how the achocha plants (planted in a circle around a terracotta pot) have enveloped the olive plant. Poor olive plant. The second shows a couple of the fruit. I think the one in the centre is ready to harvest and fry up. It supposedly tastes like green pepper when fried. When small, it can be used raw like cucumber.
The plants have been looking quite poorly and yellow for a few weeks so I wasn't expecting any form of harvest. I gave them a feed about 4 weeks ago but it didn't appear to make any difference. Perhaps that is just the way of the achocha...
Back today after going to the Bristol Organic Food Festival (bought some seeds from Jekka's Herb Farm stall - more about those another time). It has been raining lots this week. It isn't raining just now so I'll nip over to the plot in a mo. I'm a bit worried about flooding though as the river has burst its banks up by the motorway. I have some perpetual spinach to plant out.
When I got back, I was greated by a surprise on the patio. My Achocha ("Fat Baby") has made some cool, spiky fruits. The first piccie below shows how the achocha plants (planted in a circle around a terracotta pot) have enveloped the olive plant. Poor olive plant. The second shows a couple of the fruit. I think the one in the centre is ready to harvest and fry up. It supposedly tastes like green pepper when fried. When small, it can be used raw like cucumber.
The plants have been looking quite poorly and yellow for a few weeks so I wasn't expecting any form of harvest. I gave them a feed about 4 weeks ago but it didn't appear to make any difference. Perhaps that is just the way of the achocha...
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