In between the showers

Thunder and lightening at 6am this morning and I thought "oh good the allotment is getting wet again". We also had rain Friday and then I was thinking "Wish I had moved that cardboard so that the ground would be getting wet for easy digging". Would never had thought I would like the rain this much.

After a busy morning I decided to go to the allotment after lunch and do a little. My little tot came with me to help too. First I dug over the plot where my garlic was going then little tot helped me plant two types of garlic in between a shower of rain where we ran to the car to have some refreshments. It passed no sooner we had taken our wellies off to get into the car.

38 cloves of Italian white (Venice) & 37 cloves of Italian Red garlic (Abruzzo) purchased from Seeds of Italy.










After that I decided it was time to say goodbye to the tomato plants so little tot had the job of taking all the tomatoes from the plants, red & green putting them in a basket. While he was doing that I weeded round the savoy and spring cabbages.

In the picture the cardboard was where the tomato plants were and to the left are my purple sprouting brocolli, savoy & spring cabbages. Also are 4 swedes that aren't doing very well but are making good food to the insects & bugs. The patch by the wooden post may look like weeds but they are carrotts. I also left the 3 pepper plants in but I don't think they will do any better now.

The butternut squash patch got cut back and all butternuts exposed to the sun so that they start to change colour. I cut two that had already changed and another I cut off by accident so the skin will harden at home now.

The last of the runner beans got picked and the plants pulled down and put on the compost heap same for the sweetcorn plants, in between another shower of rain. Only one cob was ready but the others will do for the chickens as they like them not quite ready. Collected another harvest of french beans they have done brillantly. I only really put them in as an after thought so well chuffed may have to try freezing a few to keep them.

Brussell sprouts starting to form (we might get some for Christmas dinner after all)

Spinach doing ok sowed a few more seeds as only had about 6-8 plants of one type that had grown. Curly kale I harvested some to make a soup or to have with a roast. The bamboo canes are where the broad beans used to be but as they weren't doing much and had brown spots so I pulled them up and sowed some lettuce seeds from (seeds of Italy) and some radish to see if I get a result. Now the lettuce seed went mad and if all grow i'll have about 100 plants as I poured to much out on my hand and couldn't get them back in the packet.

Broccolli coming to the end so harvested a few heads and cut off the ones that had gone to flower. Moved the cardboard incase we have rain next week for that area to get wet and that was it for today. Doesn't time fly when your having fun!

What a difference a cue makes

At the beginning of the week I harvested the cucumber as I was getting worried that we might have frost or something would eat it before us and the taste was lovely. Really crunchy and fresh I did peel it first. The plant looks like two more are going to grow so i'm hoping they do but its getting a wee bit chilly in the evening now.

The tomato plants in the conservatory are doing well, one is up to its third truss and starting to produce fruit.

Mrs aubergine not doing as well, and the one in the garden has started to be eaten by something just like all my lettuce seedings. Oh well I keep meaning to sow more lettuce but haven't. Got to go to the garden centre to get more compost too.

The pepper plant is still growing but slowly (that reminds me i've left it out the little plastic greenhouse after I watered it) It can stay there now as i'm all snug in doors.

The cape gooseberry bushes are just starting to ripen. Never tried before, they are quite firm with a sharp bite. Will be growing more next year and hope they ripen earlier as i'm sure i'll lose alot this year. I have 6 plants in my garden and also gave plants to family for their gardens.

My cauliflower seeding are doing well but I need to re pot now for them to get bigger for planting next year. This is where I go wrong I find it hard to keep them after I have potted up not sure why but some die.

Morris and the hens are doing well.

Morris went and had his nails cut Thursday as they were too long. The vet said he won't grow much more and he is in good condition with a good temperment. We are training him to use a litter tray when he comes indoors and he started doing it this evening (good boy Morris).

The hens had a cat in there fence yesterday to my shock and quick dash to the garden. They were ok after think the cat was more scared. RIRed hen jumps the fence now for a walk round our garden but goes back quick enough when you go out. Maran is moulting and starting to look baldy in places. Getting an egg most days from RIRed, they are getting bigger each time.

No rain please on a Sunday

Well i'm glad we visited the allotment yesterday (Saturday) as it was a lovely warm afternoon and as it had been raining on Friday all day the ground was lovely to work with.

