It’s ironic that we spent the entire growing season bemoaning the fact that we needed rain but now we are in a race to get the allotment ready for winter before the ground becomes too wet to work on. We like to get beds cleared and dug over so that we are in a good position to start planting in spring rather than, as sometimes happens, having to wait for beds to be prepared.
The ground is now fairly damp on the surface but, in some beds, the ground is hard and dry once you dig down to a spade’s depth. In the photo below you can see that, when the bed was dug, the soil that was turned over was still very dry. The hard lumps will need to be left open to the elements in the hope that any rain and frosts will break them down.
In contrast, some beds are easier to dig over and the soil is in a workable condition. Where this is the case, once dug over, the beds are covered with weed control fabric to prevent weeds from taking over.
Last week we cleared the beds that had housed the runner beans. The climbing frames were taken down and the canes moved into the greenhouse for the winter.
As we were clearing the beds we found several self sown verbena bonariensis which were dug up and transferred to our shrub and flower border. Hopefully, the plants will survive. In our garden verbena seems to be able to grow in the most inhospitable places. Some grow in the gaps between pavers.
As well as preparing beds, I cut back the summer fruiting raspberries. All the canes that bore fruit this year were cut out as were any weak shoots. Strong canes that were produced this year were tied onto the wires. The plants haven’t sent up as many new canes as usual. In previous years, I have had to thin out the new canes but this wasn’t necessary this year. The new canes are also much shorter than usual. Fingers crossed that they still bear fruit next year.
Another plant that will grow in an unlikely spot is the calendula. Last year one plant had established itself in the wood chippings that cover the weed control fabric in front of the raspberries. I decided to sprinkle some seeds from this plant amongst the clippings and more plants grew so this year again I have sprinkled more seeds.
The strawberry runners that we planted a couple of weeks ago are still surviving. I retrieved some strawberry plants from amongst the weeds in our old overgrown strawberry bed. I decided to tidy them up and planted these alongside the runners. We could end up with two strawberry beds. Some plants in the main bed are still producing flowers and fruits but I doubt that they will ripen.
We have an Issai kiwi plant that produces small berry-like kiwis. We used to grow it in a pot in the garden but it wasn’t thriving so we decided to plant it on the plot. This is the first time that it has fruited since planting it out.
We have been picking just enough quinces to stew to make a compote for eating with our morning porridge. The fruits have a really hard core so the flesh is sort of shaved off. The flesh is a pale yellow but it turns orange when cooked. You can add lemon juice to retain the natural colour but we rather like the orange colour.
We had a surprise cauliflower harvest which was very welcome.
We are also still picking tomatoes from the garden. The spring onions that we planted in a tub are growing, albeit very slowly, so we are eating some thinnings.
There is now no mistaking that we have moved into autumn. The blueberry leaves are now a fiery red.
The trees at Nostell are also turning colour.
The cygnets are still hanging about on the lake.
Other wildlife is taking advantage of the autumn bounty.
Unfortunately, the cattle have been moved into the meadow where we usually walk with Ruby. As the meadow is huge we decided to walk in a part well away from the animals just in case they took a disliking to Ruby. We had to abandon that idea as the cattle had obviously been in the area earlier and had left a multitude of fresh sticky cow pats. It wasn’t very enjoyable picking a route through the mess especially when Ruby gravitates towards the cow pats for a sniff.
Finally, last week’s meals included a vegetable and rice dish which used our onion, green pepper, carrot, garlic, fresh tomato, frozen sweet corn and frozen peas.
I used some of our cabbage, carrots, parsley and I added fresh tomatoes in a chicken and cabbage sauté
Finally, I made a turkey and cauliflower bake that used some of our cauliflower and onions. I added some mushrooms to my version. The recipe has disappeared from the internet but was basically cooked turkey pieces and partially cooked cauliflower folded into a white sauce mixed to which was added curry paste and cooked onions. It was placed in a dish, sprinkled with cheese and cooked for 20 minutes in the oven.
That’s all for this week so until next time stay safe and well.
Once again I am linking to Harvest Monday over at Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog.
I hope that you win that race Sue! I was going to ask what you did with that lovely haul of quinces but you must have read my mind. I don’t have a quince but himself kindly came home earlier in the week with a modest number of quinces for me. I’m just going to enjoy their aroma for now 😂
If you lived close by you could have some of ours Anna.
Oh kiwi! How wonderful. Nice to see your process of bed preparation for the next season. Verbena bonariensis is among my top 5 favorite perennials. It does seed itself around but is not a bother.
I agree, Sue the verbena is a welcome self seeder.
Looks like you are making good progress on getting things ready for winter. I have only begun here, other than clearing out the greenhouse.
If we leave it too late, Dave the ground becomes too wet
I think the weather is playing Sod’s Law! It’s all started to look neat and tidy now ready for the winter. I have been a popping up everywhere too. As you say, they grow in every nook and cranny. I bought two plants about 18 years ago and have never been without them since. Your quince compote looks lovely. I’d be tempted to let it turn orange to something to brighten up the dreary winter mornings!! Whilst my gardens got a long way to go before I get it back under control, it’s starting to get there now. Those lovely people have been in to help and my drive is now looking much tidier and it’s got my neighbour off my back. I would have preferred to have started on the vegetable patches but getting the neighbour off my back was more important for my well-being. LOL.
I’m glad that your garden helpers have turned out well, Debs. Hope that your neighbour is satisfied. If they were so bothered they could have offered some help.
I cleaned quite a bit out of my garden. Your allotment looks pretty productive despite the lack of rain. I have never eaten a quince. I just canned my sweet corn, carrots, and beans. It wasn’t a lot, but it will be enjoyed this winter. Hot yoga is normal yoga done in a room as hot as a sauna. You sweat like crazy, but it feels so good. Especially when there is a chill in the air.
I’m not sure that I would cope with hot yoga, Bonnie. Correction I know that I wouldn’t.
I agree with Snowbird – I love to see your dinner pics too !
Thanks Debs
We’ve had lots of rain too after a long drought. Wonderful to see all your progress, it must feel good having sorted those beds for spring. Great harvest too, especially those kiwi fruits. How the swans have grown, lovely that they have all survived, cute squirrel too. Your meals are making me hungry.xxx
It does, Dina. Ruby has taken a keen interest in squirrels.