Pulled up two of these today, just to see if they were any good. A bit smaller than I expected.
Yearly Archives: 2013
The sinking feeling
It has been rather stressful of late, and time spent on the plot has been something of a premium. Today, I planned to get a couple of jobs done.
First thing to be done was to sink Rose Climbing Danse De Feu and rose Climbing Golden Showers beneath the arch that mama H and had constructed during the summer. This would act as the gateway to project othello. I have high hopes for this, as the other roses did so well.
Then there was the sinking of tulips. My second favourite flower after roses. Approximately 210 were sunk today. I got somewhat inpatient with the bulb planter and trowel. Ended up making small trenches with the magic spade. Probably not the best way, but a lot got sunk at once. Sunk today were Darwin, purple collection and everlast.
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural hobbit.
Reader, Reprise
As the dark dank dreary days of autumn arrive; it is time to reflect.
This out going growing season has probably been the best I have ever experienced. From being a container experimenter to what is now my third year of alotmenteering. This was my second year on the plot, and it really has been a continuing learning experience.
Whilst the blog started off life as a repository and record of what I had experienced; it has become heartening to see who reads it and when. It is always lovely to see which corner of the globe is reading. Thought quite how anything compares is beyond me. One of my aims was of course to share, but to also record as mentioned above. A lot of what is sown and grown is very much a pseudo scientific experiment. I try to add detail, make observations and take lessons from what I have observed. That does not make me an expert; but I do like to investigate things.
So I would like to invite those of you that do read it-wherever you read it; to tell me your thoughts. I’ve had a sneaking feeling that I haven’t been doing it justice of late. And was just wondering what views people had about it.
Plus it would be lovely see how many genuine readers there are, awful lot of spam-bots around!
I will pop this up as both a page and post 🙂
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural Hobbit
Hobbit land Rioja
In the back garden, there is a grapevine. We inherited it when we moved, and to this day we have no idea whether it is a dessert grape or suitable for wine making slash eating. Only that they don’t taste particularly nice! The year before last I did manage to get a litre of juice out of them. Ma’s harvested this years crop; pops has hacked it down to its base. A yearly ritual that allows the vine to sprawl with vitality in our south facing garden.
Hot patio sizzle chillies
These are sat in the polytunnel; not doing too badly. Mama H has harvested a few to use.
Happy cacti
These are half of the adopted classroom cacti. Adopted in that they were rescued from a garden centre and looking rather sorry for themselves. They are a much much happier now. As can be seen by their buds. They have never flowered in unison before. Indicating that they like where they live and that Christmas isn’t too far away.
Masards mystery pumpkins
Masard has had some great success with these mystery pumpkin seeds. These three fruits are a great testament to his nurturing. Have no idea what they are; other than squashes. All suggestions welcome!
Overwintering allium
It is that time of year again; where over wintering alliums get sunk.
And this year we have a few Varieties
Shallots:
Yellow moon
Griselle
Garlic:
Early purple wight
Purple wight
Solent wight
Sultop
Valyo
Onions:
Electric
Senshyu
Radar
All of the garlic has been planted yesterday. Checking my notes, that is a year to the exact day that I planted it last year. One batch of yellow moon and griselle have also been planted. There is still quite a few left to plant.all being well, this will be done in the next week or so.
Solent wight was planted in raised beds. This year, carrying out a bit of an experiment.
The garlic has even sank through cardboard on project othello. Hoping that this will stop the rain eating it all. In addition the cardboard will reduce the weeds that might crop up.
Bollywood butternut, baby
</a
One cobnut butternut 3.5 lbs
Lots of small sweet peppers
Purple rainbow chillies Nigel and frauzauber
Garlic
Onions
Cumin seeds
Chilli flakes
Fennel seeds
Ginger
Stock
Garam masala
Salt and pepper to taste
Have chopped up all the veg. Roast in the oven-happening right now-45mins on has mark 7ish.
Heat roasting dish with olive oil. Adds cumin fennel and chilli seeds when hot enough. Add veg and put in oven.
Then fry off onions and garlic in dash of oil. Add roaster veg with salt, pepper and garam masala with stock. Simmer till soft and then blitz with hand blender. That’s the plan at least!
Jewels of red; Ruby bright
The four tier blowaway was at one point full of green tomatoes. Only now, are the tomatoes going a proper shade of redd. There is something about it; a different shade and warmth about them. All very useful for mama to cook with.
horticultural 'obbit 