It’s here! This seasons must have accessory. Courtesy of @loldeantimber; a personalised trug for trips to the plot. As you can see it has already been put to good use. Very very happy!
Cabbage Cage building
Having found some chicken poop, sank some brassicas today. Mainly cabbages, cauliflowers and brocolli.
This bed was lovingly prepared by Mama H, who had dug over the bed that had originally contained garlic and shallots. Plus grass which had to be weedkilled, unfortunately. This had all died a death, and was now ready for the taking up.
With the area dug over, chicken poop was added. Each plant was plugged in, with a dose of lime. Watered, with blue pellets of doom added around the cabbage collars; the protective cage was the next step.
Yes, the canes are flimsy. In places, there are actually two or three under the pots. Green cabbage netting has been draped over, and weighted down with bricks. The dimensions of the netting are a bit off, so we’ve attached another net across one side and horticultural fleece on the other.
This is the second cabbage cage, Ma has already fashioned one over another set of cauliflowers and cabbages.
#NationalAllotmentWeek
Rumour has it, it is national allotment week. So here we have a snap shot of my little patch.
I need a name
No idea what this is, but it’s growing rather well at the moment. A small gourd that is a vine in a raised bed. Any ideas?
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.
Gladiator swords: glorious gladioli
A bit delayed perhaps, but not surprising as they were sunk late. The gladioli are coming through. Some of them are normal sized, others are meant to be giant ones. Lots of brightly coloured ones should follow, hopefully.
Blown roses
Lovers meeting has to be one of the most productive roses on the plot. With it’s beautiful bright orange blooms that stand upright. These have now bloomed and are about to blow away at with the wind. So before the petals float away and leave the sad look deadheads; I have chopped them off to be enjoyed with a second wind in the kitchen.
It is always really sad to dead head!
Chutney-ing
Ma got handed three large courgettes in 24 hours. Plus we have a few green tomatoes. So with the home made garlic it serves that they can be used up.
The recipe is for garlicky Mediterranean chutney. But this is a modified version. Especially with the green tomatoes. Have also added fennel, aniseed, mustard seeds and paprika. Not sure about the red wine vinegar though. We shall how well this is road tested.
Beautiful brijnal bengan bounty
The jokes are all over. We have two aubergines. They are little and large, streaky down the sides but shiny in places. But they now be in mama’s kitchen. They were sapping their respective plants and flowers were dropping off.
Mama h has decreed that they will meet their fate in being dad’s dinner with home made spuds.
Grown by mama nature; harvested by me!
Aloos sort of 2014
Not really expecting a huge potato crop; due to rain annihilation. But there are a few flowering plants and also a handful of volunteer plants from last years potatoes. Still waiting on a few lady Balfour, king Edwards and Maris pipers that have survived.
horticultural 'obbit 