It was another mixed weather week. We had quite a bit of rain, dull and gloomy, mornings and some bouts of sunshine At times it was also very cold so layers of clothing were called for
We managed to complete one or two jobs at the allotment.
I cut out the blackberry canes that fruited this year and tied in the new canes, which will hopefully provide us with next year’s berries. This stops the plant from going wild and is an easy job as the variety – Loch Ness – is thornless.
We cleared and Martyn dug over a few beds and covered them with weed-control fabric to keep weeds at bay until planting time when the fabric will be removed. We need to buy more fabric to replace the pile that was stolen.
Having harvested most crops to store for use over winter, last week’s harvest was very modest.
Another job was to remove the netting from the blueberries. We have three plants that fruit in succession. The earliest one to fruit is also the first to put on a fiery display.
We enjoyed more autumn colours at Thorpe Perrow Arboretum. The sun shone but wasn’t generous in bestowing warmth. Fortunately, we were well wrapped up especially as we had to sit outdoors for lunch as Ruby wasn’t allowed in the cafe. It’s becoming too cold for outdoor dining so, where we can’t take Ruby indoors, we will have to pack a lunch to eat in the car.
The trees were at different stages. Some had lost their leaves completely whilst others were still green.
Hardy cyclamen were planted around the base of some trees. It’s a treat to see flowers at this time of the year.
One dead tree had been repurposed as a sculpture having tiny houses carved into the trunk.
Thorpe Perrow allows dogs, but they have to be kept on a lead, so Ruby had to forego a game of chase, which didn’t go down well. Whenever we reached what would have been a suitable area, she looked at us hopefully.
I’ve just one meal to share that used our produce
This was an egg fried rice dish that used carrot, red pepper, spring onions, peas and sweetcorn. I added a couple of eggs to the recipe.
That’s all for this week so as always stay safe, well and warm.
I am linking to Dave’s Harvest Monday hosted on his Our Happy Acres blog.
It’s lovely to see all the autumn colour. Isn’t that clever, carving those little houses into the trunk of the tree.
It was clever, Jo
It’s a shame when there’s no off-lead space isn’t it. Bertie has been known to lie down in protest if he lead doesn’t come off when expected. The arboretum is looking lovely. Our local one tends to be absolutely packed at this time of year. That’s a lovely quince harvest, lucky you. And hurray for thornless blackberries. No such luxury here, they are brutal.
Ruby identifies likely spots for a game, CJ and starts to pester us and look at us pleadingly but accepts when we say no – eventially. We have to choose a quiet spot as she doesn’t like when dogs run up to her. I have experience of thorny blackberries – not something I miss. We bought a thornless tayberry this year as the one we have at the moment is a thug
Blueberries have such bright red autumn leaves!
They do, Mal it’s a bonus
Lovely to see autumn in your part of England. How do you use quince? I saw them in Massachusetts but have not checked out their uses online.
We make a compote, Sue which we freeze to use on porridge etc. WE’ve also used iit in a tart either alone or mixed with apple.
oh gosh looks like fall has come for you. Here summer is still beating around the bush, in the 90F range and sometimes 100 yet. The low desert has set records for number of days over 100F this year. When I was a kid we would have needed jackets by now and I’m still in t-shirts except early morning before the sun is up and even then just wearing a thin long sleeve shirt. Will you sow a winter garden? Here my winter gardens are the most productive with the least watering of the year
I don’t think I could cope with ypur heat Mary. Our plot goed into hibernatiom pver winter as few things wil grow unless inder glass. We have onions, garlic and brassicas planted. They will survive winter but won’t contine growing until spring. Other than that we have leeks and parsnips in the groung that we will lift as requied unless the groung is too hard. We won’t start planting now until March
Not much autumnal color around here, but the weather has turned colder and more seasonal at least. We might even get a frost this week, which is about the usual time.
It’s been cold at times here too, Dave