Autumn Update

It's been a while since my last post...what with summer holidays and then going back to work, things have been busy. But ... I'm still on top of the allotment... fulfilling my plan to be even better this season!
The strawberry bed has been tidied up, and I have trays of runners potted on to pass out to friends. The last of the seasons potatoes have been harvested which will make way for my autumn onions and garlic going in. I've got my raspberries to cut down today, and to weed my winter brassica bed - hopefully for the last time as the weeds start to slow. I live in hope!

This year I'm growing 3 varieties of garlic - Early Purple Wight, Provence Wight and Red Sicilian. I grew these last year and got a good harvest so thought I'd repeat the same varieties this year, and hopefully repaeat my sucess. I've tried with numerous varieties in the past - I used to get a pack from The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight, but some varieties just didn't do much in my soil. As for the Elephant Garlic, after a couple of tries, I think I might phone Trading Standards as I think 'Elephant' is misleading. They came out the same size as they went in so not doing that any more either.

That said, I ordered the onions and garlic online, and upon opening the parcel, found I had been sent Bella Italiano instead of the Red Sicilian so there might be a fourth variety going in if I don't have to send them back. As for the onions, I've got Red Cross, Troy and Radar this year. Following the same idea as with the garlic, these were successful last year so I'm repeating the same varieties.

My leeks are all planted out - I'm not sure if 10 rows is a bit excessive, but I'll have to wait and see how I get on. I like picking them early and having 5 - 10 of them, quickly blanched then wrapped in Emmental cheese and Parma ham and baked in the oven. Lots of freshly ground black pepper and a fresh crusty loaf is just the ticket. Musselburgh and Blue something I've got in this year. I'll double check the name and get back to you.

My auatumn broad beans are ready to be sown. Hopefully later today! I've decided not to over winter peas this year. I found they didn't come to much, and with the harsh weather we've had over the past couple of years, I thought I'd stick to just spring sown varieties.

I'll take some photos today and  updata again this week so you can see how I'm getting on.

Off to make a flask of coffee to take up with me now.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1st June Update

Image
I've had 9 months (almost) since I took over my new garden and I thought it was time to look at a before and after picture. The first image is once we took down the large trees. Unfortunately, I haven't got any of before we started any work which is a shame. The second is this morning in the glorious sunshine looking magnificent. We're currently self sufficient in cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, spring onions, broad beans, herbs and, of course, eggs. Garlic will be harvested in a couple of weeks and I've already pulled up the last of the spinach that was sown last year - it bolted but went to the chickens so not a waste. Currently in the ground are onions, peas, French beans, soya beans, parsnip, carrot, beetroot, lettuce, sweet corn, tomatoes, courgette, several squashes, cucumber, and an array of brassicas. I'm growing potatoes in bags and hope to do the same with my sweet potatoes. Ive never grown sweet potatoes so its a first for me. In the greenh...
Read more

Attack of the Gooseberries

Image
I know Pyracanthia is regarded as a good hedge for deterring intruders but ranking a pretty close second has to be the Gooseberry bush! I've been 'training' mine (no, not to attack) for the past two seasons as I inherited them in quite an overgrown state and continued with the obligatory summer prune yesterday. The patch they're on has a lot of bind weed in it, so that had to come out too, and boy did they put up a fight. I have numerous battle scars, but I won, and have gained two new plants in the process as two of the lower branches have layered themselves. One I'll use to replace the one which just upped and died this year, and the other will become a bartering tool....what do I fancy swapping it for? On the subject of fruit, my strawberry runners are doing well. More bartering fare coming from this bed me thinks! However, there seems to be a bit of a North South divide going on, which surprises me for a 10’ x 5’ bed. I didn’t think it happened on s...
Read more

January Jobs

I received my email 'to do' list via Gardeners World and thought it opportune to see how well I was doing myself, and look back over the month to assess my progress.  January Jobs Winter prune apple and pear trees to remove any dead, damaged, congested and diseased branches  - Yep...done. All six apple trees have been 'tamed' and are ready to burst into bud once the weather warms up.  Sort out your seeds, throwing away empty or out-of-date packets and noting down any to buy for the coming season - Well I'm a sucker for old seed packets and I know I have a few beyond their dates!  Plan this year's crop rotation to ensure you grow each type of crop in a different bed to previous years  - Done. I have divided up my new beds into 4 and hope that I'll have enough space. The jury is still out as to whether or not I'm going to do potatoes this year. You can’t beat home grown, but space is now limited so I may have to go without.  Prune goo...
Read more