The beginning of the end of summer on the plot. Last weekend was mainly essential maintenance and the first Allotment Association bbq, which was an unqualified success, due in part to the great weather. Great to see our renovated shed up and ready for use.
Several things had to be relieved of their misery - the second 
sowing of peas had alas resulted in more downy mildew, the french beans had ceased to produce and the spent sweetcorn. The courgettes, bless them, are still going. However, there is little point in denying that the end is nigh for the main growing season.
We had to harvest our butternut squash now as well, as the plants appeared to die overnight. We suspect downy mildew. Although the plants themselves had died, we have harvested 9 squash, ranging from small to medium. They are drying on our conservatory window ledge, looking rather like pears. We know that the butternut squash seedling we had donated to Pat and Jan is still flourishing and growing, so it definitely was a premature end to our harvest.
The mini-pop sweetcorn is left in to provide an attractive windbreak, but we won't be eating their cobs unfortunately as they were bred to be eaten small. Letting them grow was a miscalculation. Bigger is not always better.
The sweetpeas are dying down as are the runner beans. Elsewhere in the fruitcage, the raspberries are in full flood. We have even frozen some. They are delicious. There is even the chance of a second crop of strawberries as some flowers have appeared.
Of the seed sowings we made recently - of winter crops that grow over winter - only the chard and overwintering onions seem to be thriving. The spring cabbage seedlings in the seedbed have been protected by our famous home-made cloche system. We sow some winter spinach, winter spring onions and lettuce at home to get started in the cold frame.
The cabbages are doing well, albeit some have been severely attacked. We are at a loss as to what to do - they are protected by environmesh after all which should keep out the white butterflies that lay the caterpillar eggs. However, it was pointed out that by protecting our crops against pigeons we are also preventing other more helpful birds picking off the caterpillars for a juicy snack. Quid pro quo it would seem. We hope that the forthcoming cold and winter will kill them off anyway. The plants that are not attacked are thriving.
The leeks are looking good, though not as big yet as we had hoped. The 
green manure on the erstwhile potato patch is making its appearance, though slowly. Guess that's because of the time of year. The kale is looking splendid - quite Japanese in its curly purple beauty.
We also had a visit from Penelope, N's mum, who picked raspberries and blackberries most diligently. Over a tuno mayonnaise sandwich we mused on the therapeutic properties of allotmenteering.
N did a sterling job of laying more (free) paving slabs to increase the 
firm and weed-killing barriers and footways between essential areas of the plot. It will make an enormous difference in terms of mud and weeds. And it looks neat too.
Weather note: finally we have had a taste of summer, a lovely wistful Indian summer. We have felt warm and enervated by the sun. A shame it couldn't have happened earlier is the general view amongst the various plot holders. But you learn to be grateful for whatever you get.
The St Stephens Gardening Club Annual Show 2008 is over. The results are in. But more on that later - first you must wade through our account of the build-up to the show.
Much consideration was given to strategy. Last year's results set the bar pretty high, but we're not going to rest on our laurel (Novice Potato: Second Prize). We shortlisted entries in the following categories:
- 1: collection of vegetables, 5 distinct kinds, to be staged on 900mm of table space
- 1a: as above, 3 kinds
- 2: potatoes white, 5
- 3: potatoes coloured, 5
- 4: heaviest potato
- 5: onions grown from seed, 5
- 19: courgettes (zucchini), 3
- 25: any other vegetable for which no separate class exists
- 80 (Novice): potatoes, 5
- 85 (Novice): any other vegetable for which no separate class exists in Novice section - our contenders were Elephant garlic, garlic and sweetcorn
- 86 (Novice): apples, dessert, 3
- 95: a hand knitted garment
- 101: a poem, taking as its subject "My Favourite View".
Scrutiny of our produce (you'll recall the Post-It Note advice from last year emphasising the need for consistency of shape and size) and the credit crunch (entry was 20p for each category) dictated some revised thinking about volumes of entry.
Also, because we anticipated being away camping on the day, we were reliant on the kind help of P (plot next door), who volunteered (well, agreed) to stage our entries. Given the fact that she was also going to be a competitor - indeed, our competitor - this was either a selfless act or an opportunity for sabotage.
