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End of summer garden thoughts
It’s officially autumn, now, and the weather agrees. So, how’s the garden doing?
The broadbeans and peas did well, but I’m going to direct sow them this autumn, because overwintering gave me aphids in the conservatory that I’ve still not quite got rid of. I continue to think mange tout are better value than peas, though. French and runner beans did infinitely better than last year, although they’re faltering now (not helped by recent wind damage).
Asparagus seems to be a failure: put in three-yo crowns three years ago, they came up so late I thought they were dead and then produced two or three spears each. May move to a better spot (about now? To check).
Crown Prince squash romped away very well; butternuts not so much: a few, apple-sized fruit is all. Hopefully the tromboncinni will be a good substitute: they seemed quite happy growing up the fence, so a good use of space. Courgettes, as ever, are Productive.
Baby corn has done well, as have the indoor peppers and chillis. Polytunnel pepper not so great. I shan’t mention the aubergines, on account of there haven’t been any (indoors or in the polytunnel). Tomatoes also relatively bad: I’ll get maybe a third of the usual yield, I’d guess. Tomatillos terrible: one meal’s worth.
Potatoes were a successful experiment, and I think will be repeated (about 7.5kg so far, from three out of five stacks). Khol rabi also successful, which was unexpected after the caterpillars instantly turned their leave to lace.
First batch of (direct sown) winter greens vanished the day after they came up. Planted of half of the second batch last week and they seem to be holding their own.
Fruit has been pretty bad. The orchard was droughted at the wrong time, there were a handful of cherries and there are a couple of apples still ripening, but otherwise nothing but medlars, and even those much less than usual. Approx two strawberries, between Bob and probable-squirrels (may give up) and two kiwis. Sour cherry did ok, half a litre of cherries in the cupboard.
Grapes have done very well: about 3kg picked and a few more to come; ideas welcome, though I’m not brave enough to try wine.
I think that’s everything!
In other news, the second half of the concert happened successfully, Benny is slightly lame and the vet is trying to sort him out, we have Eaten Out To Help Out (once), Lettice stole a clutch of eggs (v unusual for a runner) and today I went to Little Quilt Club, where we sat catching up for a couple of hours and then went home without any actual sewing taking place: masks made it hard to listen to what people were saying across the room, so it was a bit hard work, but everyone was present or accounted for, so that was good.
The broadbeans and peas did well, but I’m going to direct sow them this autumn, because overwintering gave me aphids in the conservatory that I’ve still not quite got rid of. I continue to think mange tout are better value than peas, though. French and runner beans did infinitely better than last year, although they’re faltering now (not helped by recent wind damage).
Asparagus seems to be a failure: put in three-yo crowns three years ago, they came up so late I thought they were dead and then produced two or three spears each. May move to a better spot (about now? To check).
Crown Prince squash romped away very well; butternuts not so much: a few, apple-sized fruit is all. Hopefully the tromboncinni will be a good substitute: they seemed quite happy growing up the fence, so a good use of space. Courgettes, as ever, are Productive.
Baby corn has done well, as have the indoor peppers and chillis. Polytunnel pepper not so great. I shan’t mention the aubergines, on account of there haven’t been any (indoors or in the polytunnel). Tomatoes also relatively bad: I’ll get maybe a third of the usual yield, I’d guess. Tomatillos terrible: one meal’s worth.
Potatoes were a successful experiment, and I think will be repeated (about 7.5kg so far, from three out of five stacks). Khol rabi also successful, which was unexpected after the caterpillars instantly turned their leave to lace.
First batch of (direct sown) winter greens vanished the day after they came up. Planted of half of the second batch last week and they seem to be holding their own.
Fruit has been pretty bad. The orchard was droughted at the wrong time, there were a handful of cherries and there are a couple of apples still ripening, but otherwise nothing but medlars, and even those much less than usual. Approx two strawberries, between Bob and probable-squirrels (may give up) and two kiwis. Sour cherry did ok, half a litre of cherries in the cupboard.
Grapes have done very well: about 3kg picked and a few more to come; ideas welcome, though I’m not brave enough to try wine.
I think that’s everything!
In other news, the second half of the concert happened successfully, Benny is slightly lame and the vet is trying to sort him out, we have Eaten Out To Help Out (once), Lettice stole a clutch of eggs (v unusual for a runner) and today I went to Little Quilt Club, where we sat catching up for a couple of hours and then went home without any actual sewing taking place: masks made it hard to listen to what people were saying across the room, so it was a bit hard work, but everyone was present or accounted for, so that was good.
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