At this time of year weather conditions and the slackening of pressure to keep on top of things means visits to the plot are by no means as regular. It is also a time when changes and improvements are planned for both the plot and the garden. As usual we are full of plans, but whether they will all be achieved is another story.

We doubled last year’s crop of medlars this week. It sounds very dramatic but in fact we picked ten fruits from the tree in our garden as opposed to just five last year. As a fruit had jumped off the tree I guessed it was time to pick the rest. This year the fruits are noticeably larger. The tree was planted only a relatively short time ago and, although we have only managed a tiny crop, so far every flower has produced a fruit. The fruits now have to be bletted before we can taste them and so have been set aside on kitchen roll paper.

To read more about our attempts to grow medlars click here

In the garden, tidying the area behind our greenhouse where the cold-frame is situated is the first task on our list and one which was started this week. Flower beds have also been tidied and some berberis clippings spread between plants in an attempt to deter the cat which seems to have designated one of our flower beds as a feline convenience. The planting of winter/early spring tubs has been completed.

On the plot clearing up and digging continues. The bed that was cleared of old blackcurrant bushes has been dug. This area hadn’t been dug for years and as a result the soil was very compacted making it very hard going but I did my bit by offering lots of encouragement. Due to the condition of the soil, digging has produced large solid clumps of earth that we hope will be worked upon by winter frost and rain into a consistency fit for planting.

A couple of rows of Belle de Fontenay potatoes had been left in the ground. There was no hurry to dig them. Most Belle de Fontenay tubers that had already been dug having been very badly affected by blight had been destroyed. It was therefore, a surprise to find that although some tubers had been blighted, there were also many that were seemingly unaffected.

We usually plant a variety of seed potatoes as an insurance policy. At least one variety will crop well in the prevailing conditions meaning that we usually obtain a decent crop. This year the Sarpo Mira potatoes were definitely the stars of the show producing approximately double the yield of the other varieties. All other varieties produced similar results. Although our records imply that Nicola has fared the worst this is deceptive the mixed bed contained a large proportion of Nicola tubers.

The potato harvest has been very successful so we will be able to keep friends and family supplied. It’s either that or open a fish and chip shop!
Harvested this week:
Vegetables:
Cauliflower – Kaleidoscope Mixed
Lettuce – Balloon
Carrot – Ideal Red
Cabbage – Picador
Potatoes – Belle de Fontenay
Vegetables/Fruit:
Tomatoes – Brandywine & Moneymaker
Fruit:
Strawberries – Florence & Flamenco
Alpine strawberries – Mignonette & Alexandria
Grape – Himrod