Visited the allotment today just to have a pick really. We had already been up at the weekend and picked 9 courgettes. Things are coming thick and fast now! Peas, picked, podded and frozen asap to ensure that sugar sweet taste. Broadbeans, all cleared now, although I don't dig the plants out, just cut them at ground level so the nodules on the roots can release nitrogen back into the soil. However, what often happens is the plants reshoot and we can get a small bonus crop. Also french beans, our first proper picking. These are a french variety, can't remember the name, but they are very thin pods with a slight dark speckling. Spring onions, or scallions depending on what side of the pond you are sitting. I have never successfully grown these until this year. I have sown them thickly in short rows staggered over a few weeks to prolong the harvest. Looks like we are going to have masses and they are relatively winter hardy so I will just pull them as needed. Red gooseberry 'Pax', rapsberries 'Glen Ample' and black currants, no name as it was a cutting from a friend. These have been sorted and frozen ready for jamming or baking at another time. Little Gem lettuce, a cos variety, small and sweet. Again, a great success for me with these this year, and again I have successionally sown so I already have another 2 rows at different levels of growth. Dahlias, grown because they are pretty and for cutting. Hopefully next year the plants will be twice as big and the blooms twice as tall. And lastly, my first gladioli to open. I grow these for mum as they were the first flower my darling dad ever brought for her. This one is a good 2 weeks early for some reason. Oh well, I will have to enjoy it. Hope I didn't bore you too much.
Nothing boring about the pictures and it doesn't look like there is anything boring about your allotment either. It is supper time here and your vegies are making me hungrier. The flowers are gorgeous too. The color of that Glad is wonderfully bright.
That's a great producing garden, EJ. You'll have a freezerful of goodies. The Dahlias are a treat to the eyes too. Gardengater
Now THAT'S a good harvest! Good idea to get those peas quickly into the freezer. I know those skinny little beans too, I believe. Do they grow on a low bush close to the ground? I'm looking at those red Gooseberries (Pax). My partner is looking to get a few gooseberry bushes to add to out "orchard". Can you tell me something about them? The Little Gem looks very good this year. mmmmmm... And what about your flowers there! The scarlet dahlias are just as pretty as a picture. That glad is pretty showy too. Well done all the way round, EJ. It's great to see your stuff.
Well there's no denying that you have very green fingers EJ as your crops are always so luscious and make me want to reach into my computer to taste them. :-D I love little gem lettuces - in fact they're the only kind I'll eat - and yours look very tasty. Your dalhias are gorgeous colours. I wish I could grow them here but the earwigs always destroy any I plant.
Toni, doesn't it seem like posts of vegies all come along at supper time. Always makes me hungry, and I know you have mentioned it a couple of times. Not fair!
you've done very good on your allotment. Looks like your flowers are doing very well too. I have glads that are just coming up so I don't think they'll be flowering this year. Those raspberries look delicious.
Thank you everyone for the kind words. Glad I'm not boring you all and sorry that it is supper time when I post. Sjoerd, the gooseberries are a very heavy cropper. Mine is a standard bush, between 3 and 4 foot high. I have to support it's trunk as it produces masses of very big berries which bend the plant around. A regular bush would probably be more stable, but the beauty of a standard is the fruit are easy to pick, cleary seen, good air circulation, minimal pruning and clear of the ground and the sluggies. Pax is a dessert goose I believe, and the berries are incredibly sweet and juicy. A great one to just eat, altho it does also cook wonderfully. Eileen, these dahlias were grown from seed just this spring so I am thrilled with them. I plan to mulch them heavily after the first frost with my home made compost and see if they come back again next year. Fingers crossed.
Thanks EJ...it sounds like a good one for jamming or just eating. Perfect. Can you recommend a gooseberry of another colour as well? I'b be looking to get 2-4 bushes. Thanks for your clear description.
Wow EJ it looks like you have one really green thumb. Those raspberries look so delicious. Here in the states they are so expensive at the market. Your dahilas are gorgeous!
I can't really recommend any other goosegogs sjoerd as the green ones I have on the plot I inherited. They are incredibly sharp fruits, much more a cooker and don't really ripen until mid summer. Thanks for the compliment Bailey. I love raspberries over all other soft fruits, they are devine. As for the dahlias, beginners luck I think!
EJ everything looks wonderful. I've never been able to grow peas that size! The berries are making my mouth water
Yikes - those beans and peas grows pretty big. We have the yellow goose berries here - Man my mouth is drooling just looking at the piccies.
My goodness bored never.What a wonderful crop of veggies you have grown on your allotment.Those are just wonderful and makes me so hungry for everything you have and then all the gorgeous blooms you have.
