Last week our weather threw yet another curved ball.
This time gale force winds hit us, courtesy of storm Lilian. Martyn’s weather station recorded the strongest August gusts since he set up his kit fifteen years ago. It couldn’t have come at a worse time with the trees in full leaf
After the winds had died down, it was with some trepidation that we set off for the allotment.
At first sight, we seemed to have escaped unscathed. The fruit trees, the shed and greenhouse were still intact.
As we wandered around, it soon became apparent that we had some casualties.
Much of the sweetcorn had been flattened. I know sweetcorn relies on the wind for pollination, but the wind had overstretched its remit this time. The question now is will we actually harvest any corn?
Other casualties were a couple of beds of dahlias.
It paid to be diminutive like the row of cyclamen. We didn’t plant these, although some seeds may have traveled from the garden in some spent compost. Gradually the number of plants has increased, no doubt due to the activity of the armies of ants that populate our plot. It always fascinates me how the cyclamen border both edges of a curved path in this area. Did the ants plan this?
We’ve been lifting over-wintered onions as we have wanted to use them but last week we decided to bring them all home. Can you spot the tiny cauliflower below? The summer brassicas have been a disappointment.
Martyn dug more potatoes which was hard work as the ground is rock-hard. We don’t water potatoes so the lack of rain has caused the soil to harden. The potatoes don’t seem to mind.
We also picked a smattering of raspberries, a couple of courgettes and some spring onions for our salad.
The previous week, I eased the main crop of onions out of the ground and as rain was forecast we covered them with cloches. Last week we brought most of the onions and shallots home and they have been popped in the cold frames to continue drying off. As you can guess we use lots of onions. Hopefully, these will be stored in our summerhouse over winter until the autumn-planted onions are ready to lift.
24 August: Runner beans – White Lady, blackberries – Loch Ness, raspberries, peas – Onward, apples, courgettes – Defender & Trombetta d’Albenga, apples – Discovery, cauliflower – Clapton. and dahlias
Another disappointment has been the tomatoes. There is nothing like the number of fruits this year as usual and the ones that have grown are very small.
The winds mostly died down by the time we went on our walks, however the walled garden at Temple Newsam was closed. I’m guessing that they thought the large greenhouse posed a risk. The park was littered with debris that had blown from trees.
The trees in a local park had been badly damaged. The whole canopy had broken off one tree. Ruby had to explore all the new objects and kept looking at us questioningly.
The whole of the Nostell estate was closed for one and a half days. Seeing the destruction elsewhere, it was probably a wise decision. There are some huge trees and any falling branches could cause serious injury.
Ruby was happy as she still had her walks and games with her ball.
She was less happy having a bath and a visit from the groomer.
Onto some of last week’s meals.
Into a chicken and rice dish went some of our onion and courgettes.
I used more onion, garlic, basil and courgette along with our potatoes, in what should be named allotment pie. This is no longer available on the Internet. Other ingredients were celery, red pepper, tinned tomato, chickpeas and red wine.
Our shallots and more courgettes went into a spicy turkey dish.
That’s all for this week so as always stay safe and well.
Again I am joining Dave over on his Our Happy Acres blog for Harvest Monday.
I had that type of wind damage, but when my corn was almost knee high. It righted itself and I am going to try a few ears next weekend. Such damage. Your raspberry harvest looks about like mine. Your meals look delightful.
We are going to try a couple of ears of corn this weekend Bonnie
Oh dear- that wind damage! How frustrating!
Your tomatoes look good, although less than usual.
I really hope this year is a one-off!!
So do I Belinda
Did you try standing the corn up? I’ve seen people do that, firming the soil back around the roots after a wind. Seems like they do OK. Corn is a pretty tough plant, good luck. Very nice onion and potato crop. That looks like it must have been one heck of a windstorm with that much tree damage. Glad it wasn’t worse.
Hekko Mary and welcome, No we haven’t tried to stand it up, we are hoping that we can harvest it as it is, Fingers crossed/
Those are some good looking potatoes! It’s a shame about the corn though. It does seem to be prone to toppling over in high winds.
It’s the forst time that this has happened to our corn, Dave
What a strong storm, Sue. Too bad the corn got smashed. But I hope you will reap the harvest. Your onions grew well, mine not so well.
I hope so too Nadezda, It;s always a case of win some lose some isn’t it?
We wait so long for corn. How disappointing. What a potato harvest!
It is Sue but at least we have plenty of potatoes.
so sorry you lost crops. I wonder if your sweetcorn will survive?
The cyclamen do look pretty
A soupcon of cheese sauce and that miniature cauli will make a dish worthy of Nouvelle Cuisine!
Well, DEbbie you managed to read this before it was actually published – I don;t know what WP is up to. Time will tell about the sweetcorn
Wow! It showed up in my reading list yesterday, and again today! Both copies present. WP and Blogger.