Planting the last shallots and clearing the shed

Friday 27th October

​I didn't make to visit the plot this week as I normally do. On Thursday a box arrived with my 'Griselle' shallots which I ordered as a replacement for the 'Eschallotte Grise' so I came down to plant them. I had to dig a strip next to the boards so when I dig over the rest of the patch it won't disturb the plants. Although Sutton offered 20 shallots my pack contained almost half as many again. However I can only for 20 in a row so my son gets a few. These shallots were quite a size and with long tops so I couldn't bury them completely (as I normally do) so I packed the soil round them using the back of the rake - in an effort to prevent the birds pulling them out thinking they are worms!



Needing a mask to continue, I washed my hands and went to pick some greens. I picked the sprouting shoots from a previously cut cabbage - enough fora meal. I also pulled a 'January King' cabbage, roots and all, to hang in the garage at home to use sometime in the next few weeks. 
I wanted to clear the broccoli plants in the middle to clear a space for the spring brassica plants waiting at home but when I pulled the first one I realised there were a few small broccoli heads formed. Picking them off I finished up with a trug full of shoots by the time I had pulled up all four plants.

Finally I dug out a parsnip only to find it had branched into a hand of small roots which were just about useful! As I left I noticed my beans were still maturing and not yet ready to collect for next year's seed.

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I then pulled the last of the beetroot and while doing that saw that one of my slug traps had lost its lid so went to the shed to get a plastic bottle to cut to shape. As I opened the door there was the noise of rats scuttling out at the back. They were back in residence again after spending the summer elsewhere!
I had previously cleared part of the rubbish out of the shed but immediately started clearing the rest, a disgusting, dirty and smelly task. I managed to clear almost all the floor space, clearing shovel-fulls of rats droppings and bagging up rubbish for the tip. I shall bring the trailer down to take the bags there; they are not going in the car!

​Needing a mask to continue, I washed my hands and went to pick some greens. I picked the sprouting shoots from a previously cut cabbage - enough fora meal. I also pulled a 'January King' cabbage, roots and all, to hang in the garage at home to use sometime in the next few weeks. 
I wanted to clear the broccoli plants in the middle to clear a space for the spring brassica plants waiting at home but when I pulled the first one I realised there were a few small broccoli heads formed. Picking them off I finished up with a trug full of shoots by the time I had pulled up all four plants.

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Finally I dug out a parsnip only to find it had branched into a hand of small roots which were just about useful! As I left I noticed my beans were still maturing but not yet ready to collect for next year's seed.