It's been a case of dodging showers to visit the plot and harvest a few things this week. We even managed a few peas! You may also be able to spot the three quinces that had fallen from the tree. I don't think that they are quite ripe yet.
With all the wet weather we thought we'd better harvest our squash. This year we grew Crown Prince - this is a favourite and has grown successfully for a few years now - and Potimarron which is sometimes classed as a pumpkin and in other places referred to as a squash. What's the difference - anyone know? We haven't grown this one before so don't know what it tastes like. A tip I found somewhere that seems to work is to cut a section of the vine away with the fruit rather to produce a sort of handle. This is supposed to help prevent the fruit from rotting in storage - and it seems to work.
We also harvested all of our peppers from the garden greenhouse - this year having had only limited success with bell peppers we decided on the pointed varieties - Jimmy Nardello and Tequila Sunrise. Must admit to being a little worried that they looked a bit like chillies. After last year chillies and I just don't feature in the same place at the same time! Anyway no need to have worried as the peppers are indeed sweet peppers with no hint of chilli about them.
As for carrots - I think the carrot fairy has paid us a visit this year! Most of our carrots have been of a good size but the latest lot of Autumn King have been whoppers! The largest carrot weighed in at 650g and was perfect, no splitting, no carrot fly damage, no woody core - it tasted just as delicious as the small ones do and gave us two large helpings all by itself.
I've posted my full diary entry for the last week in September here if anyone is interested in reading more and more photos are posted here. There's also a video clip of our plot here.
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What will you do with quinces? I also think that they need more time to ripen.
ReplyDeleteI have to remember that carrot variety. They are one of the biggest I have ever seen!
Not sure what we will do with the quinces but they have to be cooked maybe mixed with apples - that is if they ripen.
ReplyDeleteWe never have had Autumn King carrots grow as big before - it will be interesting to see what the other varieties do or whether this was just a freak bunch!
I am well impressed with those carrots!
ReplyDeleteQuinces make a good jelly and also a fruit leather. I'm sure you'd find the recipe on the web.
Hi VH,
ReplyDeleteI don't think we have enough quinces to be so adventurous. I think we may end up with two this year as one looks poorly!
Always very impressive harvests at green lane allotments :D
ReplyDeleteYour turn next year Craig - if your plot hasn't been used for a good while the soil is likely to be really fertile - we found that the first year of growing on a plot produced really good crops.
ReplyDeleteMust add though that if you saw our sprouts you'd not be impressed!
Who says that things are winding down for the winter? That's some harvest.
ReplyDeleteI hope that there is still something to pick freshly over winter Jo - except of course sprouts!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour carrots are just amazing. And I'm envious of your peppers, not having had much luck with them myself. Of course you have to make jelly out of quince - but you'd need a few pounds to do so. I've heard that people also candy them, but haven't tried it myself.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year when we have more quinces Barbara - this year we would only manage a teasponnful.
ReplyDeleteI've had some whopper carrots this year too.
ReplyDeleteHowever I have to admit to letting the rain get the better of me and I haven't been to the plot in a couple of weeks...that is going to be remedied this week as I really need to get the other potatoes dug and the chillis and peppers picked...and the corn sorted...oh god I could go on but I think I will stop before I depress myself!!
We've really been the same tanya - only really picking and there is loads of weeding and clearing to do but it's just too wet.
ReplyDeletegreat harvest!
ReplyDeletethose carrots look great, as everything else
I am planing on growing some pumpkin for next year, hope I have enough space
So are you going for giant pumpkin ~fer? Smaller ones you could maybe train up a support!
ReplyDeleteI just love Crown Prince squash! there are so many great ones to choose from!
ReplyDeleteHi Matron Crown Prince has always been reliable for us and a good keeper too
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