It’s round to that stage in the allotmenting year when the focus is more on preparing for next year. It seems to have come along earlier than in previous years maybe due to a lack of any real summer.
I did plant some cabbage plants that we had left over which may or may not produce anything harvestable but they certainly won’t produce anything languishing in the module cells.
We have decided not to plant winter brassicas as they really don’t do well for us. It’s a lot of effort for what amounts to almost nil return.
We are continuing to tidy, dig over and clear beds before covering them with weed control fabric. At least one positive to come from a poor summer is that we have been able to prepare more beds for next year’s growing season. Last year the ground was too dry to enable us to dig beds.
There is still plenty of fruit and vegetables to harvest.
We harvested masses of tomatoes, most of which have been frozen ready to be used in pasta sauces and ketchup.
Whilst I was tidying the bed where the broad beans had grown, I found three oak seedlings which must have been planted by a squirrel. I decided to pot them up to see what happens.
A video tour of part of our plot is posted here.
On our visit to Nostell, we found that the meadow had been mown and the hay was being left to dry before being baled.
The cygnets are now much more independent and straying from their parents. Apologies for the quality of the photos as the reflections act as a sort of camouflage.
On another lake the Canada geese and gulls were congrgating.
On to last week’s meals.
I made a chicken curry which used some of our runner beans, onion and garlic. It was served with brown rice and homemade onion bhajis.
I made a vegetable paella into which went, more onion, garlic and runner beans.
Into a frittata went some Sungold tomatoes, sweet corn, courgette, shallot and a small pepper that had fallen from the plant. It was served with freshly picked cauliflower and calabrese
French beans, red onion, garlic and red chilli. were used in a turkey stir fry
Just one question which I hope you can advise me on. Do you think my posts are too long? Should I split them into two posts, one just about allotment and gardening and the other about visits and nature etc?
Anyway, that’s all for now, until next week stay safe and well.
I am linking to Harvest Monday on Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog.
I always enjoy your posts so don’t change a thing!xxx
Aw thank you, Dina
I think we’ve seen the end of summer, or the little summer we’ve had this year, it’s been a washout. You’re dahlias are beauties.
Maybe we will have a touch of summer next week, Jo
July and August have been very disappointing so it really feels like Summer is ending far too soon 😔
I don’t think your blog is too long, lots of lovely photos to break up the text – just right I’d say!
Mmm and those tasty veggie dishes look lovely.
Thanks for the feedback Belinda. Fingers crossed for a taste of summer next week
I’m feeling almost cheated by our so called summer weather Sue 😢 At least it looks as if we are in for a dry and settled weekend but there are so many jobs to catch up on. I think that the length of your posts is just fine.
Thanks Anna, today has actually felt summery
I don’t think your posts are too long, and I’m always interested to see what you all have been up to! Despite your lack of summer, it does look like the tomatoes have performed well.
The tomstoes have done really well, Dave. At least the weather has been too cool for blight
I love the way you talk Sue about the harvest and nature. It’s interesting to see your vegetables especially zucchini and potatoes. Nature is also interesting: swans, geese, your Ruby.
Thank you Nadezda
Your format is just fine with me. Watch out you don’t end up with a tree nursery. I have various adopted trees including two fir trees and some contorted willow grown from a flower arrangement as a challenge.
Maybe I’ll bonsai them, Mal
We are all having to adapt to changes in climate patterns affecting our lives and gardens. Unfortunately, the new patterns are not predictable so we remain at the mercy of the weather. Perhaps farmers would tell us that has always been their lot. I’m fine with continuing posts as they are but understand if you want to split them. It’s so convenient to have my name, email and website pop up automatically. Thanks!
Oh those dahlias! Looks like they’re not too picky about the weather.
I don’t think in all our years of gardening we haven’t had two consecutive years the same, Sue At one time we were being told that we would need to grow drought loving plants which has turned out to be a bit of a joke
Let’s hope the oak seedlings grow. Imagine in a few years when they’re a little bit taller and more established, you can take them out and plant them somewhere suitable.
I think the length of your blog depends on what you’re most comfortable writing. I know some people don’t like them too long and some write a short blog every day. Mine tend to vary depending on my mood. The only thing I’ve noticed not so keen on with your blog recently, if you don’t mind me saying, are the pictures that fade in and out. And it’s not me, it’s my computer that doesn’t like them. For some reason, it doesn’t like moving images on blogs. And it also doesn’t like Gifs on Facebook. They make my screen flicker. Strange but true.
The photos should only fade in and out when your mouse is over them, Debbie. It’s so you know which you are on as you can click and see a larger iamge. I don’t know whether there is the option to turn this off. I’lllook