The main aim was to get my onion seedlings in so that they have a good start to get a bit bigger before the frost comes. Top right of picture are the leeks (green patch) and next to them are the onion seedlings. The onions will stretch right down the length of that plot when they are thinned out next spring. Following on from the leeks will be my garlic which I have now received and ready to be planted. We had to rotovate the area first (thats why I wanted it to rain) to brake up the soil from when the potatoes were there.

Bottom left of top picture is spinach which I weeded and thinned out for them now to start getting bigger. Next to them is my curly kale which has grown well, I have cut it a few times for meals & a soup.

The boys built another compost bin so that I can rotate each year and over all the plot looked nice and tidy when we left and a good afternoons work done by us all.

Harvested another lot of french beans, a few runners, few tomatoes & brocolli. Whats for dinner? you ask. Veg of course!!

Tomatoes

I grew three sorts this year a beefsteak, Moneymaker & a bush cherry.

The taste is so different from the shop brought varietys I feel its because we can allow them to develope at there own pace. The cherry type given to us by some friends really treated us well have lots of tomatoes for a good period.

As an experiment i'm growing 3 Moneymaker plants in my conservatory to see if I can have tomatoes for a longer season.

The second plant ( I know picture a bit dark) is on its second truss to produce tomatoes so all going well so far.

Next year i'm going to plant a few more types & varietys so it should be fun.

Better late than never.

Early in the year I wanted homegrown cucumbers, peppers & aubergines. I had them in my little plastic greenhouse for ages but they wouldn't produce any fruit.

Cucumbers

I had 4 cucumber plants growing taller & taller with lots of leaves and fruit wanting to grow but they didn't. Clearing out the greenhouse I just put them at the back of the garden & forgot about them then to my amazement one afternoon there it was a cucumber growing well.



The plant has started growing again and it looks like two more are going to grow. They weather today had been really hot so if it continues they should be fine unless it gets a bit frosty at night.



Aubergine

I grew two aubergine plants again thinking they would like the greenhouse I put them in there but they grew big leaves with no fruit. I didn't get rid of them I left one in a pot which is now in my conservatory and one planted in the garden, both have got fruit and growing.



First picture is in the garden and the dark one in the conservatory, at the moment the garden one is doing better but we will have to see.

Peppers

At last my pepper bushes are producing too . I have three planted at the allotment & one in the little greenhouse.



As they say the best things comes to those who wait but.................who likes waiting!!

Tuesday 19th September

Popped down the allotment briefly this evening to collect veg and have a look. One other allotment holder was on their plot but as the nights are drawing in quickly I couldn't stop to talk as I few things to do.
Plot 1 : First I though i'd spray the savoy cabbages as when I was there the other day I noticed that caterpillers were taking residence and I wouldn't get one for Christmas dinner at that rate. A colleage at work (Hiya) told me of a mix that his wife used so I made some up this evening to give it a swirl. Planted some more spring cabbages to make the total upto 30 so I should get something from that and enough to give some to friends. Also noticed on this plot that my red peppers were starting to fruit so i'm going to have to decide wether to leave or bring home to see if I get anything as the weather is getting colder. They should of fruited ages ago but they weren't in any hurry. The tomatoes are getting less now so I suppose they will be coming out soon.

Plot 2 : Courgettes are coming to an end but left a couple on there growing so I would have a marrow as they keep longer and into winter. Curly kale is doing well, broad beans not so good they have brown spots, not quite sure what it is but leaving them in for the time being. Sowed some spinach two sorts bordeaux and Gigante de Inverno, G de I isn't doing as well so I'll sow some more seeds this weekend.

Pulled up my fennel as it was getting big and I didn't want it to go woody. I managed to germinate 5 seeds of fennel and ended up with one plant but i'm pleased with just one.

Plot 3 : Leeks are doing well, need to turn over the ground where my onions are going in so I might get that done this weekend. I know I sound mad but lets hope it rains Thursday or Friday evening to soften the ground. The Lollipop Lady at the school crossing must think i'm a bit nuts as one morning in July when it had been raining she remarked on the weather and I replied "yes i'm pleased it rained". Her face changed to a puzzled look.
Brussell sprouts seems to be ok odd caterpiller in one. I planted some potatoes in a no dig method as a trial for us to have at Christmas as new potatoes. They are doing really well and one is even flowering so I have high hopes on them.
My french beans (Blue Lake) are doing really well. I put them in as a late crop and I have had two good harvest within a week. Runner beans not doing as well and didn't get many runners as I thought I would. Had better growing in my garden. Butternut squash was a late starter to fruit but once it got going they are doing really well. Cut two squashes this weekend and must have another 6 growing (could be more).

