Fall Work In The Allotment

Harvesting those parsnips was the real fun part of recent 'winterizing' chores on the allotment. There were (and are) other things that must be done, such as: Plat weeding and clean-up, ground preparation, taking the windows out of the greenhouse and storing them away until the spring--those sorts of things. They are all necessary, but not always great fun when the weather is anything less than optimal.
We have a prevailing moist and cold wind here (often n-easterly). Burrrrr, just saying the words gives me a little shiver. Ach, once you get going, it isn't too bad though...and then there is always the promise of hot tea and bikkies periodically. You haver to keep the troops topped-off with refreshment if you want to get anything out of them.

One of the first things that had to be done was the bringing down of the runner bean racks. Do you remember how they looked back in the summer?

Luscious green foliage and cheerful red flowers...yes, but that was then; now it looks quite a bit differently.
The vines have been slid off their poles


...and the poles pulled-up, wind-dried and placed back on the covered wood pile.
The ground had old manure spread over it and then the plot was min-tilled and covered with the dying runner vines.
Just starting with covering the min-tilled soil.


The bed is now completely covered with the old runner vines.


I am hoping that the weather will improve so that I can finish the plots. I still have to clear dead courgette vines, Perpetual Spinach, Swiss Chard, as well as the last of the beets--then that third of the new garden will be ready for working and covering.

An overview of the new garden shows the Purple Sprouting Broccoli under the netting in the foreground, then just beyond that, the green manure.


The Lupins look so pretty blooming there. In-between the rows of Lupine are rows of Phacelia, which will only partially bloom--the weather is just too bad for them...and now the honeybees that would come have pretty much gone into their "winter mode" now.

I just had to show one more foto of those nice parsnips again-- gleaming-white in the sun, drying on the hedge.


There were only the papriks's left in the green house, so out they came! Here are the last of those:


They took a while to wash, chop and bag once home, but they will come in handy for cooking during the course of the year.

The greenhouse looks so barren now. I left one final marigold plant in the back corner to keep me company. It's reprieve will be short-lived once the wind dies down, I will have to remove the glass panes then.


As a final bonus for me, I have harvested some sage and a few Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) stigmata. I am hoping that the plants will produce more flowers soon, so I can get that out of the way. I noticed that the original bulbs that I planted last year have multiplied, so this looks promising.

 

Ah. It's sort of sad to see your winding-down business. Now I know it's autumn for real, and I have to wait for spring before I can see new lottie photos.

(I forgot to order Crocus sativus this year as well. )

 

You have so muc work you do on the allotment, I love seeing whats going on even the autumn winding down, Its a great idea about laying the vines as compost I didnt know people did that. Are the Paprika's very spicy? I have never seen paprika's before I dont think. they sure do look good though and those parsnips, WOW! they are wonderful.

 

You are always so busy Sjoerd - and so productive! I'm wondering why you cover the soil with the old vines ... I would be afraid of pests over-wintering under there.

 

FRANK--I haven't got a name for that marigold plant. If it is still there after the weekend, I guess that I will have to, otherwise, it's feelings might get hurt.
You are right, I did write a posting about doing Saffron crocuses.

Ahhhhhhh...sorry DROOPY. I didn't mean top make you feel sad. Shame on you for forgetting to order those bulbs, though.

Thanks for your nice comments, PLAYTIME.
Those Paprika's are not spicey at all--they are just regular capsicums and their flavour is exactly like bell peppers.

Well, NETTY-- the reason that I cover the ground with the bean vines is to keep it loose after I min-till it, attract worms and protect the top layer from too much rain and UV rays.
In the spring, if it hasn't completely composted then I dig it in or put what's left in the compost bin. By then most of the 'nutrition' that was in the leaves and stems will have melted down to the soil anyway.
Should there be slugs and snails that overwintered under the vines...well I whip the vines off and leave the plot--the Jackdaws, robins and other birds come in quickly enough and have a feast. It all works out fine.

 

I sure hate to see your lottie winding down.I will sure miss all your wonderful veggies and all your blooms.
Its always a sad time when you start taking all down.
:'(

 

Yes Glenda, it is a sad time in a way...but I garden and spend time in the garden all year long. It is true that there is a long "dry spell" when I will have no flowers, that is true, and there are lots of veggie sorts that sleep in my freezer and their sort will not be seen until next year...all true; however, I still have catalogues to pour-over as I look and plan for next year.
As for the veg--well, I have pulled-up and processed much, but I still have some winter crops left. I am especiually proud of my Purple Sprouting Broccoli for instance. Hopefully I can eat from this during the winter when no one else on the complex will have any fresh broccoli to nibble on.
I say, "no one else", but there are two ladies near my plots (Hetty and Netty) whom I have given a few plants, so they may well have some flourettes to eat. No onme else seems interested.

So, I guess that what I am trying to say is that the winding-down time is a little sad in a way, but because of the way thast I garden, my attention is turned towards the future and so I don't dwell on it so much.

Thanks very much for your nice words. You seem to like my garden as much as I do myself. Ha ha ha

 

Sjoerd, you really know your stuff! That allotment looks beautifully laid out and maintained.

What do you do with your bean vines once they are down? I actually dry mine and use them as a tying material the next season. It isn't strong or flexible, but it does work well for some applications.

