28 September 2018

Pears

A pear growing on a branch
The biggest, Sep 2018
Again, I have a very meager pear harvest.  I picked off all immature fruits from the tiny Kumoi pear tree this spring (as I should have done the first spring after planting given it's still shorter than me three years on).  It's grown a bit this summer--finally.  Still shorter than me, though.

I also have a very vigorous, very spiky native flowering pear which still hasn't condescended to flower yet (about five years old).  In August I attempted to bud graft it with buds from a pear tree growing at our local country park.  I had a look last week and it looks like two of my attempts failed, but I'm not sure about the other two.  Maybe.

And then there's the Williams pear tree, which has grown strongly and flowered profusely for a few years now, but still has only managed to produce a couple pears for me.  I think there were three pears last year--all small, too.  This year, one good sized one (unripe) got blown off in high winds and bruised.  I cooked it the next day (pear streusel tart, courtesy of The Joy of Cooking), since I knew it wouldn't ripen after being damaged.  Two days later the tree itself blew down:  completely snapped at the trunk below the graft.
A small pear tree lying on a lawn
Defeated, Sep 2018
Luckily the tree only landed on a bit of chicken wire and no other damage was done.  The son and I picked the remaining five or six pears, most of them quite small, none of them ripe. 

I will attempt to graft a few of the shoots back onto the rootstock, but I'm not confident;  I'm very new at grafting and am relying on books and youtube.  I fear this is the end for Williams.
Hands holding three variously sized pears
A few more fruits, Sep 2018

25 September 2018

New homebrew, September 2018


Two glass demi-johns full of cider
The newest cider, Sep 2018
After a full year in the jugs, 2017's cider finally got bottled up.  I used our entire collection of bottles (some new, some seen lots of use) and filled up the drinks cupboard.  We've pretty much finished off all our homebrew by now, so it's good to restock.  The cider's not extremely potent, but fruity and refreshing.  I think one of the five jugs actually turned to vinegar by accident, but that's ok--cider vinegar is useful too.

The son and I went to our country park and picked two sacks of apples from various wild trees we know.  We juiced them in our electric juicer to fill up two new jugs for cider.  It's a big job, juicing up 8 L of apple juice all at once!  I put about half the pulp into some big plastic tubs, topped them up with water, and let them ferment too--for vinegar.  Once they stopped bubbling, after a week or two, I strained out the pulp and have been stirring the liquid once a day to help the process along.
A large stockpot full of purple juice
Elderberries and blackberries to brew, Sep 2018
The son and I also took two weekends in August to collect almost a full kilo of wild blackberries, again in the local country park.  We found a spot with some big juicy berries, very sweet.  We froze these, to wait until the elderberries ripened earlier this month.  When ready, I picked elderberries from two trees/bushes on the margins of our property and combined them with the blackberries, some sugar and yeast to start wine.  I made some in 2017 and we agreed it was much nicer than plain elderberry wine--and more potent than the apple cider.  I hope this new batch lives up to our expectations.

That's three out of five demi-johns in use now.  What to do with the last two?  I hope to pick another two sacks of apples, though we'll have to go slightly farther afield than our own country park now.

21 September 2018

State of the flock, September 2018

Cookie (black) and two of the cheeps, Sep 2018
I've done some hard thinking, considered different options, but have decided we'll stay with our current flock size over winter.  We now have five adult hens, one juvenile rooster (Australorp/Orpington cross from this Easter's hatch), and three eight week old Leghorn chicks, aka the cheeps.  Two of the cheeps are boys, and will be dinner when they start crowing, probably in less than another eight weeks.  Ultimately, unless we have more unexpected losses, we'll have a flock of seven over winter:  six hens and one rooster.

Everyone--except mother hen Cookie and the cheeps--is working in the chicken tractor at the allotment.  It's not a big space, but they get moved every three days or so, and have been doing some good work clearing weeds and grass, and adding plenty of manure.  Cookie and the cheeps also have their own make-shift tractor here in the garden and are mowing the lawn, strip by strip.

The A/O rooster may have to come back to the garden at some point this winter if he decides he wants to try mating.  We know from experience that the older hens won't tolerate this at first (he's the lowest in the pecking order) and there will be fighting.  As our young rooster is so much bigger than the hens, and their tractor has so little room, there is every chance someone will get hurt.  He can come back and free range with Cookie and any remaining cheeps where's there's plenty of room to escape.

