More New Raised Beds

Had a day off on Thursday (very rare!) and went to local garden centre for full english breakfast then got 2 more raised beds, also got 2 elephant garlic and some saffron crocuses for the front garden.  Spent a few hours down on plot 119, Simon put the raised beds together to complete the left hand side, just 4 more to get for the right hand side and that will be them completed.  Some critter has been digging up my spring green seeds but the animal has left my January King cabbages alone.  For now!



Went to our local sawmill after to get some free bark which they advertise, was going to do the path to match the other side, but unfortunately the bark was far too coarse for what we needed it for.  Never mind, we bought some wood and stone chippings anyway to do our barbeque area at home so not a wasted journey.

Other things doing well on plot 119 are..... one cauliflower which actually looks like a cauliflower!  The brussel sprouts are starting to form, and the last of the kohl rabi are ready for pulling.  The celery seems to be taking forever to get big though, at this rate the first frosts will get them before we eat any!  Also cleared the area between the greenhouse and the polytunnel and the old compost area, the plan next year is to get rid of the old polytunnel as it is falling apart and put a new smaller one up where the old compost area used to be, will open up a lot more space for digging over, with that extra space we should be in a position to possibly let the other plot go......



 

Chicken Update

The 4 chickens are settling in very well.  Had them about 6 weeks now and they are getting friendlier, had a few chicken cuddles.  After one flew over the fence into next doors garden we looked into putting up a higher fence and went for the cheap option, bought some bamboo screens as we just wanted a barrier to deter them.  Works really well, they have stayed in the garden ever since.  Didn't want to clip their wings as they like to have a little fly about from time to time!  Not wrecking the garden despite my fears, even sit in the raised beds and pick at the bugs, haven't touched the salad!  Just ate the single chard plant that was left over from allotment planting, and that was for them anyway.  Cats are still a little wary of them, one chicken went to sit next to Rosie the cat in the sunshine and started pecking her tail because she was swishing it.  Rosie wasnt impressed.  Still no eggs yet but their combs are reddening up so hopefully they will be mature enough soon.



 

Seed Bargains

After a tip off from a fellow blogger, we went along to the Wyevale Garden Centre today to see if they were also doing their end of season seed sale.  They were, all seeds packets for 50p.  We bought 40 packets and when we got home we totted up all the packet prices and were amazed to see that if we had paid full price for them it would have cost us £111!  Only paid £20.  Got a lot of different chillis for Simon and hopefully just about all the seeds we need for next year on Plot 119.  Just need a few others which they didnt have available, and hopefully get those via vegetableseeds.net.  Really nice to get a bargain!   My middle daughter came as well and bought some chilli seeds too.... might have just got the growing bug after spending the summer with us I think!

More Raised Beds

Now that all the potatoes have been dug up it was time to decide what to do with that space.  The potatoes were ok, no signs of blight, just a few bug holes here and there, definitely doing the Sarpo Mira variety next year, blight resistant and good sized spuds.  Did two this evening as jacket potatoes and they were huge and very tasty!  The King Edwards were a bit small but tasted good and the Caras didnt produce very many, considering the amount we planted.  So just Sarpo Miras next year.

So, a nice bit of allotment all ready to be worked again and we decided to put in some more raised beds to match the other side.  Simon put 4 in to start with, another two to do.  Nothing to plant in those two though so no hurry for those.



Put in some January King cabbages and the bare earth/compost is home to some spring green seeds, some of which are already poking their heads up after only being planted last Sunday.  Started planning what we want to do with the plot next year too, did a bit of a drawn plan and with what we have learnt this year it has helped us to understand our requirements for next year.  For example.... less runner beans!  Less brussel sprouts - dont think we need the 4 rows that we have!  Planning to get rid of the old polytunnel too as it is disintigrating and get a new smaller one to sit neatly beside the greenhouse.  That way we have a large new space which would be ideal for the broad beans and the strawberry patch.  Lots of plans.  Oh, and a petrol strimmer would be nice, hard work keeping all the paths down with a pair of shears!

 

More Produce

A busy couple of weeks on the plots and the runner bean fest seems to go on and on and on and on.......... another two large bag fulls and still more to come on the plants.  Must grow less next year.  The Blue Lake beans seem to be just as productive too, good job we like them!



That haul was from last Sunday, fennel was lovely roasted, parsnips were yummy too.  Suggestively positioned cabbages and cucumber..... and beans, beans, kale, chard and more beans.  Oh and a bunch of flowers.



And from today, yes, more beans.  More fennel - had that for tea with a nice piece of barramundi and monkfish.  Some of Simons chilli peppers and one of my long sweet peppers.  Bit of spinach, a kohl rabi and the last of the rhubarb for this season.  The chilli peppers are really good - Simon has strung them up in the kitchen and they look very pretty.  Especially his 'devil' chilli.