Biggest harvest

Today was the final removal of some of the remaining plants. The last of the beetroots (to be pickled) the last of the outdoor tomatoes (to be chutney'd - the indoor cherry toms are still going strong).

The courgettes are still cranking out the odd one or two, though the rate of production has slowed somewhat.

Then there is the lavender that we planted ages ago. It seems to have done a reasonable job this year. I wouldn't say a brilliant job because the recent rains over the past few weeks has somewhat dampened the flowers. But today was pretty dry so I though it would be a good idea to try and harvest a few of the longer stems. I want to try and turn them into Lavender Wands.

Whilst I was at the plot, I also started cutting back the leaf beets. They'd all gone to seed anyway, so now is the time to trim them back ready for the winter months. Hopefully next year they'll do us proud once again. Providing the frost doesn't get them. Mind you, we really do need a good winter to kill off some of the pests that seem to be everywhere these days. Maybe the El Nino effect that is going on at present will oblige. It's usual effect is to give us a colder, drier winter.

But garden pests are not the only danger that is out and about. I travel to Slough for work. So Slough Station is a common place I visit. And so do hundreds of kids with their parents thanks to Legoland at Windsor. So imagine my dismay when I see a rather pest of a plant growing right by the side of the platform where any grasping little fingers can get at the tempting looking berries.

Three guesses as to what this plant is...

I know exactly what this is, and I have informed the appropriate authorities.

Harvest

So I was kind of told off last week by one of my regular readers for not posting anything up. Well the reason why was clear. Just consider the same time last year.

But that doesn't stop things growing on the plot. Indeed it seems that everything is coming along nicely (including the weeds). Tonight's dinner will be a combination of one or more of this little lot.

Okra, Broad Beans, Beetroot, Leaf Beat, Basil and Blackberries.

We've already had a selection of other stuff from the plot...

Potatoes, Courgettes and Lavender. Whilst yes, you can eat Lavender, this lot is for drying to be used as an air freshener at home. We can't have those horrible chemical ones, so we have to "make do" with natural ones.

The Artichoke is starting to flower. Which I suppose will keep the bees happy.

But I don't suppose the bees will mind. They seem to be very happy in my runner beans.

Or they can have a choice of the sweet peas.

But lets not forget the other residents. Whilst cleaning out the top of the kitchen cabinets, I came across this old bird feeder. We didn't have a place to hang it, so I built a tripod of canes and filled it half with some of the old sunflower seeds, and half with some bird seed mix which we had around.

And finally, the triffid seems to be coming good on it's bounty after it's haircut. There are a lot of grapes coming forth on this.

Hopefully not the Grapes of Wrath.

Flowers and food

I'm a veggie person. I prefer stuff that grows on the allotment to be stuff that I can eat. But there is also the need to keep the pollinators happy and, of course, the wife. So we have a variety of flowers growing as well as veggies.

Such as...
Morning Glory

Cosmos

Nasturtiums

A selection of bedding plants (I have no idea what they all are. Anybody?)

 

Sweet Peas

Lavender

Artichoke (not quite ready to blossom but soon)

And Okra.

Yes I know that you can eat the Okra, and we have done so. But they have a decent flower,

Elsewhere on the plot things are coming to fruition. The Leaf Beet is really starting to take off.

So I pulled a few leaves for tonight's dinner.

And along with the potatoes...

... we should have a decent meal.

The Rhubarb needs a damn good thinning out, so I guess I going to be making Rhubarb and Ginger Jam again.

And we even have some other stuff for little visitors such as this little moth.

Blueberry bushes

Last week the final part of my order from Suttons was delivered. 3 Blueberry bushes. Now these plants like an acid soil. The so-called ericaceous soil. We do not have any such compost in the allotment shop so I had to head down to the Lower Morden Garden Centre to get some. Now this soil is lime free and appears to be made from, what I can only describe as ferns. It seems to be a strange sort of thing. But now being back home and a few helpful google searches later I understand why this is. It seems that in times gone past, ericaceous soil was made from peat. Well peat technically is a renewable resource, except the rate it renews at gets into the hundreds of years so it's not really a viable option. This Levington stuff is made from heather and tree bark. Anyhow, three new little bushes get a big pot of acid soil. I probably won't get any berries off them this year, but there is always next...

Also whilst we were there we bought a 6-pack. No not of beer. of Lavender. This fills the gap between the small rhubarb and the apple trees. Hopefully they will bush out a bit. In fact they need to bush out a lot to fill the gap.

Meanwhile, I have reset the leaning tower of water.

and planted my small yellow buddleja in between the tubs.

I'll have to keep it from getting swamped with all the stinging nettles. But thats no great hardship. It should soon grow a few long stems and take over that section. Careful origami of the stems should ensure that it doesn't spread and is self supporting.

Last week the foxes moved back in. Seems they have well and truly made themselves at home now. They have dug a back door to their mansion. Oh, and a side entrance. And a tradesman's entrance. And a sally port. And a small escape hatch on the top. I count no less than 6 entrances now. At least I can start sieving the soil they dug out to start filling my carrot and spud bags.

Meanwhile in the greenhouse there has been much sprouting of the seeds. But more of that after tomorrows session.