There is just no let up to this soggy weather! So far this month we have only had two days that have been rain free. I'm not saying dry, as the conditions can hardly be described as dry. Even days when the sun has made an appearance and we have been able to get out during the day the weather has managed to either send some quick showers or there has been some rain overnight.
Work on the allotment is impossible. We have had a couple of visits, once to harvest some vegetables and once in response to a strange request from Radio Leeds - more of the later.
The ground is far too soggy to do any digging and in the current conditions that is unlikely to change any time soon. Even walking on the paths is in danger of turning them to a quagmire and moisture gradually seeps up trouser legs. I have wellie shoes as I don't like walking or working in full wellies but it looks as though I will need to acquire a pair.
Fungi love these conditions and are popping up in various places.
The row of ocas also seems to prefer these conditions. Leaves that have been furled up earlier are fully open as are the more abundant flowers. We just need to decide when to try harvesting them - obviously not yet.
The slugs and snails are in their element and making up for the earlier dry period. I've sown some cornflowers to try and replace the seedlings that were munched but I'm not holding out much hope.
At least the slimy creatures don't appear to have developed a taste for the over wintering onions.
The crates of spring onions have been moved into the plot greenhouse. I'm not sure how much more growing they will do but at least they shouldn't drowned.
After we had planted up a couple of beds with onion sets in March we had quite a lot of sets left. As onions, in one of the beds, were struggling we decided to plant some of the remaining sets. This was mid-June so we didn't really think that they would produce anything. We left them as long as we could and decided to lift them last week. The resulting onions are small but will be really useful where only a small amount of onion is needed. To be honest the really large onions are too big for us.
Our summerhouse is in winter mode where it doubles up as a storage area for apples, pears, onions, shallots and squash. Although in general it keeps dry in there, when the weather is cold and wet outside the feeling of dampness creeps inside and the produce stored needs checking regularly for mould and rot.
The onions never really had the chance to dry off thoroughly this year. I spent some time this week removing some of the outer skins to try and cut down the chances of rot setting in. The necks are still on the damp side,
We managed one or two jobs in the garden. One of the camellias and the palm were conspiring to stop us using the steps up to the lawn. To regain access we pruned both. The camellia really should have been tackled earlier in the year, so we are going to lose lots of flowers but it had to be done. As the palm becomes taller it should become less of an obstruction. You may notice that the trunk of the palm is thinner at the base. This is down to blackbirds stripping the hairy covering for nesting material.
I managed to plant up tubs with spring bulbs, namely lots of tulips, narcissi hyacinths and crocuses. Some tulips, narcissi, camassia, and fritillaries have been planted in the newly renovated area under one of the crab apple trees. I've also planted some tete a tete narcissi and crocuses in the bird bath bed. The impatiens, or if you prefer busy lizzies, had succumbed to the weather and so were cleared. Earlier, I'd potted the tete a tetes into pots and so, as an experiment, I've left them in pots and buried them in the soil. The idea is that i can remove them when they fade and replant with annuals without disturbing the bulbs too much.
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| 14 October |
We managed a reasonable harvest last week. The Safari French beans still had a few beans that were worth picking. We gathered a good helping of Rudolph broccoli, a Sabrosa - savoy cabbage, a Kilaton cabbage and some Flakee carrots.
The dahlias hadn't yet been cut down by frosts and so I picked another bunch for the house.
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| 14 October |
I mentioned at the beginning of the post that we had a strange request from Radio Leeds, our local radio station. We're used to calls from them, which usually, involve heading to the allotment at silly o' clock for live interviews on the Breakfast show but this request was rather different. They wanted to send the show's presenter, Richard Stead, to the plot to look for worms. It was as a finale to a quiz that they were doing called Birds and Worm, (or was that Worms and Birds?). I'm not sure what it's about, as we don't actually listen to the radio much. Anyway, it was recorded, so we didn't have to be at the plot too early. Fortunately the worms made an appearance and the piece will be aired one day next week when the quiz comes to an end. I wonder what they will come up with next?
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Posts
I hope no worms were harmed... I shall be interested to see how your ocas have done. I really liked them when I grew them, but they were a bit fiddly to prepare in any quantity.
ReplyDeleteOther having their photo taken the worms were fine CJ. How did you use your oca?
DeleteIf your garden is like ours the worms were probably easy to find. I like the looks of the Rudolph PSB. I planted some for next year, we shall see how it likes our greenhouse conditions!
ReplyDeleteVery easy to find, Dave. Good luck with the PSB
DeleteI have found when an onion is too large that they do freeze well if you thinly slice them. They are fine for soups or stews, and it's better than wasting them.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a good tip, Deborah. I don’t waste it though just make a double recipe and freeze half as a ‘ready meal’
DeleteNo wonder England is so green. I'd love to have some rain. Your PSB looks so nice. Won't your bulbs be enjoyed next spring!.
ReplyDeleteIt’s getting to be more brown and muddy, Sue I just hope that the bulbs don’t rot.
DeleteYou definitely need some tall wellies. We finally got a half inch of rain yesterday. It is cooling down now. Your harvest is gorgeous. You seem to have lots of activity in your garden other than gardening. Wish I could see what they do with the worm story.
ReplyDeleteThere wasn’t much to the worm story Lisa just a couple of minutes aired. The piece was recorded and so lots was edited out unlike when they come to broadcast live.
DeleteSo much rain! Good job you have your Summer House to keep harvests dry. I spy those lovely Crown Prince squash - you lucky things!
ReplyDeleteThe summer house certainly earns its keep Belinda.
DeleteAt least worms are getting a better press recently. Schoolchildren are very keen on worm surveys but you do worry that they (the worms) will all hide on the day!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn’t blame them, Mal. Years ago we had a student teacher who was doing a project on worms. He wanted the children to draw them and as he thought they needed to stay wet he put them in water. We had to quickly rescue them. He obviously hadn’t done his research. Must admit I really don’t know how some people manage to qualify as teachers.
DeleteSorry about the rain but on the happy side - look at your produce, it's fabulous! You shall not go hungry for some time. Love that your local radio has a show on worms - fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteIt was really only a passing mention bout worms, Carrie. More a bit of silliness than anything, maybe one day!
DeleteLoving your produce! I do hope you get a dry spell soon and those onions dry out. Wonderful fungi shots. Goodness, that is a strange request from Radio Leeds, can't wait to hear more.xxx
ReplyDeleteApparently they had been doing a competition, Dina between two,presenters. Richard set questions and was called the worm and another presenter - the bird - had to answer. I think they also had questions the other way. A sort of Chase where the bird tries to catch the worm. It could have just as easily been a spider chasing a fly. I don’t listen so it’s just what I understand from what I was told. As a finale the bird had to go somewhere to look for a great white egret and Richard had to look for worms. They didn’t really want to know much about worms but we got a couple of quick facts in although some was edited out.
DeleteThose onions look great! Fingers crossed to an end to your soggy weather.
ReplyDeleteIf only it worked, Margaret.
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