Last week we dug the last of our potatoes and this week we have been browsing seed potato suppliers trying to decide which varieties to plant next year. There always seems to be so much to take into consideration. Suppliers are obviously going to present the seed potatoes that they sell in the best light so a website such as The British Potato Variety Database can be a good source of information.

Pruning a blackberry is never a task for the faint-hearted but must be tackled or the brambles will soon become out of control. Suitable clothing is a must, long sleeves (fleeces are best as the thorns tear knitted clothing to pieces), long trousers, (not lightweight as the thorns will penetrate these far too easily) and stout gloves. This year we pruned over the course of a few days but it is now thankfully completed although the supporting framework needs some attention.

Our plot neighbours talked us into growing some mushrooms this year – not the common variety that grows quickly and prolifically but something that presents more of a challenge – shitake for us and lion’s mane and oyster varieties for them. We each received short pieces of dowel impregnated with the appropriate spores. These had to be embedded into sections of freshly cut, damp logs. Now it is just a matter of waiting for what could be quite a long time.

In the cold allotment greenhouse shoots are emerging in troughs planted with garlic. Outside on the plot winter onions are also producing shoots. These were hiding amongst weeds. Weeding and clearing continues, including the removal of the pathetic plants that had no intention of providing us with any sprouts and were serving as a home for thousands of whitefly – a major nuisance at the moment. A couple of enormous cardoons, that had outgrown their welcome, have hopefully gone. It is amazing to think that we grew these enormous plants from seed. Removal was only possible by wielding a pick axe and even then part of the root – the part heading for Australia – still remains. More beds are now ready to be dug in preparation for winter.

Harvesting is winding down now although we have plenty in storage to see us over the lean months. All chillies from a plant in the garden greenhouse were gathered. They looked wonderful and were supposedly mild so I decided to deseed them and prepare for freezing. Halfway through the task my hands began to sting and so I washed them thoroughly and pulled on rubber gloves to complete the task. Gradually a burning sensation increasing in intensity that could only be eased by plunging them in cold water was experienced. For two whole days the burning sensation kept reoccurring and so the chillies were consigned to the dustbin. No more growing chillies for us!

Harvested this week:
Vegetables:
Red cabbage – Kalibos
Lettuce – Iceberg 2
Carrots – Early Nantes 2
Tomatoes – Roma
Chillies – unknown variety (a free packet of seeds given by a gardening magazine)
Fruit:
Grapes – Himrod
Alpine strawberry – Mignonette & Alexandria
Strawberry – Flamenco