We have a gap in our succession of hens now:  our hens range between two and four years old, but no year old hens--last year's hatch have all died.  And with only one female hatched this year (out of seven chicks) it looks like my plans for self-reliance in eggs are on hold.  We're getting one egg a day: occasionally two, but just as likely none.  At least we're only buying one bag of layers pellets a month;  it's the cheap stuff too (though Cookie and the cheeps are still eating the expensive non-soy/non-GMO chick crumb).

I still want to continue breeding meat birds as well as replacement layers, but that will have to start again next spring.  Hopefully I'll be able to get a hold of another batch of Orpington eggs (for meat breeding), and maybe some more Leghorns or other egg layers. 

18 September 2018

Squash harvest, 2018

Five green squashes on a kitchen table
My treasure, Sep 2018
Squash!  I had a nice compliment from a friend of the son (aged eight), about my "pumpkins."  They may be pumpkin shaped, but are a much more beautiful color.  There is at least one more still growing in the garden, though a good size, it formed late and may not have time to ripen.  These ripe squashes will keep nicely until later this autumn or winter, when the fresh veg is scarce.
A green squash growing on a vine suspended from a chicken wire fence
The younger squash, Sep 2018
I have a pumpkin of my own too.  It's the tiniest specimen, but a little pumpkin is better than no pumpkin;  it may be destined for a bit of carving next month.  We were given a huge culinary pumpkin from a fellow allotmenter (I think his generosity was due to the overwhelmingly prolific pumpkin harvest he had).  This gift pumpkin put my own to shame--but I also saved seed from it, so maybe I'll get a massive pumpkin harvest next year too (I can only hope).

Summer squash, on the other hand, has been disappointing.  Only about four or five smallish zuccinis, and even fewer patty pan squashes.  Here too, we were given extremely large examples from another allotmenter.  I've been put to shame...though luckily only you and I know it.

14 September 2018

In the allotment, Sep 2018

Well, for the past week or so we've had most of the chickens on the allotment, working full time:  they're eating grass and weeds, scratching up the surface, and leaving lots of manure.  The husband, with a little assistance from the son and I, fox-proofed (ish) the house part of the chicken tractor and we've been going up to lock them up at night and let them out again in the morning.  Luckily it's only an 8 minute walk away (and between us and school), and sunrise and sunset are at reasonable times now we're getting to autumn.  And so far we've only had one free range adventure AKA escape.

Cookie, our Pekin bantam, and her three half grown Leghorn chicks--whom I refer to as the cheeps--are still in our own garden, protected by bird netting;  we had a hawk scare recently so we're not prepared to let the cheeps out just yet.  While the chicken tractor is certainly hawk proof, I'm not ready to put the cheeps in there with all the adult chickens;  they're too small.

But back to the allotment:  the son helped me transplant about a dozen or so winter cabbage seedlings, and all three of us have been slowly pulling up/hoeing nettles and thistles (which the chickens won't eat) and adding to both the compost and the sheet mulched bit at the top of the plot.  I've been advised to put up bird scarers or netting to stop pigeons eating the cabbages over winter.

I have plans to get some strawberry plants in and hopefully some garlic this month.  I'll try and beg a few runners off other allotmenters (I've had an offer off one already, but haven't got any yet) and I've got enough of my own saved garlic luckily.

And speaking of fellow allotmenters;  over the past few weeks we've been given tomatoes, several zuccini (one of them the size of a log), a cabbage, a couple garlic and shallots, a massive pumpkin and two butternut squashes.  Where possible, we've reciprocated with eggs, but what a haul!

11 September 2018

Tomato summer

This is the first year since I've been gardening here that I've had a full tomato harvest:  it looks like I might not have any green tomatoes left.  Even those plants out in the main garden have ripened their fruits--last year I only got a couple off those plants;  the bulk of them went to make green tomato salsa.  Looks like I won't be making green salsa this year!  I said to the husband, only half-joking, "what do you do
with red tomatoes?"  He joked back:  "throw them out, they must have gone bad."

So it's red tomato salsa!  There's half a big jar of salsa fresca in the fridge, made with spring onions, achocha (supposedly a green pepper substitute, seeing as I don't have peppers ready yet), garlic, and a touch of lemon juice and tabasco (no chilis yet either).  I'd like to make some bottled/shelf stable salsa, but the recipes call for more onions and peppers than I have--i.e. none--which would break my No Bought Veg rule.

