Being used to a temperate climate we don't cope well when it is too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, too windy, too snowy or too icy. Weather is always a popular topic of conversation especially when we are planning outings etc. Is it going to rain? Do we need coats, sweaters, raincoats, umbrellas?
The recent spell of hot weather didn't last long. I'm sure that those of you who live in areas where it is hot for weeks and weeks, wonder at our lethargy when we find short spells of temperatures in the high 20s nudging into 30C (80/90 F) difficult to cope with. The problem is that periods of hot weather rarely last long enough for us to acclimatise.
Last week we had rain and wind, not an ideal combination for the garden and the allotment. Our allotment site is fairly exposed so windy weather tends to batter plants - even more so when the plants are in full leaf and wet. Fortunately last week nothing was damaged beyond repair.
Last week, we concentrated mainly on harvesting with a little general tidying thrown in.
 |
26 July - Raspberries, Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Gooseberries - Pax, Courgettes - Boldenice, Ambassador and Black Forest, Tomatoes - Sungold and Tumbler and Sweet Peas
In general, picking berries is a time consuming activity, which is probably why they tend to be expensive in the shops and usually only offered in small amounts. Blackcurrants must be one of the most tedious berries to pick so we tend to harvest them in small batches. These are made into fruit compotes which are frozen and added to yoghurts and porridge throughout the year. Blackcurrants are packed with a wide range of health promoting benefits so the time spent picking is well worth it and they taste good too. |
Cherry tomatoes are beginning to ripen but interestingly the first plants to have ripe fruits are the ones growing outside, On the allotment these are from the leftover plants that were surplus to requirements. We used to plant lots of tomatoes outdoors. They rarely suffered from blight but as more plots began to be cultivated the more we experienced problems from plant disease. The tomatoes growing on the plot are far more susceptible to blight than are the ones at home in the garden.
The tomatoes below were picked from plants growing outside in the garden in a raised bed.
 |
| 27 July - Tomatoes - Tumbler, Cucumber - Pepinex and some salad leaves |
 |
27 July - Blackcurrants, Raspberries, Courgettes - Boldenice and Black Forest, Carrots - Romance, Cabbage - Mozart, Calabrese - Calabrini and Gooseberries - Hinnonmaki Yellow
Martyn, braved the nettles that refuse to be dissuaded from growing through the Hinnonmaki Yellow gooseberries. As if the thorns on the gooseberries weren't enough to contend with. |
 |
| One of, Martyns main aims for Saturday was to lift all the Casablanca potatoes. The ones grown in crates only produce small yields so we were hoping for something better and they didn't disappoint. Martyn put together a video of these potatoes being lifted here. Despite last week's rain the soil was still very dry. |
Fortunately we have several people who willingly take excess courgettes off our hands.
 |
| 31 July - Potatoes - Casablanca, Courgettes - Boldenice, Ambassador, Carrots - Amsterdam Forcing, |
Calabrese - Calabrini, Sweet Oeas and Dahlias,
The sweet peas are in full swing and now we also have dahlias to cut and so there are plenty of flowers for the house and to share with my sister.
Last week, as well as being eaten as an accompaniment to fish meals we also used our courgettes and onions in a vegetable bake topped with Casablanca potatoes based on this recipe. Courgettes were also used in a turkey dish based on this recipe. Some of the cabbage, some of our garlic and some leeks that I had frozen earlier went into a spiced chicken rice based on this recipe
In other news, I had a couple of appointments that show how post Covid England has changed. My first appointment was at the opticians for my annual contact lens check. On entering the opticians I was kept at a distance from the reception desk by a barrier, similar to what you would find in a stately home. There I had my temperature checked and asked to sanitise my hands. Everyone was fully masked. I wanted some sunglasses and was told that it was OK to handle those on display as they had been disinfected but after handling them I had to place them on a tray rather than putting them back on the display.
