Martyn was pronounced fit to drive last week and so we can now get to the plot under our own stem and do a bit of catching up. There are still lots of medical appointments to negotiate but at least these don't involve a long, (time-wise not distance-wise) bus journey. We have had appointments at three different hospitals and so have had plenty of chance to practise learning bus routes. Hopefully we can fit plot visits around medical commitments and the weather.
We managed a couple of plot visits at the weekend. Although our harvests are becoming sparser we are still bringing home a few things.
There were some things that I wasn't expecting to still be in evidence in mid October.
The sweet peas were still flowering. Lots of the flowers were past their best, no doubt due to irregular picking but I did manage to pick a small posy. I can't remember having flowers so late in the season before.
Another surprise was that the Cupid strawberries are still setting fruit. One berry looked red and juicy but when I picked it the underside had been enjoyed by a slug. I dare say the ones below will suffer the same fate.
At least we had a few alpine strawberries to enjoy.
Saturday's gathering was quite meagre compared to previous harvests.
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| Saturday 14 October |
Over the weekend we cut a couple more red cabbage. They have done really well this year, the one above went to my sister and the one below to one of our plot neighbours, Sarah.
One type of berry that I always have difficulty deciding when to harvest is the cranberry. We have two container grown plants growing either side of the door to our plot greenhouse.
Often one plant fruits better than the other. This year it was the turn of the one on the right. As the berries were beginning to fall off the plant, I decided to pick them.
The shallots below had actually been harvested a while ago and were waiting in the plot shed until storage space became available at home. We decided to bring the remaining sack of shallots and another box of onions back from the plot and these are now added to the summer house residents. Not only does this mean they are more readily accessible but the conditions are drier than in the plot shed.
Sunday we managed another small harvest.
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| Sunday 15 October |
The plot greenhouse tomato plants were picked over and we harvested more wonky carrots. This year has definitely not been the year of the carrot as far as we are concerned.
The squash plants had died back revealing their fruits and so it seemed a good time to harvest the Crown Prince squash.
These were left in the plot greenhouse to start curing. When space becomes available these too will be relocated to the summer house. Our summer house doubles as a vegetable store throughout winter. I always cut a piece of vine and leave this attached to the fruit. Not only does this act as a carrying handle, but it also prevents moisture collecting in the hollow stem which can lead to rot. There were only five Crown Prince but that is plenty for us.
We have continued to harvest a few things from the garden. The spring onions had become over-sized but as they were needed for cooking this wasn't a problem.
The peppers in the garden greenhouse are ripening slowly. This means that, if the slugs don't get there first, we can use them as needed straight from the plant.
We pick some watercress nearly every day. It seems to relish the conditions in our garden pond and is still looking green and fresh. Other than having to curtail its enthusiasm it is proving to be a very easy crop.
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Nice to hear that you've got your mobility back. That's a perfect cabbage and I'm sure that the wonky carrots are better tasting than any you can buy.
ReplyDeleteAs they say, Michelle - you don't know how much you miss it 'til it's gone. Now I need to get my eyes sorted out so we have a backup plan.
Deletea lovely post as always the red cabbage looked impressive and sweet peas in October are a bonus.. glad certain medical appts. are being reduced
ReplyDeleteThanks, David. The sweet peas are a bonus indeed.
DeleteGood to hear that Martyn's back in the driving seat. I love the Crown Prince squash, such a good colour
ReplyDeleteWe grow Crown Prince every year Belinda. We haven’t found anything better yet.
DeleteI'm sure it will be so nice to get your 'wheels' back again. I don't think I've ever seen cranberries before, so that is very interesting. I always thought they had to grow in bogs. Those are beautiful red cabbages too.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to be independent again, Dave. The cranberries like an acid soil so the tubs are filled with ericaceous compost.
