Tuesday 27 June 2017

Harvest after Harvest

Just another quick visit on Sunday, but did manage to set light to the huge pile of weeds that were drying.
We grow a lot of flowers on our plot, not only do they look nice but are very beneficial to insects & especially Bees. 
In fact there is one feasting on this poppy. 
Just one of the harvests done today:
 Mixed berries (Strawberries, Loganberries etc) 
Raspberries & Rhubarb.
This harvest from Saturday: 
Blueberries, Loganberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Courgette, Broad Beans, Potatoes & Sweetpeas.
Lots of Courgette flowers.
Calendulas have taken over this bed, we don't mind, as the Bees love it.
The Lavender looking & smelling lovely, we have more in paler colours and the Bees go mad for it.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo

Sunday 18 June 2017

Fathers Day on the plot

First job to do today was to lift all the Onions and leave to dry, we have Red Winter & white Senshyu.
In the space left where the Onions were, we planted some more Rainbow Chard, a row of Beetroot (seed), Asparagus Peas and some more Sunflowers.
Potatoes still growing well, we have already harvested some Charlotte and had them for dinner, twice.
These are the Cara main potatoes, getting taller now, was too busy with the other jobs, so didn't get a chance to earth them up!
The Broad Beans I tied up last week are getting bigger, the Borlotti Beans behind have almost reached the top of the cane wig-wams.
While harvesting the Broad Beans we noticed a lot of Ladybirds feasting on the Blackfly. 

There was a couple mating too!
Talking of harvest, here is what we got just today: 
Mini Turnips, 
Broad Beans, 
Strawberries, 
Raspberries 
and Sweetpeas.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo

Monday 12 June 2017

A quick visit and a bumper harvest.

 Lets start with yesterday's Harvest: 
Victoria Rhubarb, Strawberries, Raspberries, Broad Beans & Salad leaves.
Harvested the Garlic planted last autumn, not sure the variety, but will try to find out.

Now hung up in the greenhouse to dry.
Had to support the Broad Beans, they were getting a bit wind blown and they don't like it, so we tied them to canes with bottle cane tops, that rattle in the wind & prevent eye stab!
The Cara potatoes looking good after last earthing up.
The onion leaves are starting to bend over and the onions themselves are looking big after all the rain, will harvest them soon.
The Sweetcorn I put in has grown and doing well. 
Lets hope we get a long hot summer to grow the corn!

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo

Sunday 4 June 2017

Now officially Summer

First job today was to finish clearing this patch, for the last of the crops to plant out, Beans, Beetroot, Leeks & Kale we think.

It made a huge pile of weeds to dry for burning! 

But at least we got it cleared in time.
Just look at all these Apples forming, this one is the Heritage Woodbrook Pippin, the Cox's Orange Pippin are also heavy with fruit. 
I know they loose some as windfall to assist the remainder to grow to full maturity.
Loads of Bees were busy again today on the Sage bush, the Comfrey was covered in Bees too.
We have a new nest in the shed, not there last week, a perfect Wasp nest, you cant help admiring the work gone into making it. 
Anyway back to the patch cleared earlier today, we planted some Dwarf French Beans: 
Tendergreen, Amethyst (Purple) and Canadian Wonder, that we started off in cells at home. 
Today's Harvest: More delicious Strawberries (12oz/340g). 
Lovely on a Scone with whipped cream. 
As the title says officially Summer and it was a glorious day, we got lots done. 
Next week rain, heavy rain is expected, but at least it will water all we put in & fill up the rain barrels and the well too.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo.