Saturday 24 September 2011

Clearing up and putting to bed

It's that time again !! you know the time when the plot and the garden looks untidy, with dead or dying plants and it really all needs clearing up and putting to bed for the autumn and winter months. YEAH !! I look forward to doing this as it's a time of reflection and planning for next year.
My son moved recently and in the garden there was a brilliant cold frame that I had my eye on, sadly the elderly lady had died and her family didn't want it and left it behind.   So I have it now on the allotment  plot. I just need to buy some more glass and bits and bobs for it and it will be so handy. I love it.

We worked on the plot for two half days this week, pulling up plants that had finished, weeding (lots) covering some beds, moving my strawberry bed to somewhere sunnier and planting new runners and new varieties. I also planted a Victoria Plum tree that was in the sale at our local garden centre. It's in and staked and fingers crossed there will be plums next year as it is a mature potted tree.

The plum tree

The Cape gooseberry plant in the greenhouse has been very productive and I have had quite a number of fruits off it and there are still more to ripen. I will have another go growing another next year and put it in an even bigger pot and give it more room to grow.

Cape Gooseberries.

The chillies have been amazig this year. I grew about four different varieties, one in particular is VERY hot.



This year wasn't a successful year for the Pumpkins and squashes, but I have had some and they look lovely.



The Globe artichokes surprised me by having so many fruits on for their first year, but the hearts weren't very big and that's the best part for me especially pickled in olive oil and garlic. So I decided to not harvest this year and I allowed them to produce their amazing flowers. The bees love them and so do I.




And here is a photo of the plot looking tidy and although a bit bare there is still some things to pick for instance mangetout which is the second sowing and there is an amazing amount of spinach which is still producing tasty leaves. It looks even tidier now as the grass has been cut since the photo was taken.






That's about all my news for now. I know I have been a bit neglectful of the blog and my blog reading  recently, but we have been in London quite a bit.

I hope you have all had some wonderful harvests this year and if not ! Well there is always next year.

15 comments:

Mark Willis said...

Maureen, I would like to know which chilli variety was the very hot one please. My chillis all seem to be very mild this year. Is it the cool Summer weather that has made them less hot than usual, I wonder?
I love the artichoke photos!

Maureen said...

Hi Mark
The hot chillies are called Pyramid, they are tiny and are an attractive little bush type chilli and the chillies grow upwards, They turn from green to red. Also 'Unwins' pepper chilli 'Tokyo Hot' is fiery . I have bought for next year Suttons chilli pepper 'Demon Red' Hope this helps

Unknown said...

I've got a load of cleaning up to do too! It's always sad chucking plants onto the compost pile but also fun to think of what to grow next year :)

Maureen said...

Hi Tanya, I have just been over to your blog and found the variety of subjects in your posts very interesting. Your cat Sheba is beautiful.

The Cookie Jar said...

Like yourself I have been sorting out my plot. Some things did great, others I will not bother to grow again. I will have to buy potatoes this week It is the first time since June. The garden is next on the list for a good tidy.

Maureen said...

Cookie Jar, thanks for the comment. I did visit your blog and tried to leave a message but it wouldn't send. Your plot looks well organised and tidy, and your new rose is lovely.

i doodle garden said...

brill image of the chillies!

Maureen said...

Thanks for the comment i doodle garden' I hope college is going OK.

Heather said...

Hi Maureen,
You have grown some fantastic veg this year! Are you quite far south or do you have a greenhouse? I'm in Scotland and would be struggling to grow chillis - or even globe artichokes, I think! And my squash came to nothing last year. Very envious of your efforts - put mine to shame!

Maureen said...

Thanks HEATHER, yes I am quite far south and I do have a greenhouse on my plot which is Where I grow the chillies and the Cape Gooseberry. I have tried using the google account to leave you a message on your blog, but I get an error message saying:- Input error- cookie value is null for FormRestoration !!! what the hell that means is beyond me I haven't a clue ! it says the same when I tried to leave 'i doodle garden' a message too.

Damo said...

The end of another growing year, great chillies and artichokes!

Maureen said...

Thanks Damo, you know I will be glad to get to the end of the season, sometimes it all gets a bit much what with the garden and the allotment. I don't know how you do it with a young family and working. Hats off to you !!!

Unknown said...

Thanks Maureen...Sheba is a little beauty. We got her and her brother in April this year - they're Korats, though she is a rare colour of Korat called a 'Thai Lilac'. I just love them both :)

Anonymous said...

It certainly is that time of year again- trying to get everything tidied up and planting tulip bulbs and hedgecutting. And definite not going to rely on weather being kind enough to let us do it in the run up to Christmas - learnt my lesson last year!
Hope you're well,
P xx

Maureen said...

Hi PAM, yes I am well thank you and apologise for not getting in touch. Will do that on Monday.
I have been busy as are we all at this time of year.
M x