Perfection

I'm chuffed with this collection, can't believe how perfect they are.

A greyhound cabbage.


Moneymaker tomato.


Radishes not sure on variety.


Broccolli, these I am extra proud of as they were so perfect. (only thing is you don't get caterpillers in shop brought ones. Extra protein I suppose!)

Gallery of veg grown so far

A few pictures of veg grown this year.

As you can see sweetcorn, beetroot, courgette green & yellow, runner beans, curly kale & tomatoes. Tomatoes I grew moneymaker and a bush variety.

Courgettes and a marrow, beetroot, primo ll cabbage, mange tout and 2nd early potatoes.

Greyhound Cabbage, I grew 3 varietys including red cabbage too. Carrotts the taste is so different compared to shop brought ones they actually taste. Charlotte salad potatoes, mange tout & beetroot.

First early potatoes (Pentlin Javalin), radishes, broad beans, pak choi & bordeux spinach.

Morris

This is Morris my husband's ferret and he is lovely. We let him walk around the garden on a lead and also on his own if you keep an eye on him. Morris is a kit at the moment and we have only had him for 1 week. He doesn't keep still very long to get a good photo but i'm sure we will get a better one of him soon. We have been giving him ferret biscuits for breakfast and dog food for lunch even though reading through they shouldn't have dog food so when thats all gone we won't get it again for him. We all handle him quite a bit to get used to it. Morris was a very good boy this weekend as our vistors all had a hold and he didn't try and nibble. We found at the moment he hasn't biten in anger but likes to lick and test his teeth on your hands which doesn't hurt. Its a bit like what dogs and cats do. He likes to combed and having his tummy tickled which gets him very excited as after he will dance around. He lives in the garden in a hutch but his Daddy is going to try and make him a new house (but it could take a while). Not sure why he wanted a ferret but so far he has been as good as gold.

Our Hens

These are out hens, they don't live at the allotment but in our back garden. They sleep in an ark and have part of the garden fenced off to let them walk around. Last time we had chickens we let them free range the whole garden but not this time as I didn't want to spend my time avoiding poo.

I'm not sure on the age of these hens but the black one which is a Maran is a big bird and the other is a Rhode Island Red. At the moment we are only getting one egg a day which I think is being laid by the Rhode Island Red but not 100% sure. We got hens for their eggs to go along with our fresh produce.

Potatoes 2006

First Earlies : Pentlin Javalin - Broke up when cooking either steaming or boiling but it could
of been the weather being very dry over the summer. A very
white potato.
Second Earlies : Maris Peer - These did the same as above when cooked.
Salad : Charlotte - All different sizes but I enjoyed this potatoes so will grow again.
Salad : Pink fir apple ( a few given as a swop from someone) Haven't tried these yet.
Main crop : Maris Piper - Started using this Sunday and they were delicious roasted.

About our Allotment

We have had this allotment plot since Oct 2005 and it has gone really well considering it was overgrown when we took it on. The council cut back the brambles and we started trying to rotavate it which was hard going. The first things to go in were broad beans, onions and garlic which went into Bed 1 which I planted one very wet windy afternoon just to have something growing. The onions went in a little two deep but we had a little crop of little onions which I use raw in salads etc. Broad beans did well which my husband likes but i'm not too keen, and the garlic was good which was harvested in August.


I planted seed potatoes with my youngest son one April morning. Didn't get a bad result for first timers.






Visited the allotment this evening (Saturday) to collect veg for tomorrow dinner as we have vistors. I picked runner beans, french beans ( FB which we haven't tried yet) broccoli (I'm proud of this) a butternut squash and a lonely courgette. Everything is growing well.

Bed 1: The savoy cabbage need a blast of something to stop the caterpillers eating them, spring cabbage are starting to grow well & I have a few more to go in. Tomatoes from this year are still going well especially the bush tomatoes given to me by a friend ( Thanks we have lastest well with them). PSB are in this bed too for next year but could come early if the weather stays warm.

Bed 2: Contain pumpkin & courgette plants which are coming to an end and curly kale, spinach & broad beans. I'm hoping curly kale & spinach will see our family into the winter.

Bed three: Contain runner beans, french beans which are going good. Butternut squash & left over sweetcorn to ripen. Broccolli & brussel sprouts and leeks at the end. Garlic and onions are to go in this bed shortly.