DeleteOh that's most excellent news Sue :) I can't drive but can imagine how frustrating it must for a driver to be unable to use their vehicle. Buses tend not to go from A to B in the most direct route. Your sweet peas must have appreciated the relatively cool August and September. Do you find that the later pickings from autumn fruiting raspberries start to loose some of their flavour?
ReplyDeleteWithout being able to use the car, what were short journeys took over an hour and two buses. The autumn raspberries are certainly much smaller now, Anna.
DeleteVery glad to hear Martyn is driving again, I hope all is well with the remaining appointments. Fabulous Crown Prince squashes. I didn't grow any this year, but I'm regretting it now, I do love to bring them in in the autumn. Lovely to have sweet peas halfway through October, and a very pretty bucket of flowers too. I still have lavender blooming in a pot and the odd rose or two. The red cabbage is brilliant, one of my favourite things. I'm growing some red sprouts this year (Rubine), waiting to see how they turn out.
ReplyDeleteThanks CJ. Our dwarf lavender bed is still flowering on the plot and like you we still have some roses. Red cabbage is one of our favourite vegetables too. I make braised red cabbage and freeze batches. More will follow.
DeleteSo glad to hear things are looking up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mal
DeleteOh Sue, I'm so glad to hear the Martyn is back in the drivers seat (literally!). You never really know how much you rely on certain things until they are taken away from you.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that you could grow cranberries in a pot - how wonderful! Are they a particular, non-bog requiring variety or do you simply keep the pots extra wet?
Driving us something that I miss, Margaret as I feel less independent.
DeleteTo be honest I never looked into growing cranberries and put them in pots as when I planted them in the ground they sprawled everywhere and were difficult to manage. They are in an ericaceous compost but I haven’t really paid much attention to watering. Apparently I should keep the compost moist - well now I know and I’ll try harder and maybe get more fruit!
Know just what you mean about feeling less independent ... it is not nice. Hope your shoulder is on the mend too :-)
DeleteShoulder is fine, Jayne. Just a bit of a strained pruning muscle - nothing like your problem
DeleteDelighted to hear you are again mobile, it would make life for us very difficult for that to happen.
ReplyDeleteAs ever you have a wonderful amount of produce form your allotment.
You don’t know how much you miss something until you are without it, Brian.
DeleteI am planting red cabbage next year! That looks delicious. Glad you are independent again. Out here if you cannot drive your life is pretty limited. I am so jealous of the sweet peas. They grew wild in Lead and I am danged if I can get wild or tame to grow.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine the problems you would have without access to transport, Bonnie. Can you get anything delivered? It’s a pity about sweet peas. As for the red cabbage I hope to combine the neat one that we pick with those cranberries.
DeleteCan't believe you are still picking sweet peas half way through October, Sue! I have never thought of growing cranberries... how old are your bushes?
ReplyDeleteWe planted them in 2009, Kathy. Initially they were planted in 2007 but they were so straggly, sprawled everywhere and difficult to weed around so in 2009 they were planted in the tubs of ericaceous compost. To be honest they were more or less neglected until earlier this year when I decided to sort them out and tidied, trimmed (gave them a haircut) and repotted them. They've produced berries since 2009;
DeleteMarvelous to hear Martyn can drive again, being independent is everything. I hope all goes well for his continued improvement and your eyes. Great harvest, especially the sweet peas and cabbage.xxx
ReplyDeleteNow Brian and my streaming cold are keeping us indoors, The aim is for, Martyn’s problem to not get any worse, Dina
DeleteSuch a beautiful harvest Sue!
ReplyDeleteGlad that Martyn can drive again! Enjoy havesting more vegetables, flowers & Fruits!
That's huge red cabbage! SO beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGlad that Martyn can drive again!
Happy harvesting more and more vegetables, flowers and fruits! ;)
Red cabbage is one of our favourite vegetables, Malar
DeleteWonderful news about Martyn. Driving makes most things so much simpler! And I am very envious of your squash, well done:)
ReplyDeleteIt would be even better if I could sort out my eyes so that I could drive again too, sweffling
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