I tried to get a doctor's appointment as I have patches of what I think are bites on my legs. I've had these for weeks now and had tried asking a pharmacist for advice but things weren't improving and at night the itching was waking me up. When I eventually got through the receptionist asked me to take photos of the affected areas and text them to the surgery, after which someone would ring me. After a long wait, a nurse practitioner rang me and I basically diagnosed myself over the phone. Some cream was duly prescribed. I'm not sure how my rash could be assessed using a photo but this seems to be the new way of doing things. Apparently, it is more convenient for the patient to be kept hanging around waiting for a call back, I'm not convinced.
Posts
I took my son to the optician the other day and she was saying that all of the lenses used have to be washed after the appointment, which is a pain as she gets through a lot. The dog had an itchy lump diagnosed by video, which was tricky as it was on the underside of his tail! The most relaxed health place I found was the Children's Hospital, believe it or not, they were very laid back. Lovely harvests and a great potato crop. I was looking at spiralisers last night and wondering if I would like courgetti. Probably quite good with a nice homemade, homegrown tomato sauce.
ReplyDeleteMy optician had some sort of contraption that came down in front of your eyes so that they could try different lenses without touching you but it didn't work on me, CJ. Maybe they were just trialling it. Some of this diagnosing remotely is worrying. I've been wondering about a spiraliser for a year or two but so far haven't decided.
DeleteQuante bacche! Alcune le amo, come l'uva spina.
ReplyDeleteBuona serata :)
Grazie per il tuo commento, Gabriel. l'uva spinosa sono deliziose ma spinosa da raccogliere
DeleteIt looks like a lovely haul of potatoes. I can sympathize with Martyn and the gooseberry thorns, since I got stabbed on a regular basis every time I harvested them myself.
ReplyDeleteI had blood drawn this morning for routine thyroid tests, and was asked a series of questions about my current health before having my temperature taken and then seated in a suitably distanced chair to wait for the draw. Everyone was masked, and all who enter are given a mask if they aren't already wearing one. I imagine if businesses and restaurants took things as seriously as the healthcare providers do, Covid-19 wouldn't be raging out of control here in the U.S. like it is.
I think that he suffered more from the nettles, Dave. Martyn had a blood test too which so far they haven't managed to do remotely. I don't think we will be visiting a restaurant in the foreseeable future. The health professionals are only too aware of the risks that many think are over exaggerated.
DeleteAgree about the vagaries of the weather. The temps you cite are uncomfortable for us too as they often come with high humidity at the coast. I believe we will all be needing to adapt our gardens to a changing climate.
ReplyDeleteIt's not unusual for our weather to be changeable, Sue, When I was at school we were told that our climate would change and we would be growing pineapples etc outdoors. Then there was a time some 20 or so years ago when we were told that we would have to grow drought tolerant plants and garden shows had displays of cactii in their gardens. Si far neither has actually happened. Our main problem is the increase in pests and disease and rubbishy compost rather than the weather.
DeleteI think a lot to do with our abject misery over the weather it that it's all or nothing with the heat. There's no gradual build up, nought to sixty overnight, so to speak, or maybe comfortable 60's to sweltering 90's. Then, back to winter before a future possible repeat performance. Rather pleasant here the last few days, if a bit breezy.
ReplyDeleteIt does tend to be a case of swings and roundabouts, Deborah. I guess we have always complained about the weather haven't we?
DeleteI think that summer will return later this month Sue but what a topsy turvy year weather wise it has been. Most envious of your soft fruits. I'm missing the raspberry and currant crops from my allotment. Yes blackcurrant picking is a most tedious task indeed but the results are rewarding. Fingers crossed that your rash clears now that you have a prescribed cream. I wonder if and when we will get back to face to face appointments for various medical matters.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so, Anna, Just warm and mild with just enough rain would suit me - I don't need it to be hot.
DeleteOh, I really hope it’s not the end of Summer but the mornings have certainly felt rather Autumnal recently. I hate our windy weather which threatens all the lovely growth at this time of year. It’s so disappointing to see sunflowers snapped off and sweetcorn wrenched from the ground (not on our plot, I’m pleased to say, with fingers crossed)
ReplyDeleteThe wind is very destructive at this time of year, Belinda. I hate it too. I'm growing dwarf sunflowers but the cardoons suffer every year.
Delete