It seems I am more than halfway through my current growing season. I didn’t really plan ahead so much – having spent so long digging out the plots (which included the removal of whole bricks, old drainage pipes, random bits of metal etc), I was more in a rush to get things in the ground before it was too late.
However, here I am the beginning of August with all my new potatoes eaten, almost all my carrots gone and only half my onions left. Thereafter all that will remain are my maris pipers and parsnips. The conservatory is currently overrun with tangles of lanky tomatoes, chillis and peppers, but a meal they will not make!
So my job this week is to try and plan ahead for the winter, really make the most of my current veg patches whilst I try and eek out some sort of plot expansion plan. I’ve already put in some leeks that I bought for 95p from the local WI stall, as well as chucking in my Chantennay and Autumn King carrot seeds. I’m hoping that the fairly mild and humid conditions, along with the rain, will give them an extra-fast germination time, and it seems to have worked thus far. In the remaining space I sprinkled a few lettuce and chive seeds in, and under the fleece tunnels they seem to be doing fine. Despite my efforts to hermatically seal the fleece tunnels to the ground, one of the cats has somehow worked out how to slide in underneath. So I’m not sure how my seedlings will fare if they are forced to continually endure being covered in a fat blanket of fur each day. At least the Hens haven’t seen the lettuces yet. All it will take is one nibble, and you can guarantee that the whole lot will be gone within a matter of minutes.
But back to my winter plan – the idea is to both grow a few bits and pieces for next season, as well as being able to grow some veggies to eat over the winter. We don’t have the space at the moment to store anyway, owing to our miniscule shed that is rammed with all manner of garden machinery and equipment. I tend to pull whatever I need up, and then eat it that evening. I’m thinking winter onions, cabbages (if possible) the leeks that are already in (although they probably won’t be ready until next spring?!)…. Good grief, I really have to do some research into this. It’s still a huge learning curve.
I know that I could be considered biased by being your Mum but I really enjoyed your site. My chicken phobia is subsiding now, thanks to my chicken patrol duties. Am currently developing a beetroot cake recipe!