Rumour has it, it is national allotment week. So here we have a snap shot of my little patch.
Category Archives: success
Inside the hobbit hot house
You have to wipe down your glasses after stepping in as the temperature rises in there.
Is burgeoning in there with blooming aubergines. There are cascades of lilac flowers. If you look closely, having delicately stepped inside; there are a few white chilli and pepper flowers. Still don’t fancy even touching the habanero or naga plants at risk of dropping the flowers.
The crimson sweet water melon is vining all over that place and today i spotted two fruit in need of pollinating. Sweet potatoes are also sprawling everywhere.
First crop 2014
Yorkist potatoes and half a kidney
This years potato crop is going to be a disappointment. Lots has been rained on and the slugs have been dining out. These are all that have survived when it comes to the first early potatoes as planted by the artist in residence.
A pocket full of posies
Rubies not so red
First ever official crop of strawberries. Only a handful, that Ma rescued from the slimers. Not all red, as they are only just on the turn.
Taste verdict?
Well, they taste of strawberries!
Sunderland kale: spinach-y superfood
I was given this Sunderland Kale as a seedling some time last year by a fellow grape, and it was planted into a raised bed. For a while it did nothing. Sat there and sulked, it would grow when it felt like it. Was there fore left to its own devices until today.
It’s not a big plant, but has a nice umbrella mushroom like form. And apparently a superfood. Could have fooled me, it doesn’t have a cape. Have harvested some today for dinner, to be steamed. It’s somehow related to spinach, the leaves are very much like spring greens too. And for the moment, yet to be munched on by slimers. Though I did lob one away on harvesting, by way of warning.
This is a surprise crop, and mama h is rather enamoured by it as it so spinach like. She rather likes her spinach. This is probably good for among onion bhajis too. Shall see what happens!
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!
Swede liberty
Huge football sized ruby swede, harvested today. Most likely to be curried by the mother.
Pay the Piper, my lady: Maris Piper and Lady Balfour
If there had to be a pretty potato contest, then Maris piper or lady balfour would be worthy contenders. I have arrived at that decision, as the King Eds are ugly in comparison. King Eds look like battle weary cavaliers in comparison to today’s furtled crop. It was definitely a two man job. I started to furtle and pick out; with ma then joining me. Ma has a technique for everything, she furtles; lobs them at me. I then pick them up and stick them in the bucket.
The king eds are drawn gasps and grimaces, these drew ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’. These were potatoes that looked familiar. Like the stuff found in supermarkets. Decent enough sized too. Not many tiny, new potato type tubers; in comparison to the king eds.
All of these were grown in horse poop. But the maris pipers and lady balfour were buried a bit deeper, I think. The king ed bed, whilst it had lots of poop, sank a lot in comparison. Also, lady balfour and maris piper, don’t seem to have had as many chunks taken out of them, compared to the King Eds.
Now all that remains is to eat them!
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural Hobbit
horticultural 'obbit 