 

great post and pics, as always sjoerd! i really enjoyed seeing all you do. we're also in the midst of digging up the rest of our carrots, beets, and taking down the bean trellises.

the purple sprouting broccoli looks spectacular! ought to be scruptious eating.

i will have to look for your postings on Crocus sativus. it sounds like something i'd like to try next spring.

i planted parsnips this past spring and not one seed germinated???! i read later about how it might be due to the heat of the day, we had lots of unusual warmth this spring. not sure what happened, but i noticed the other day that there are some germinating now, since we've had the cold (i had left the seeds undisturbed in the ground.) i had bought some parsnips and have saved pieces of the tops and was thinking of planting them. many grand experiments we have going on here! i believe they are a perennial, right? figured they pop up next spring...maybe!

 

Parsnips are very difficult to get to germinate. Even nurserymen find those difficult. 100% failure is not unusual, persistance is absolutely necessary.

 

thanks grownforyou! that's what i've been reading. i have some leftover seed, and may just put it in the ground before winter to see what happens....then again....maybe sjoerd will tell us some tricks!

 

Sjoerd I do love your garden almost as much as you and yor bride.I just don't get to eat it

 

GROWNFORYOU--I cover the soil with my bean vines to keep it loose after I have first min-tilled it. this attracts worms and protects the top layer from too much rain and UV rays.
In the spring, if they haven't completely composted, then I dig it in or put what's left of the debris in the compost bin. By then most of the 'nutrition' that was in the leaves and stems will have melted down to the soil anyway.
Should there be slugs and snails that overwintered under the vines...well I whip the vines off and leave the plot--the Jackdaws, robins and other birds come in quickly enough and have a feast. It all works out fine.
Some years I chop the vines up and add them to the compost bin only.
Using spent bean vines to tie things sounds like a good idea to me, G4U.

BUNKIE-- Nice to see you. Glad you liked the posting.
Here is the old Crocus link from last year:
http://www.gardenstew.com/about12543.html
I hope that you find it useful. You don't plant these bulbs in the spring, though--you plant them in June or July.

As for the Parsnips: I am not sure if they are perennials or not (perhaps the wild ones are, but the hybrids, I don't know. If the roots do not die away after one or two seasons, it may well be too "woody" to enjoy eating.
I always do mine the same way:

First of all let me say that soil is the most important factor when growing parsnips. If your soil has too many pebbles or has been recently fertilized, the roots will probably fork or become mishapen. Parsnips like a loose and free-draining soil with an average pH of ~6.5. They do not do well if the soil is too acidic.

STEP 1--Prepare your soil making is loose and fertile about one month before you actually plan to plant. Dig it good and deep, because the parsnip can be quite long.

STEP 2--Sowing: the ideal time to sow is April-June. There are many types of Parsnips--look on the seed pack to see what they advise. I tend to plant mine earlier rather than later in that time frame, regardless of what the pack might say.
The day that you plan to sow (or the day before) mark your rows with pegs and twine then work that row until the soil in the row has a very fine tilth (there are wonderful tools for this, but you can do it conventionally too).

STEP 3--Make a shallow-ish furrow, fill that half full with a fine and very well-rotted compost and water that in liberally without the rose.
You know that you should always plant on a sunny day, right? Well, after watering, leave the watered furrow open for at least an hour and let the sun warm that furrow up good before sowing (this is to help with germination).

STEP 4--place three seeds together in a group about every 20 cm's(8in.) and 1 cm (½ in.) deep.
Cover the seeds with a very thin/fine soil or as I do, with ~1mm fine soil then vermiculite on top of that.

STEP 5--Lightly water-in each row (close to the ground to prevent disruption of the seeds) with a watering can with a sprayer (rose) on it.

Addendum: When you have one of those years where you just can't seem to get those things to germinate, you can germinate them by placing the seeds in a soaking wet paper towel, fold it over on itself and place in a closed plastic container (like an ice cream container) and place that on a heating pad. Fold a few newspaper pages and place them between the plastic container and the heating pad. You should check the seeds after about five days...then every day until you see miniscule root tips beginning to appear.
Then you see them you must get them into the ground without delay (root tip down, of course).
You might ask, "Why not do that in the first place then". The reason is that Parsnip roots are so increadibly sensitive to disruption--resulting in malformation or death, that the technique is actually used as a "last-ditch measure" only.

Bunkie, there are of course, different ways to do this--but this is the technique that I use and it is successful for me.
Just remember--soil is the most important aspect of planting Parsnips, so put meticulous effort into getting that right.

Well Glenda, I suppose that you will have to fly over one of these days and have a few meals with us. Why, you could pick your own!

 

I think that your lottie reflects all of the time and effort and love you put into it. It does take a lot of hard work to do this. I know one of the small produce farmer's here works so hard on his, but there isn't a weed to be seen and he amends the soil and takes so much time with it. The results are worth the effort. When we don't take the time or put in the hours it takes the produce shows us with the results. People who love gardening and take the time it needs get beautiful and healthy plants. Some people have that talent just as others can do other things. Us that don't have the talent do the best that we can and it makes us feel good just to see the things grow. We can enjoy seeing yours and it makes us feel like we accomplished something. I'm not sure where I'm going with this so I'll stop now.

dooley