Thursday 22 July 2010

A pictorial update on the happenings from plot 19

First of all Rust on the garlic forced me to dig it up earlier that I wanted to. The leaves were really badly infected and had lots of spores on them. I had to save the garlic from further troubles, so I dug them up and dried them out on the concrete and newspaper away from the beds, as I didn't want the spores contaminating the earth in the them. The garlic is fine but I wont be able to plait them like last year as the foliage has to be cut off and discarded away from the plot, but at least I didn't lose the garlic.

Courgettes, round, green and yellow. Both equally delicious either baked, steamed or in an Italian sauce recipe.



Siamese courgette !! I had a lot of Siamese veg last year, very odd !!

Mondays harvest. This makes it all worthwhile

And now for the flowers on the plot. First pic, Cosmos 'Double Click' and the single is 'Sonata'



Dahlia 'Pink Giraffe' and living up to it's name this year as it is so tall, strange really as it hasn't grown this tall before. Pink echinacea grown from seed last year.


A bouquet picked on Monday from the garden and allotment. Still going strong today with the exception of a couple of droopy ones going over.

This photo is for DAMO who I know loves dahlias as much as I do. I grew them for the first time this year and they are called 'Stargazer' these two are such pretty colours and I am waiting for the others to flower.

Sweet-peas galore this year both in the garden and at the allotment, so little posies every other day filling the house with glorious scent.




Pumpkins, not sure what this one is but it's getting very big.


Turks Head squash


Chillies in the greenhouse


Peppers in the greenhouse


Tomato, 'Abraham Lincoln' from seeds which I am trialing for 'VICTORIANA NURSERY'
as you can see they are bigger than the palm of my hand, OK I have small hands but believe me they are huge. I can't wait for them to ripen and there are so many of them.


Red onions, doing well and look like they may be ready to harvest soon.



My pride and joy !! success after two years of trying hard to grow aubergines Ssshhhh ! just in-case they fall off overnight !! Three are swelling and there are a few more starting. Moussaka !!!!


12 comments:

sweetmyrtle said...

all looking lovely Maureen! ~ lots of colour too!
shame about the garlic though at least you can still eat it. We have garlic still in the ground planted in early december. When would you recommend lifting?
ginny x

Maureen said...

Hi GINNY, thanks for the comment. I just looked in my little Allotment journal that I add to when I remember to do so, and I lifted my autumn grown garlic last year on 20th July and made a comment that it was an excellent crop, and definitely no sign of rust. So I guess the answer to you for lifting your garlic is about now. You could always dig one up and see if they are big enough, the tops usually go a bit brown when it's ready (not to be confused with the dreaded rust !!) I hope this helps.
Have a good week-end.
M x

sweetmyrtle said...

thanks Maureen, have just lifted one and it is a healthy size!
A happy weekend to you too. The girls have just broken up for summer today so the pace of life will change which is really needed here ~ i am looking forward to a little SLOW!
ginny x

Mrs Dobby said...

Fabulous, I'm jealous of your aubergines, they do look like they'd make a great moussaka!

Kath said...

Fantstic lot of veg there. And flowers. That bouquet is brilliant.

Scented Sweetpeas said...

wow loving that double cosmos, never knew that existed - looks gorgeous.

Pam's English Garden said...

Maureen, Your vegetables and flowers are amazing. The sweet peas are so pretty. I just found rust on my cucumber leaves, and powdery mildew all over the squash leaves... caused I'm sure by the 85% humidity the last few days. Does it mean I must pull them all out? This is my fourth year growing veg. but the first time this has happened. I don't want to spray them. What should I do? Thanks. Pam x
If you get a chance ... my new blog address for your blogroll is https://www.pamsenglishcottagegarden.blogspot.com

Pam said...

I have the first flower on my pink giraffe. Can't wait til they all open up and I can have a bunch in a vase.
Wonderful harvest.
P x

Damo said...

Fabulous Dahlias Maureen, amazing colours. I'm just about to post some more photos of mine including one of ones from the seed you gave me. Oh and the Red Orach is about 8 foot high now. Your pumpkin and aubergine are way ahead of mine, I've got two pumpkin plants from the seeds you gave me that are taking over! And that tomato is huge!!

Maureen said...

Thank you all for the comments.

MRS DOBBY, I can't wait for them to grow bigger to make a moussaka.

VEGETABLE HEAVEN,the little bouquet is still going, I love it.

SCENTED SWEETPEA, I didn't know they existed either until this year, I love them and will now grow them every year.

PAM (ENGLISH GARDEN) to treat the powdery mildew you need to spray with diluted milk, I know this sounds bizarre, but it worked for myself and a fellow plot holder last year. Take off the affected leaves though as the spores can spread, burn them if possible but don't compost them. It's very common when humidity is high, but it shouldn't affect your squashes. I will update you link on my blog.

PAM (Hortensia) I am so pleased that the pink giraffe are flowering, I hope you have a lovely bunch to fill a vase.

DAMO, I checked out your post and the dahlias look fantastic. I'm glad the seeds germinated for you. It's an amazing height that the Red Orach has grown for you, your soil must be very good, I've never known them to grow that high. Have you been brave enough to try eating them yet ?? they are edible and can be steamed. Red Orach is commonly known as poor man's spinach.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I haven't been here for awhile. I came because I'm seeing how far I can get down my blogroll.

You are getting more from your garden than I am. Things are late, and the rabbits have eaten all of the pea plants, and most of the green beans and sweet potatoes.

Those dahlias and other blooms are beautiful!

Anna said...

Looking most pretty as well as productive Maureen. I noticed some rust on my garlic yesterday so will keep a close eye on it. Will be looking out for those dahlias - such vibrant colour !