As the summer rolls along, so do the veggies. The care for them is minimal now, but ongoing as is the cycle of things that need to be planted still and the ground and beds that need attention. A day in the lotties always begins with an inspection of flower garden, old veggie plots and the new lottie as soon as the bikes are parked, the shed opened and the chairs and table are set up. A trip to the new garden showed that we needed to get the rest of the spuds removed from the front section to make room for prei (leeks) and Purple Sprouting Broccoli. We thought that would be the first thing to do; however, when we went further and inspected the corn, we noticed damage to two ears. Tch! Was it jackdaws or rats? I felt sure that it was jackdaws, based upon the way the the husks had been opened. This ment that the very, very first thing to be done was to put up a net. Yes, to put up a net without further ado. I glanced at the courgette plants and runners and saw that harvest wopuld be necessary...but first, the net. It took a while to get the nets up, over and around the corn plants. You don't just throw nets over the plants and walk away. I bit of thought had to go into it. The size and shape of the nets available had to be taken into consideration and placed in a way that was easy to do yet provide the most secure protection...and we had to choose an area when we would enter to harvest. This place had to be easy to get into and out of each time, yet totally secure. Well folks, it isn't much to look at, but it seems functional. Let's hope so. The next thing to do was to remove some taters and work the ground up close to the hedge and plant a couple of rows of leeks. That went well, because the ground had been min-tilled, manured and covered for the winter the preceeding two years. It was soft and loose, so scraping out a trench was no big deal. Here they are. I still have more leeks and will possibly put in one more row. We will see how many Purple Sprouting Broccoli plants make it to adolesence. After a well-deserved rest and lunch, it was on to the green house and the toms. The toms had top be checked for ripeness and a few picked. They are looking good and red, some of them...but they are all not ready just yet. They are not at all soft and they do not release from the vine. I do always remove a couple that are not quite ripe so that I don't get caught without at home. we eat big salads with every mean and sometimes we just lift one out of the bowl as we walk by and eat it. The beet(root)s were looking good and some could be lifted. Here are a lot destined for the Food Bank (which comes today). There were more and we boiled, cleaned and sliced a few to freeze-in for ourselves. There were ample courgettes to harvest and when I looked-in on the yellow crook-necked ones I saw the many were on the way. By the end of the day, there were kilos of veg that had been harvested. There would have been more for the Food Bank, but my bride gave away or traded alot of courgettes and beans with our garden pals from up the way. hahaha. On the way to the bikes, my partner wanted top empty the sweetpea wigwam of flowers, so here's the compacted bouquet she put together. What a glorious fragrence here in the living room now!
Mmmm! What a lovely bouquet of edibles and inedibles alike. You do such good work, donating to the food bank. I'm certain they appreciate every bean and beet they get. I know I would. Good luck with keeping the birds off your corn. A good thing they haven't got wits enough to get underneath that net of yours.
Lovely way to start my day this morning, Sjoerd, with a trip to your lottie. Wish I could stay longer... but must go on to work.
Thanks loads, Droopy. Well, jackdaws actually are very inventive and smart when it comes to relieving a gardner of his veg. For instance a group of them will sit on nets and make them sink so that they can get at the veg...if the tents or nets are not secure. As for getting underneith the nets--there's no way. The nets are snugly secure at the bottom with self-made tent peg-like things. I hope that the folks in need really do enjoy the fresh veg, I know that I would too....and HOW! Glad you liked the start of your day, Daisy. Pity you didn't have time to stay awhile. Maybe you would have pinched a bean or two. --chuckle.
I hope those pesky jackdaws stay away from your corn now that the net is in place. There's nothing worse than having a crop ruined by birds, rats or insects is there? You've certainly got a lovely amount of taters there Sjoerd. I can almost taste them - boiled with lots of fresh butter melting over them. You've managed to get together a good lot of veggies for the food bank and I'm sure every last one will be very much appreciated. I really MUST remember to plant Sweet Pease next year. I don't know why I forgot about them this year - must be old age creeping up on me. :-?
