I've been away at a lovely wedding this weekend so have not had chance to attend to the plot. Fingers crossed that there will be lots more to harvest next time I go. I did do some allotment-related things today though. I cooked and ate my first 3 globe artichokes. They were small but very nice. I boiled them in lemony water for 20 mins and then put them in the oven with some olive oil, lemon juice and seasoning to finish cooking alongside some lamb spare ribs. The prep is a bit of a faff I suppose but I'd say that it is worth it. I'll see how I feel later in the season though when I will hopefully have prepared quite a few.
At home, I potted up some purple sprouting seedlings and sowed some cauliflowers. I resowed some Florence Fennel as the previous lot had got a tad leggy. I sowed some dill, borage and catnip in a wine box on the patio and some lettuce in one of the troughs.
Just now, I harvested 5 or so strawberries and raspberries and a couple of handfuls of redcurrants. I am just storing currants in the freezer until there is a decent quantity. I'm thinking either sorbet or a currant-flavoured liquer. Any suggestions welcome...
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Long time no blog
Things have really hotted up on Plot 35. I was on holiday for a week leaving a fellow allotmenteer to water it (I will return the favour when he is away later in the Summer). I did expect to be able to harvest some spuds on my return but it turned out that there was much more on offer when I visited last Sunday.
The cauliflower that was the size of a cricket ball the day before the holiday, was full-sized a week afterwards.
There were 3 globe artichokes of a reasonable size to cut. The outer petals seemed to be starting to open so I thought it would be a good time to harvest them.
Some broad bean pods looked large enough to pick.
Though they won't be ready for 6 months, the Jerusalem artichokes are making their presence known.
In the end, I harvested the following little pile of lovely grub.
In celebration of Midsummers Day here and Midwinters Day in Antartica (see Andy's blog), I invited a couple of nice friends round for a roast chicken dinner served with the spuds, broad beans and cauliflower cheese. The beetroot and artichokes will be enjoyed another day.
The cauliflower that was the size of a cricket ball the day before the holiday, was full-sized a week afterwards.
There were 3 globe artichokes of a reasonable size to cut. The outer petals seemed to be starting to open so I thought it would be a good time to harvest them.
Some broad bean pods looked large enough to pick.
Though they won't be ready for 6 months, the Jerusalem artichokes are making their presence known.
In the end, I harvested the following little pile of lovely grub.
In celebration of Midsummers Day here and Midwinters Day in Antartica (see Andy's blog), I invited a couple of nice friends round for a roast chicken dinner served with the spuds, broad beans and cauliflower cheese. The beetroot and artichokes will be enjoyed another day.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I had a few hours to garden today after a lovely friend's hen do. It had rained quite a lot in the last few days so the ground was a bit sticky but there wasn't too much stuck to my shoes.
On the plot, I planted out some Brussel sprouts, calabrese, cabbage and Swiss chard in Bed 7. Before placing each plant in its new home, I sprinkled in some lime and dried blood and bone meal (yuk). Hopefully this will get them off to a good start. Some slug pellets to protect them before covering them with cloches. Fingers crossed that the rabbits don't get a look in.
In Bed 2, I sowed some kohl rabi (Blusta), swede (Invitation) and beetroot (Boltardy). After that, I did a spot of weeding which was easy-peasy with damp soil. A bit of space in Bed 6 was cleared, near the path, for the two cucumber plants.
I replaced the fleece around the climbing beans in Bed 3 with that bright orange stuff to give them a bit more light. One of the bean plants is in flower (gorgeous bright red) though it is not very tall yet. Next door, the broad bean plants are starting to produce beans.
Back home, I had just enough compost to sow the following seeds:
- parsnips (Tender and True)
- broccoli (F1 Claret)
- Florence Fennel (Sirio)
- lettuce (All The Year Round)
- Winter savoury
I resowed some rocket seed in one of the troughs on the patio.
On the plot, I planted out some Brussel sprouts, calabrese, cabbage and Swiss chard in Bed 7. Before placing each plant in its new home, I sprinkled in some lime and dried blood and bone meal (yuk). Hopefully this will get them off to a good start. Some slug pellets to protect them before covering them with cloches. Fingers crossed that the rabbits don't get a look in.
In Bed 2, I sowed some kohl rabi (Blusta), swede (Invitation) and beetroot (Boltardy). After that, I did a spot of weeding which was easy-peasy with damp soil. A bit of space in Bed 6 was cleared, near the path, for the two cucumber plants.
I replaced the fleece around the climbing beans in Bed 3 with that bright orange stuff to give them a bit more light. One of the bean plants is in flower (gorgeous bright red) though it is not very tall yet. Next door, the broad bean plants are starting to produce beans.
Back home, I had just enough compost to sow the following seeds:
- parsnips (Tender and True)
- broccoli (F1 Claret)
- Florence Fennel (Sirio)
- lettuce (All The Year Round)
- Winter savoury
I resowed some rocket seed in one of the troughs on the patio.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Evicted with force
It has been dry and sunny over the last few days so I thought that my plot might need a watering so I nipped over quickly after work. Things seem to be going ok though the tomatoes could do with a feed. The peas plants are looking good. I think I spotted a couple of small broad bean pods starting to grow. The only thing that was amiss was the 3 globe artichokes engulfed by black fly. This is where the hose came into its own as the little bugs were washed off. So there.
After a couple of days away, I came back yesterday to find that 6 tomato plants I put in the mini-greenhouse had been fried by the heat. Dammit! That'll learn me.
After a couple of days away, I came back yesterday to find that 6 tomato plants I put in the mini-greenhouse had been fried by the heat. Dammit! That'll learn me.
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