The weather here has been ranging from excessively dry to cool and wet. It just keeps flip-flopping. The ground sure needed some moisture, but the hard rains that we had were not very effective, as I found out when planting-out the Purple Sprouting Broccoli. I sunk that bulb planter deeply into the earth and brought up a hand full dirt that was darker than the very top topsoil, but it was dry and almost powdery. Odd. Well never mind that, there are a few things that absolutely need to go into the ground now and so I pressed on, watering each hole thoroughly before adding a sprinkle of Calcium and sinking the plantlets into their new home. I really should have had these in the ground much earlier, but a combination of factors prevented that. :-? That's just the way it goes sometimes. A gardner must be flexible, I always say. There was a shower a couple of days ago that fell just as I finished preparing the old potato bed for the Purple Sprouting Spinach. The plot is half full (24) of the PSB plantlet sort, 'Redhead'. In a few days, I will plant the other type called, 'Rudolph'. I had to throw netting over the lot because the wood doves would otherwise devastate them all in a matter of minutes. Whitefly is a problem, but I will spray the under side of the leaved in a couple of weeks with soapy water, then they will be ready for the winter. Here they are under the netting. This view is taken from the western side of the new garden. I am standing at the edge of the neighbour man's plot for this perspective. Of course no workday is complete with it's just rewards: This is the second wave of sweetcorn, the 'Conquerer'. It stands so proud and robust. You can see the early variety next to it, and notice howe short it was by contrast. The three ears that we selected were looking good. From a distance: ...and from closer by: No melted butter shots this time...it would be too cruel. There are still some flowers blooming in the flower plot, and I am happy to report that it is buzzing with honey bees. The Monarda 'Scorpion'. The daisys are winding down as well. A close encounter with a Lavatera. The last foto of the purple double Alcea. I can't recall the name of this one, it looks sort of like a verbascum sort. I just can't recall. It grows as a weed here and blew-in. I made a start on the strawberries but there are still so many to plant. My little plantlets simply do not have proper root systems yet. The weather is perfect, but...no roots. It is easy to see that things are well and truly winding down here, especially in the flowering plant department, but there are still plenty of veg. There were eight crates-full of veg for the Food Bank this week. Lovely, that. I expect that the toms will be completely finished within another couple of weeks, but their housemates, the paprikas still must turn colour. I guess that I will just have to wait and see what the weather does.
Your lottie is a delight, no matter what time of year it is. I am willing to sacrifice myself and help you get rid of that corn, you know.
I'll come help you out with the corn Droopy. Oh, the sacrifices we make for friends. Everything is looking fantastic as usual in your lottie. Have you been keeping count of the number of crates of food you all have given to the food bank. I imagine all food banks would love to have a group giving as much as you all have. Congrats.
Your garden once again looks so good. I'll be t the corn is mighty tasty. Our corn has tassled but no good corn. We'll have to do something differant with that idea next year. I'm loving those marigolds up by that fence. And these other flowers you have shown, I love upclose picts. Their great for background screens. May I pick your Daisy?
You just keep out doing yourself. The flowers are gorgeous and the corn looks so good. Thanks for not tempting us with the butter!
I love the up close shot of the Lavatera Sjoerd - pure magic!! You've certainly been working hard in the veggie lottie and it's looking great. Thank goodness you didn't post a piccie of butter running down and melting on the sweetcorn this time as my stomach was growling with the last photographs of it. Good news about the foodbank. Those eight crates of fruit and veg will be so much appreciated I'm sure.
Your allotment sure looks tidy Sjoerd! Just seeing your corn is making my mouth water so it's a good thing you didn't show the butter too. I grew Lavetera this year for the first time and I think I will have it every year now! Your blow in is Vervain Sjoerd. It sure is pretty
ROARRRRRRRRRRR (( ))--Oh dear me Droopy, what'r you like! Your altruistic offer is so pure and selfless. I suppose that I shall have to write-up a proposal nomination and send it off to the Nobel Foundation because this remarkable sacrifice is certainaly worthy of the Nobels fredspris. The offer to help me with the consumption of my corn harvest demonstrates the kindness and unselfish personal quality that furthers a good relationship between our countries and the world as a whole. Your pursuit of this noble offer would no doubt be executed with the furvor and focus of a truly committed and dedicated taster. With friends like you..... Well, I must google Nobel and see if I can get the correct e-mail address to submit my proposal now. TONI, you too?? Perhaps I can make a 'batch' proposal for all the brave and selfless volunteers. I have not kept an account of how many crates we have donated thus far. Perhaps I will do that next year, because now I am curious. PETUNIA: No good corn there? Hmmm. Was it that each cob had some kernals but it wasn't full of them? Or was it a question of flavour? If you want to talk about it I have some ideas. You can PM me if you want and we can discuss it. I find it a tragedy that the corn crop wasn't to your liking. What a shame. You sure can pick that daisy. Be my guest. Thank you soi much, Glenda. You say the nicest things. HG: heh heh heh...you're welcome. I found it too cruel to do that again. Thanks, EILEEN-- I am so pleased that you liked the pics. I like growing the Lavatera with deeply orangy-yellow Calendulas. The effect can be stunning in the right light. NETTY: Thanks for the nice words. I suspected that it might have been a Verbena. I did not know which one. It is a simple plant, but I like it quite alot, actually. I like how it sends up a sort of composit of flower stalks instead of just single ones.
All looking very neat and tidy Sjoerd. I assume that is green manure next to the PSB? Our allotments are also arid which drives me insane, everything is wilting and like you, the few short sharp showers do nothing. My waterbutts are all but empty so now we really are relying on old Mother nature. Your corn (drool) looks okay (drool), I mean, I guess (drool) I have seen better (drool).
Hello there EJ-- You are a funny one, you are. What isn't funny is the drought-like conditions there at your lottie. Having said that, you are getting some mahvelous hahvests, dahling. I hope that you and 'AvaB' can get those resovoirs dug before the winter so that you can have a little lee-way with your water supply. ANY extra water would be welcome, right? Of course when you are digging the resovoirs, I suppose that you could put the excess dirt/mud on your lottie and work it in? Hmmmm?
gorgeous pics of your garden sjoerd! everything looks so beautiful and lush. and the corn...i'm with ej, drooling all over my keyboard here. my first batch of Red Miracle Corn, we've eaten and are waiting for the second batch...real soon now. we're in the process of fixing our greenhouse that collapsed two years ago and i'm readyimg to start some plants to grow through the winter months. i've been reading "The Winter Harvest" by Eliot Coleman...and saying to myself, 'i think i can, i think i can, i think i can..." :O) how cold does it get at your lottie in winter sjoerd??
Those are so beautiful....all of the pictures are great and I especially love the bee photo. Do you have bi-colored corn in your area? I enjoy the bi-colored when I buy corn for us to eat. That one variety sure is larger than the others...enjoy ...
Your lottie is so picture perfect with the dark rich soil. I'll have to forgive the "problem" with the corn (giggle). Hard to believe the flowers are coming to an end with all their abilities at being photogenic. Lucky, lucky food bank, so much wonderful produce! Great and wonderful gardening Sjoerd. It is so enjoyable to see.
