Category Archives: Taking stock

Preparation, Squashes, Taking stock

courgette co^pse

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Most of the summer squashes have now ceased fruiting, and do nothing but sulk. These were chopped down and taken up today, with the dismembered components but into a raised bed. This was a  bed, that this year had contained king edwards potatos. These were grown in horse poop, but the bed had sunk; with the poop decaying. It was very shallow, so in need of topping up. With the daleks quite full, the remnants of the squashes were piled into the bed. Quite bulky at the moment, lots of green material. This, with the leaves should decay down into some growing medium. There is plenty of time over the winter before next years growing season.

Squashes, Taking stock

Oh, sweetie #3

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Three Sweet dumplins
Three Sweet dumplins

These are the fruits of the sweet dumpling vine. Seeds that were given away free by http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/ some time ago; and were yet another squash experiment. A success, as they have never been grown before. Have moved from being a beautiful puce green, to pale cream and mottled. Exactly what it looked like on the seed packet.

The picture is deceptive as regards as size goes. They aren’t tiny, like the jack be little. But a nice handful, and very robust.

success, Taking stock

Pay the Piper, my lady: Maris Piper and Lady Balfour

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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

Taking stock

Not just an aloo; but a home grown aloo

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At the weekend, mama h and I; furtled and dug up the potatoes. Today, I wanted to bring some home as ma is a bit worried that they would melt in the rain or something. They have, been there for a few days.

Using a make shift container-plastic bag, lined with some brown paper-I first picked out the small king eds. small, as in tiny, new potato sized things. These are too be fair. The one disappointment of main crops, in this experience.

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That left me with this remainder:

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At which point, I thought, how many spuds do you actually have. This may take you a while. Might have to wait til those in the bucket have been eaten.

So I then settled picking up some more ‘proper’ sized king eds.

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Think these look reasonable enough.
And then looked at the pile again.

Am gonna need a bigger bucket.

construction, Preparation, project othello, Taking stock

Room enough for a view

In taking up the other of the plot, we have gone from 89sq metres, to the grand sum of 200 sq metres. I borrowed Dad’s measuring tape so that I could arrive at that figure. Allowing me to further take stock of what was where.

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There are a lot of builders bags at the back, I know. All to be used, filled with waste and autumnal leaves. The Wendy house is there, as are the raised beds, daleks and water buts. In addition, there is the top end. Sukh shanti garden at the bottom is separated from project Othello by the arch.

A bit of hard prep today, for project Othello. I hate digging, and generally avoid it.

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Yours in anticipation,

Horticultural Hobbit

success, Taking stock

Peck of purple peppers

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Think these are lipstick . First of the peppers to turn and ripen. Not very big, but better than nothing! Expected to go red.

construction, Preparation, project othello, Taking stock

Project Othello:#4 levelled

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So very close to a levelled playing field. Now which way to place a hypothetical poly?

So very proud of Mama H!

classroom experimentation, Taking stock

S’not easy bein’ green

There are lots of green tomatoes hanging around, biding their time. Mama has suggested an experiment, that hasn’t been done for a while.

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Have harvested a handful of the tomatoes. I know one of them is a Ukrainian purple. The others i couldn’t identify. These have been washed and are now sat in a transparent glass Pyrex bowl; positioned on a sunny window sill.

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Here they are, sat next to the fickle young lady that is Ma’s Holy basil. To holy basil doesn’t like to be moved.

Yours in anticipation,

Horticultural hobbit