17th August, 2008

There's been no blog for a bit because it was holiday time. You hope for blazing hot weather but then you worry about the veg drying up. The weather was mixed so both situations were accomodated. The in-laws kindly oversee the watering just in case; despite the automatic drip system for the greenhouse not all the plants are covered by it and a watering can has to be involved.

So what is happening in the greenhouse? I've got a decent cucumber! I hope it's not bitter as this is the first time I've grown a non all-female variety.



And there is a half decent melon forming, but I never seem to be able to grow more than one per plant.



The chillis are also fruiting. I bit into one to try it out and they have a good amount of heat in them despite them still being green.



I found this little guy living in the tray of water that the aubergines and peppers stand in. I can't adjust the flow to each dripper so this tray fills up whereas the trays for the tomatoes dries out so it's a compromise. The water helps maintain humidity levels and provides a home for slug eating amphibians. The aubergines and peppers are fruiting so standing in water has not been detrimental.



Outside the tomatoes (sub arctic plenty) are ready and they taste good; never tried them before.



I think I will get some leeks this year after all, they were very thin when they were planted out late but they are fattening up nicely.



It's surprising what people throw away. Nearby several bags of spent potting compost had been fly tipped so ever the opportunist I bagged it up and spread it over the beds that had once been lawn as these need it the most. Here it is around the developing squash plants which have started to develop little fruits.



Some of the sweetcorn cobs look nearly ready! Another few weeks perhaps, when the tassles have darkened a bit more.



I've been picking beetroot for a few weeks now as and when they are ready. I did plan to pickle some but I probably will eat them all before that.



I was concerned that the asparagus was not growing well but it has continued to throw up new spears through the season and the ferns are a decent size now. I've added some compost as a mulch too as the soil looks quite dry. In the winter I'll lay on a nice deep mulch of well rotted compost.



It's a mixed bag on the fruit trees. There is only one pear.



And a few plums.



But lots of apples!



Looks like there will be a lot of stewed apples! I do plan to have a go at making cider although I suspect the result will be a very dry cider. I'm going to make a cider press using these plans

And talking of gluts, the mother of all gluts has been the courgettes. I've made curries, soups, cakes, puree and chutney and still they come! More like marrows sometimes.



What about this for a turnip? A monster! It was made into a rather nice gratin meal; I got the recipe from Milly on the Grow Your Own forum.