This title is somewhat Ironic! The working party last Sunday was a washout as it was too wet to work! Next working party will be at the end of January, possibly even 1st Feb. as I'm not back in the country until late January!
Despite the heavy rain we have experienced recently Monday afternoon was dry enough for me to get down to my plot.
It was too wet to work the soil but I managed to finish transferring the compost into the middle bin where it will mature for the winter - ready for using next spring. I have already managed to nearly fill one of the emptied bins with material from the garden, my neighbours and some weeds from the plot. The garden waste at this time of year is better than in summer when there is too much grass cuttings. Together with the herbaceous plant tops, the Sweet Peas and Morning Glory have been added to by the Passion Flower vines I have had to cut back before building a wall at the bottom of my garden. Chopping them up with a spade means they will rot down nicely, I hope.
However, I did not go home empty handed as there was lots to harvest.
Now the frost has come, I am using my parsnips though it will need more cold weather to make them really sweet.
I have also started on the leeks as they are fattening up nicely even though they went in rather late.
The calabrese plants, that were meant to crop in September/October are still producing a bit, though I will probably pull them out next week as part of tidying the Brassica bed. The Purple Sprouting Broccoli is now producing well though.
There was also a good helping of Chard. I might get one more meal out of the row before they stop growing for the winter and I wait for the plants to re-sprout next spring.
Finally was pleased to get a good picking of Brussel Sprouts. Last year all my sprouts were blown and, though I got some greens off them they did not have quite the taste I like so much. I shall miss them at Christmas! I shall be in the States and in an area where most are of German extraction and the traditions are rather different! Hopefully my son will make good use of some.
Next time I come down I hope to plant out the Broad Bean plants that are progressing well in my plastic greenhouse at home. If you missed sowing yours they are available at the Trading Hut. Good value at £1 a pot of around a dozen.
They can still be sown direct but the later you leave it the more likely it is that the mice will be hungry enough to dig the seeds out before they can grow.
It was too wet to work the soil but I managed to finish transferring the compost into the middle bin where it will mature for the winter - ready for using next spring. I have already managed to nearly fill one of the emptied bins with material from the garden, my neighbours and some weeds from the plot. The garden waste at this time of year is better than in summer when there is too much grass cuttings. Together with the herbaceous plant tops, the Sweet Peas and Morning Glory have been added to by the Passion Flower vines I have had to cut back before building a wall at the bottom of my garden. Chopping them up with a spade means they will rot down nicely, I hope.
However, I did not go home empty handed as there was lots to harvest.
Now the frost has come, I am using my parsnips though it will need more cold weather to make them really sweet.
I have also started on the leeks as they are fattening up nicely even though they went in rather late.
The calabrese plants, that were meant to crop in September/October are still producing a bit, though I will probably pull them out next week as part of tidying the Brassica bed. The Purple Sprouting Broccoli is now producing well though.
There was also a good helping of Chard. I might get one more meal out of the row before they stop growing for the winter and I wait for the plants to re-sprout next spring.
Finally was pleased to get a good picking of Brussel Sprouts. Last year all my sprouts were blown and, though I got some greens off them they did not have quite the taste I like so much. I shall miss them at Christmas! I shall be in the States and in an area where most are of German extraction and the traditions are rather different! Hopefully my son will make good use of some.
Next time I come down I hope to plant out the Broad Bean plants that are progressing well in my plastic greenhouse at home. If you missed sowing yours they are available at the Trading Hut. Good value at £1 a pot of around a dozen.
They can still be sown direct but the later you leave it the more likely it is that the mice will be hungry enough to dig the seeds out before they can grow.
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