Our thinking developed thus:
- 1 and 1a: way too much trouble
- 2 and 3: stick to the Novice category until you win (after which you are barred from entry)
- 4: our candidate had too many little holes in it
- 5: yes, yes, yes - we examined both reds and whites, decided there was too much variation among the whites; cleaned and scales removed (overskinning is, in the show guide, a "big mistake"), with the tops tied over themselves; exhibited on rings (sections of toilet roll, covered in shiny paper)
- 19: couldn't really rustle up three matching ones at this point in the season
- 25: went for Novice instead
- 80: not happy with the consistency - this decision reached after much agonising and debate
- 85 (Novice): yes, yes, yes - garlic tied as above
- 86 (Novice): three lovely pink apples, all on the same branch
- 95: the marital jumper
- 101: no, not really...
P duly took receipt of our entries and exhibited on Saturday morning, prior to anonymous judging. We were back in time for the afternoon show. Results: - garlic: Third Prize! (Beaten by the Ladies)
- dessert apples: Third Prize!
- onions grown from seed: Second Prize! (Beaten by Mr G).
We are pleased, though disappointed about the handknit garment (the judges seem to have a thing for doily-style tops for infants), and a bit sad that none of our entries attracted a Post-It Note. As is traditional, the winners will be eaten (thank goodness the jumper didn't place.)We can expect a payback of 50p (no cash award for third prizes) on an investment of 80p (and countless hours).
What we learned: on balance, I think we should have entered more categories. We had been reluctant to enter anything that wasn't flawless, but I think we would have 'medalled' (Olympic horror) in additional categories regardless of flawed produce (well, not flawed to us, but to the objective observer). Mr G has kindly offered advice next year (our third growing season!), which we will gladly accept.
In other news, N dug the remaining potatoes (always a bit Dan Quayle-anxious about the 'e') which brought us a two-thirds full (never one-third empty) IKEA bag of spuds. As usual, stored the flawless (now a total of one and a half large bags - including the last earlies - and five trays of drying, muddy taters). N is a touch disappointed in the overall haul; K thinks it is about what we got last year, and N has become jaded. Sewed two types of green manure on the former potato patches.
Adjacent, the kale, on the former site of the first earlies, is thriving in a rather striking purple and green combination.
K maintains that eternal vigilance is the price of having winter cabbages to eat. They are still attracting caterpillars.
The second batch of peas has succumbed to downy mildew; although we ate a few samples, they are on their way out. A series of corn harvested, too. Not terribly impressive to anyone who has had fresh Canadian corn. Quite gappy when it comes to kernels. We must have had 25 courgettes over the last couple of weeks; some eaten, some frozen, some given away. Beans still coming but, to be honest, also on their way out.
About eight squashes (gourds, I recall, in my homeland) in progress. We wonder if we should have been more ruthless and concentrated the plants' growing power in a few larger items. Leeks still upright and green. Carrots disappointing, in a mis-shapen way. How accustomed we have been to straight, blemish-free fruit and veg, occasionally in cellophane.
K can see winter onions coming into view. The pak choi, and whatever else N planted around the kale, is hard to distinguish from weeds.
Much joy in the Fruit Cage - autumn raspberries a-plenty (supplemented by local blackberries), fragrant sweetpeas, apples so crisp and sweet.
But it's definitely autumn, after a rubbish summer. Our thoughts must turn to winter activities, and spring dreams.
The beginning of the end of summer on the plot. Last weekend was mainly essential maintenance and the first Allotment Association bbq, which was an unqualified success, due in part to the great weather. Great to see our renovated shed up and ready for use.
sowing of peas had alas resulted in more downy mildew, the french beans had ceased to produce and the spent sweetcorn. The courgettes, bless them, are still going. However, there is little point in denying that the end is nigh for the main growing season.
green manure on the erstwhile potato patch is making its appearance, though slowly. Guess that's because of the time of year. The kale is looking splendid - quite Japanese in its curly purple beauty.
We also had a visit from Penelope, N's mum, who picked raspberries and blackberries most diligently. Over a tuno mayonnaise sandwich we mused on the therapeutic properties of allotmenteering.
firm and weed-killing barriers and footways between essential areas of the plot. It will make an enormous difference in terms of mud and weeds. And it looks neat too.
