Saturday 31 August 2013

Time for tomatoes

Despite complete neglect, the tomatoes seem to be doing well and on the whole are escaping the slugs and blight. I gathered 1.5kg today and made a great sauce from any bashed ones (including some figs in).

I also spotted a bumblebee on a bright pink zinia which are among the flowers that I am growing as cutting flowers. A particular success has been the statice also known as sea lavender (Limonium) which has grown particularly well in white and peach - the blue and hot pink were less plentiful.


Squash challenge

It's that time of year again. The time when squash become a staple of our diet and I need to get creative in the kitchen.

Currently we have 4.41kg of yellow patty pan squash which look like mini flying saucers but taste much better.

On top of that a kind allotment neighbour, Adrian, offered me 3 of his courgettes which had overgrown into marrows when he wasn't looking. (Another 3.06kg)
Definitely time to search out the squash recipes.

The weather has been weird - more like April sunshine and showers. (17/8)
Tomatoes are starting to ripen but I should have staked them, fed them and pinched out side shoots. They are now prolific and resting on the ground.

I also cut down the old raspberry canes but didn't have time to take them to the tip. With winter brassicas in under weed suppressing fabric it's starting to look ready for Xmas.As I said I planted winter brassicas through weed fabric but most have been eaten. How can I help them survive?

I also stripped our stairs of carpet so will use that over a mulch of manure to prepare the soil for planting next year.