The allotment doesn’t stay full for long. Gradually beds are emptying as crops are harvested.
Our efforts are now focused on clearing beds of remnants of plants and the inevitable weeds. A plot neighbour mentioned that if only some clever person could hybridise the vigour of weeds and their ability to thrive in inhospitable conditions with the plants that we choose to grow, gardening would be so easy, I guess that would mean that we wouldn’t have the challenge and the satisfaction of overcoming the obstacles that are placed in our way.
One of my jobs was to deadhead the battered dahlias. It’s surprising how long it takes.
One of Martyn’s jobs was preparing the area where we will place a tayberry, tummelberry and Japanese wineberry. He’d made a start earlier by skimming off some of the grass.
Chives which were also skimmed off are regrowing. We will need to decide whether to relocate them or leave them where they are.
Martyn dug the last of the potatoes which again was hard work. The ground now needs some serious rain to render the solid lumps of earth into a diggable consistency. A video of the lifting of the Sagitta potatoes shows the state of the ground. No doubt once the rain starts it won’t know when to stop.
The potato harvest has been one of this year’s success stories. We don’t water potatoes but, I think, the wet conditions earlier in the year and the cooler early summer suited them.
One of our failures this year has been the brassicas. The first lot we planted grew well, but the later ones started promisingly and then flopped. It looks as though some pest had made a meal of the roots.
1 September: Peas – Onward & Ambassador, blackberries – Loch Ness, raspberries – mixed, runner beans – Celebration, French beans – Pongo. tomatoes – mixed, courgettes – Defender and dahlias
Rather than our usual trip to Nostell, we decided on a visit to Clumber Park. Last week, the schools were still on holiday, and again, it was very busy with a large section of the grounds being taken over by children’s activity area. Elsewhere groups of people were dotted on the grass taking advantage of the long-awaited day of summery weather.
Heading off on the lakeside walk we soon escaped the main crowds.
Across the lake, a medley of waterbirds were preening. I only had my camera phone so couldn’t manage a clear shot over such a distance but from the resulting image, we could make out several egrets, a heron, a cormorant and a few gulls. It’s a pity that my large camera is so heavy to carry around all afternoon. I could have achieved better results with that one.
By the time we arrived at our starting point, the crowd had eased.
The more people-tolerant birds populate this part of the park. No doubt they are ever watchful for tasty handouts or scraps left by picnickers.
Courgettes featured again in last week’s meals.
I used two of our courgettes, a red onion, garlic and red chilli in a turkey and vegetable stroganoff but I forgot to take a photo.
Another courgette, an onion and some of our peas were used in a vegetable pilaf.
Finally, an onion, garlic red chilli and runner beans went into a spiced chicken stew.
That’s all for this week so as always stay safe and well.
Again I am linking with Dave’s Harvest Monday post on his Our Happy Acres blog.
lovely harvests. I am wanting to get fall crops going as the winter gardens do so well for me but we are back to hitting 100F with no rain in sight. While there has been some rain this summer it is never enough and my ground is hard and dry except where I keep it watered. The park and the waterfowl look look so peaceful. Coming over from Harvest Monday, just a bit late getting around.
You’re very welcome Mary.OUr vegetable growing more or less goes on hold over winter. Our summer has been disappointing and much cooler than average and less sunny days. Any rain has fallen as drizzly showers rendering our clay soil unworkable. we nedd some downpours now.
A tummelberry is a new one on me. I used to have a Japanese wineberry at the allotment. The berries were very pretty, translucent, so perfect for on top of a cake as decoration. Your harvests look excellent, very healthy indeed. Like you say, I think the potatoes must have liked the wetter conditions. It has certainly been nice not to see the grass drying up.
A tummelberry is a raspberry loganberry cross, CJ We had a Jaoanese wineberry but it died.
I looked on a map of the UK and after our visit have a better sense of where you live and garden. We were especially fond of York–the gardens and museums and Yorkminster Cathedral were highlights.
You were very close to us if you visited York, Sue. It’s anout 35 miles away.If you used the M1 motorway you can see our house when heading northbound
I’m not familiar with those berries you are planning on growing, so it will be interesting to see them. Our soil is dry here too but our silty loam is never too hard to dig until you get down to the subsoil layer.
I’ve never grown a tummelberry before, Davee but know the other two are tasty. We already have a tayberry but not a thornless one. OUrs is clay soil so as hard as concrete when it dries out.
A good and colourful harvest, with one crazy carrot!
I’m sure there will be more crazy carrots, Debbie