Not, in fact, the filling of unstructured gaps but simply a lame title for a session of dreary, factual ramblings that attempt to illuminate the unlit period between mid-August and now. First: the allotment.
On Wednesday, I worked at home and harvested the maincrop spuds. I cut the haulms at dawn, did an long hour of digging with Neve at lunchtime (Isa was out in town at a Boden sale), and then went back to finish off before dinner. Got a good crop of Pink Fir Apple — all a good size and little evidence of pests — and a smaller and slightly wormier crop of Rooster; I’d say about 30 per cent of the Roosters had holes in. It was interesting to see that the plants growing in the bed I’d double-dug and then dug-in the chicken manure produced much larger spuds (and larger, greener plants) than the single-dug, top-dressed bed.
Next year, I should try and get the spuds in earlier.
The days are cooler now, and the light shorter. When I get up at 5:30, it’s still dark. I went to the allotment this morning at 5:55 and it was just light enough to tell which tomatoes were ripe enough to pick. I think that within a week the pre-work allotment trips will be over until spring.
The courgettes and cucumbers are done; I may get a final crop of courgettes but the fruit is currently tiny and growing slowly. Although we did get quite a few of the Crystal Lemon, it was never really enough to say they “worked”. I think next year, I should start them earlier and grow them in the greenhouse. And should do some other type as well.
The Mavras pepper in the greenhouse has a couple of fruit on it; I suspect that’s all we’ll get — next year, need to start the peppers much, much earlier. And grow them in the greenhouse borders.
The tomatoes have done very well outside, in terms of weight of fruit; those in the greenhouse have fared much worse. Again, need to start earlier next year — they are only just starting to go red now and I’ll have to pick many green. The F1 Incas are impressive: meaty and tasty — I’ll go for those next year.
The French beans finished over a week ago; and the Borlotti plants have withered; the pods are drying on the plants. Fennel is looking good but not sure when it’ll be ready to harvest. Kale is thriving; much of a good size and ready to eat. The spinach ad beets, and the emerging and various brassicas all look OK, though much weeding is required. I look in vain for signs of the spring onion…
Now I need to dig over the potato beds and sow the Hungarian Grazing Rye.