I do wish I lived near your lottie.Those beans and taters would really make my day and those squash look so yummy.I hope the birds are kept at bay until your corn is in.I loved my visit to your Lottie.
Enjoy the pics of the picked :-D . The birds are quite fond of your vegies. Thank goodness ours aren't so intelligent. Your lottie is doing marvels under your direction. We are such a "tomato eating couple" that those tomatoes would not have a chance in our garden. lol Once they get a flush of red they are devoured.
Your crops look fantastic Sjoerd! I saw those red potatoes and my mouth started to drool...yum! Do you cut the tops off your leeks Sjoerd? Should I be doing that too?
I have tasted those red potatoes, and they are sooo delicious. I wonder if they will grow up here and how I can manage to get hold of some.
Oh Sjoerd, it all looks fab, and you had a dry day. It has been dreadful here in Essex today and I had to take mum back to Surrey today, so we didn't get to the allotment again. Tomorrow is the day for a picking, whatever the weather! Question time. Your crookneck squash - are they winter squash for storing, or do you use them like courgettes? What variety of beetroot are they? I'm sure you have said before but I can't remember. I have had a rubbish seedling year this year due to the muntjac and the weather. I bet the sweetpeas smell fab in your home. I wonder what damage the torrential rainfall we have had will have done to ours.
Thanks Eileen...I hope those ravenous jackdaws can be kept at bay too. Garden pests here are numerous and one must always be on their toes. D youy need a wake-up call for those sweetpeas? hee hee hee. I wish that youi lived closer to the lottie too, Glenda. I'll bet you would come by for coffee and a natter all the time. That would be fun, wouldn't it. It seems that every day someone comes by at some point for chatting about this, that or the other. It is one of the most important aspects of gardening, y'know---socializing. It's like "legal" breaktimes. Thanks Penny and Jewell--it's good to hear such kind words. I know what you mean, Jewell. Lots and lots of toms never make it home. Netty-- Yes I do cut the tops off my leeks at the time of transplanting...I also take off the lower third of the roots. Well Droopy, I'm glad you liked those red taters. (huge grin of pride). As for getting hold of some -- well you just ring-up ole Sjoerd, the Northwest distributer and he'll fix it for you. Hiyah EJ--Thanks for your nice remarks. The yellow crookneck squashes I am trying for the first time this year, so I don't know for sure if they can be stored for winter use. Having said that, the T&M info on the seed pack says they are, and I quote, "ideal for freezing". I use them like I would the normal courgette, but I may well try freezing some in to see how they do. The long, red beetroot variety are the Alto F1 Hybred. It is the first year that I try these as well. I find the taste not as earthy as other types of beetroot. I am also growing the red and white ringed Choggia, as well as the pure white "Albina Vereduna". You can eat the leaves of this one when you lift them.--I am sorry to hear that your beetroots aren't doing well this season. Fingers tightly crossed that your Lathyrus are in tact when you go to have a look. BTW, Have yiou thought of entering the "Gardner of the Year" thing on the BBC? I think that you would make a chance. Why not give iot a try? Can you imaging what it would do for your business? Even the notarity of just participating would boost it, can you imagine what would happen if you WON!?! I'm telling you, Emma...you could win it.
wonderful pics sjoerd! your garden looks wonderful, so lush and green! those birds have mighty good taste! we're growing Chioggia beets this year too. love the colors and the ring affect of them, good for market. great flavor and great for freezing and canning. we also grow the yellow crooknecks. they are good for freezing like you said and dehydrating. when one throws a few rings of dried crookneck into a soup or stew it tastes just like fresh picked! same with dried broccoli, cabbage, etc... we consider these yellow crookneck squash summer squash, not winter. they have a very delicate skin that does not harden over time, but deteriorates. if one grows the squashes really large, then they develop a tougher skin, and will keep longer. but, imo, the flavor is in the small ones. keep the great pics coming!!!
