Late winter

I see that I last wrote a post in October!Not much has happened at the plot since then. I have done a bit of digging, and replaced the manure in my hot bed, into which I have sown lettuce (just showing) carrots and beetroot. And I have continued picking purple sprouting broccoli, which is delicious. The onions that I sowed in autumn have nearly all survived, but I shall be filling in the gaps and sowing some extras this spring. In addition, my potatoes are chitting at home, but it will be a while before I can sow any.

The picture on the left shows what will, when finished, be my strawberry cage. I am putting coarse netting over the frame, with a doorway at one end, so the birds cannot get in. Then slugs look out! I shall be dosing the ground inside liberally with slug pellets.

One other project that got off the ground last year was a hive of bees on the allotment. For a long time, I have been interested in keeping bees, so I made myself known to the beekeeper, and have helped over the last few months, although the winter has been cold and wet so we have not been able to open the hive to see what is happening as it would chill them. I have now taken the plunge, and (having been given the basics for my birthday) I am attending a theory course, and have just been given a 'nucleus' of bees. Honey glazed parsnips? Can't wait!"

A very sad plot

This is the time of year, when everything is winding down for the winter, that gardens - especially vegetable gardens - look very sad. I have just taken down my beans, both French and runner, together with their supports. I have saved some of the seed for next year, as I know both of these varieties do well here. I have also pulled up my peas, and have started tidying up the strawberries.

It's been 6 weeks since I last wrote a blog - where does the time go? - but I have been up to the plot on several occasions, to pick the last of the beans, plus some strawberries (at least, those that haven't been eaten by the slugs) and also the odd courgette and - with winter coming on - the first of the parsnips, which were delicious but not entirely the right shape! And the sprouting broccoli has been excellent!

Now is the time to do the winter jobs. I shall put manure and compost on two of my plots, and dig it in. The soil structure is already much better than when I started, but this should help it even more. The other two plots in the rotation will be dug and left overwinter, before fertilising and liming as necessary next spring. I have already put in some overwintering onion sets, which have sprouted, and I shall put some more in next spring.  I have also ordered all my seeds for next year.
Next job though is to finish off tidying up the strawberries, and buy some coarse anti-bird netting to go over the frame that I have erected. And of course there are the paths to cover with a layer of tree shreddings - there is always something to do!  

The Autumn Show

Every year, the local horticultural society holds two shows, spring and autumn. There is always a category for 'A vegetable disaster'. No matter how good a grower you are, there are ALWAYS disasters, so I put in a parsnip - in truth, I could probably have put in most of my parsnips, plus many other things, but this one fitted the bill.

In fact, it also had a long root running at right angles to the top, but it was so long I had to cut it off to get the parsnip into the fridge after the show. However, it did not win first prize because, as the judge said, it was at least edible, which the winner - a motheaten cabbage - was certainly not! Actually, it was delicious! It fed 4 people with some left over.
Some of my better vegetables did OK in the show. I've been talking about beans - we have had loads - and both French and runner beans won first prize, as did courgettes and the basket of fruit and vegetables. It's not the prize money (50p for a first) but the bragging rights!
Beans are now tailing off a bit (just as well as the freezer is full) and I shall grow only half as many next year, but other things - sweetcorn, late peas, purple sprouting broccoli, butternut squash - are taking their place. It will soon be time to put the allotment to bed for the winter!!

Onions and sweetcorn

My onions are just about ripe - nearly all the tops have bent over - so now is the time to pull them up and leave them on the soil to dry out. Then I shall cut the roots off, and take off the outer layer of dead brown leaves before laying them out in the greenhouse - ie warm but dry - to dry further so they will keep over winter.As usual, there are some large ones (which should keep the best) and some which have made very little growth, which we will use soon.

Some of my sweetcorn are doing well, but again as usual, some are not. However, I picked the first today - can't wait to eat it!
The late peas that were planted some time ago are just beginning to flower. The late lettuces are all but ready, and the late beetroot are coming on. It's been so dry that I am having to water at least every second day, but most things are doing OK. There are LOTS of beans, both French and runner, so I am freezing many for winter. Also lots of courgettes, so my wife is making courgette and cheese soda bread - nothing better straight out of the oven - apart from anything else.

I like this time of year

A couple of days ago, I picked courgettes, lettuce, beetroot, carrots, garlic, broad beans, French beans, runner beans, cabbage, potatoes and broccoli. This is largely because the weather has been a lot warmer and drier - everything is coming on. The downside of course is that I have had to water frequently. The leeks that I planted out recently have been soaked regularly, and the beans have needed a lot of water. But everything looks well at the moment - let's hope the warm weather continues.
Some of my sweetcorn have started flowering - a very short, early variety which I am pollinating by hand - and the butternut squash have suddenly exploded into life. These are the last couple of things for summer (apart from the onions, which are ripening) - the leeks, some of the cabbages, parsnips and white sprouting broccoli are all for the winter.

Harvest time

The last few weeks have been hectic (even without visiting the plot) hence the lack of blogs. My visits to the plot have been largely fleeting, and mainly to pick up produce. Strawberries have finished now - they were super - and I've started clearing up the strawberry patch and planting runners. I've put these in small pots, set into the ground, and filled with compost. They are still attached to the parent plants, but when they have rooted, they will be detached and the pots moved to where I want them. Since the weather has been dry for the last month (there seems to be no happy medium : either it is continuous rain or we have none at all and the ground develops large cracks) I have had to keep everything watered, especially the small pots of runners.
Otherwise, I have been picking French beans, runner beans, courgettes, potatoes, broad beans, garlic, carrots, beetroot and lettuce, as well as the odd cabbage and broccoli when required. The potatoes have been excellent, with no slug damage at all, and no blight etc, with good yields. They boil very well and are extremely tasty. It's a new variety - Sarpo Mira - and I will certainly be growing them again next year. Peas are now finished and have been pulled up. However, I have just planted some more small plants - I sowed the seed in pots under cover at home - and if we get some decent weather, they should give me a late crop. I have also sown some more beetroot, and have at last planted out my leeks. I dug the ground over for them a month ago, but have not been able to plant them out because it's been so dry. In desperation, I watered the patch very thoroughly, broke up the clods as best I could, then dibbed some holes and planted out the leeks and watered them in. They will have to take their chances!

Not more strawberries!

This is one day's worth of strawberries. They have, as I previously said, been very good this year, although with the amount of rain there has been, many have gone mouldy. However, the flavour is excellent, and I have made jam and compote as well as giving many away and eating lots raw.
I now have four large metal hoop frames, with which I will make  a cover for the strawberries next year. This will be covered with bird netting, so they will be protected but easy to pick.
I recently picked my first (yellow) courgette and have dug a couple of roots of spuds, all of which were very good - no slug damage at all, so I shall be planting that variety (Sarpo Mira) next year. Extremely tasty as well.
Peas have been a little disappointing this year - not so many as last year, but no damage at all - so I have sown some more in pots, hopefully for a late crop, also some more beetroot seeds. We will see - it depends on the weather!