We are still watering the later planted brassicas. The plants deserve some TLC as they had to wait too long before being moved to the allotment due to the hot weather. They were nowhere near at their best and we did wonder whether it was a waste of time planting them out at all. On top of that, we noticed that they were being stripped by caterpillars of the small white butterfly. Martyn, picked off as many caterpillars as he could find, no easy task when the small green caterpillars are so well camouflaged. All the care seems to have paid off as most of the plants are now looking strong and healthy.
The bed of leeks is also being watered. There was a point when we thought that we had lost the leeks as the tiny plants struggled in the dry conditions and, as the leeks were under enviromesh, we didn’t notice. Fortunately, some serious watering rescued them. Hopefully, the mesh will keep any allium leaf miners at bay.
At the end of the bed of leeks is our third planting of onions which have now been lifted and are drying off. It’s the first time that we have grown onions from seed and growing red onions from seed seems to have worked for us although the onions are small, they are much better than those we have tried to grow from sets which invariably quickly bolt. We’ll definitely try them from seed again next year when hopefully the growing conditions will be friendlier.
We still have lots to harvest.
The peas are now covered in mildew but I am managing to rescue a few pods. The peas inside the pods are fine.
We noticed that some tassels of the sweet corn had turned brown so we decided to pick a cob to see what we had got. We were not really expecting anything as each time I shook the plants there was no evidence of falling pollen which there usually is. We hadn’t had much wind either which the corn needs to assist pollination. What a surprise the plant had obviously done its thing in secret.
We are picking more tomatoes than we know what to do with as we are running out of freezer space.
We picked a few sweet peppers. As the plants were grown from a packet of mixed seed we are having to guess when the fruits are ripe. It’s the first time that we have had homegrown peppers to freeze.
As usual more details about our harvests are posted here.
Another consequence of the lack of rain is that the lake at Nostell is overgrown with duckweed. Usually as it rains and adds water to the lake the sluice allows excess water to drain out taking some of the floating duckweed with it. This year the water hasn’t moved and so some of the ground staff were in the lake trying to skim some of the weed off. It’s a difficult enough task removing duckweed from our garden pond so we don’t envy them trying to control it on a large lake.
Last week as well as taking, Ruby for a walk around Nostell, we went to another National Trust property near to us. Wentworth Castle is very dog friendly. It’s some years since we last visited and lots of changes had been made. It was the first time that we had taken, Ruby so it was a new experience for her. Dogs are allowed everywhere except the conservatory and children’s playground. They positively encourage visits with dogs on a short lead. Ruby was even given a bag of treats as a thank you for adhering to the NT canine code.
When it comes to low walls, Ruby is like a small child and can’t resist jumping up and walking along the top.
We used our produce in some of last week’s meals.
I made a courgette curry which obviously used courgettes but also garlic, small potatoes, some of our tomatoes and coriander.
I made some turkey burgers. Into the burgers along with minced turkey went our chopped peppers, chopped shallots, garlic, and parsley. I also added Worcestershire sauce. The burger was served with homemade tomato sauce from the freezer and our potato, cabbage and carrots.
I made some vegetable muffins to have with salads. These used our carrot, green pepper, onion, frozen sweetcorn, and peas. To be honest I’m not sure that the recipe worked. Although I used the exact amount of vegetables specified, I don’t think the muffins rose very well. The muffins were frozen and haven’t been tasted yet so until then the jury is out. Maybe I should try a different recipe.
Finally, I made a chicken and cabbage sauté which used our carrots cabbage and parsley.
Finally, is anyone else suffering from a multitude of insect bites? Martyn, my sister and I are covered with them, They fluctuate from itching to feeling sore where clothes rub them. They are even making us feel slightly shivery. We are using lots of Jungle Formula repellent but the only things being repelled by it are us!
On that note that’s all for this week, as always stay safe and well and I hope that you are avoiding any biting things.
Again this week I am linking to Harvest Monday at Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog.
I was really hoping you were going to say it rained. It is hot and dry here as well. I am very jealous of your leeks. I love leek soup, but have not been successful growing them. It certainly sounds like Ruby enjoyed here walk. I am hoping you get rain soon.
I think that our area has been erased from the rain map, Bonnie. We had thunder in the night but only some token rain.
It’s been horribly dry here too, rain is due next week so I have everything crossed. My tomatoes have dried out as I couldn’t keep up with the watering, in the end I just let them go. Yours look wonderful as do your mixed peppers. My onions have done better grown from seed too. Good to hear your brassicas and leeks have survived and are thriving. Your meals do look tasty, here’s to the muffins being tasty too. I do hope you get rain soon.xxx
We keep being promised rain but none materialises, Dina. The muffins were eduible but nothing special – I’ll try a different recipe.
IT does indeed look like you are having a good year for tomatoes. And it looks like that packet of pepper seed turned out well too.
I think removing the grapevine in the garden greenhouse and cutting back a hawthorn tree at the allotment has helped, Dave
Still no rain? That’s 2 whole months, isn’t it? Even more we’ll done in achieving those amazing harvests. I’m rather envious of your peppers and I’m pleased to see that your sweetcorn was a success after all.
I’m hoping to plant some leeks today…
We haven’t had any proper rain since February, Belinda – just drizzle stuff. The sweetcorn was a real surprise!
Good Morning, Sue and Martyn.,
I want you to know how much I enjoy reading your respective blogs. I look forward to Monday morning. Reading them is a great way to start the week off right. I’m surprised to see that beautiful corn cob with most all the teeth are filled. Those pix of the harvest of fruits, vegetables and flowers are my favorites. We are to expect a heat wave beginning Tuesday with daily high temperatures above 95 through Labor Day. I put a meat loaf and a pie in the oven. Probably the last time I’ll use he stove for many days.
Sue: no bugs, one of the advantages of the excessive heat, maybe the only one
Deb in Wales: no ban here but outside watering restricted to one day a week. A water compagny maybe Nestle did the same thin hee
I am glad that you enjoy the posts, Jane ; it makes writing them worthwhile. The corn surprised us too. I’ve never heard the kernels described as teeth before – I like it. Hope your heat wave wasn’t too uncomfortable.
That’s handy to know about Wentworth Castle. We tend to stay away from National Trust properties as it seems many of them aren’t very dog friendly. When you read the websites many say that dogs are allowed in the woodland only, not in the gardens, which really defeats the point of paying to see a place.
Dogs are even allowed in the café, Jo. We are members of the NT so access is free which means we can just spend an hour or so without feeling cheated. Our regular visits to Nostell have paid for the membership over and again. It’s annoying though why some places perceive dogs to be a pest rather than educating visitors.
No discernible rain to talk about here in Pembrokeshire either. We are now on a hose pipe ban., The irony of situation is that Nestle Corporation bought out the spring water company called Princes Gate near Narberth and they have been shipping water out of here by the tanker full from the reservoir to their bottling plant wherever it is somewhere in England. I said irony, but it’s actually quite scandalous that the local council is apparently having to bring drinking water into certain areas. Anyway, you’ve got a fine crop of tomatoes there. They look absolutely delicious and so tempting. I guess we all just have to keep hanging in there and pray that we get through all of this.
We have a hosepipe ban too and have been declared a drought area, Deb. I didn’t realise that companies removed so much water from reservoirs that are meant to provide water to the area. The tomatoes spoil us for the return to shop bought ones.