Last year I froze my entire green tomato harvest until the end of the veg challenge (November), and then bought onions and peppers to make salsa. I've got a freezer bag full already--with hopefully enough to fill at least a second bag--the challenge ends 27th November.

07 September 2018

August 2018 garden notes

Close up of ripening cherry tomatoes on a vine
Hooray!  Aug 2018
Roots

Celery and a few beets still growing in Roots bed.  Harvesting a handful of carrots once a week from planters, but have pulled up most of them by the end of August.  Leeks about the size of big spring onions;  one of last season's flowerheads formed tiny bulbils which I transplanted to various places around the garden (some still growing).  Not much else going on in Roots bed this month.

Peas and beans

Pulled up the last broad beans and harvested the dry pods for seed.

Been harvesting small amounts of French beans regularly throughout August, but hardly any runner beans.  Really disappointing harvest this year--too hot and dry I suspect.

Brassicas

Finished the last Savoy cabbages, though there are two or three left without compact heads which seem to be going to flower.  Much mauled by caterpillars.  Planted out new seedlings at the allotment.  The cuttings I took have rooted but have not yet been planted out.

Planted out purple sprouting broccoli (seedlings and cuttings) at the beginning of the month after the broad beans were pulled up, and put insect mesh over.  Growing strongly.

Curly kale and Brussels sprouts huge;  harvested a small amount of kale this month but not sprouts yet;  still under insect mesh.  Young cauliflower plants have disappeared under rampant squash vines, so not sure if they're still growing.  One last cauliflower from last season just starting to form a head at the end of August.

Two smallish kohlrabi seem to have formed from seed sown earlier, but neither harvested yet.

Most caterpillars seem to have disappeared midway through August, though butterflies are still about.

Miscellaneous

Been harvesting chard and lettuce (red leaf and romaine) all through August.  Started a new tray of (red leaf) seeds which have sprouted by the end of the month.  Harvesting spring onions regularly, with newer sowings growing well. 

Sweetcorn completely swamped by neighboring achocha vines--I'll wait to see if the cobs actually have any corn in them.  Achocha producing only modestly, rather out of proportion to its rampant vine growth.

Begun harvesting tomatoes by the middle of August, and picking cherry tomatoes regularly throughout the month.  Tomatillos forming a couple tiny fruits (only two plants seem to have survived and may not be close enough for full pollination);  none harvested yet.

One pumpkin slowly turning orange--it's slightly bigger than a grapefruit.  At least five big green kuri/hokkaido squashes still on vines, with a few smaller fruits formed this month;  the vines are competing with the achocha for complete dominance of the Misc bed.  None of these harvested.

Only a couple more small zuccini harvested, and one patty pan squash.  A few immature fruits still on the plants by the end of the month, but I'm not hopeful.  Too dry?  Melon vine in its planter has one very small melon growing, but as it's only walnut sized by the end of August, I won't hold my breath.  Cucumber plants finally gave up, though I've left a couple fruits on the desiccated vines to try and save seed.

Harvested a small amount of Aztec broccoli (nice, mild flavor).  Big plants for only a small harvest.  Many little sweet peppers formed on plants in planters, and one or two tiny chilis formed at the very end of August.  None harvested.

Fruit

Started harvesting Laxton Fortune apples and plums this month, and new season figs.  Lightly pruned plum and almond trees.  The son picked a few immature Sparta apples, but they won't be fully ripe till September.

Only one nectarine left--the other split after a hard rain and then went moldy.  Not ripe yet.  I can only find two pears on the Williams tree, also--and one is very small!  Oh well.

A couple fruits slowly maturing on the yellow raspberry.  The newly planted blackcurrants (from last winter) have struggled in the dry summer but are still alive.  Pruned old growth from raspberries;  it looks like the plant I moved over winter may have died (too dry, no doubt).

Made my first attempt at bud grafting, using four buds from a pear tree at the park.  Not sure if they've taken, but no loss if they don't.

Perennials and herbs

Stopped picking savory halfway through the month to let the plants flower and (hopefully) set seed.  Picking lots of basil (in pots on the patio), some chives and parsley.  New dill plants growing (in pots).

Still not sure about the asparagus and rhubarb:  dead or alive?  Artichokes still standing but no more flowerheads produced this month.

04 September 2018

August 2018 Food Totals

A garden bed with a variety of vegetables growing
New season (and a couple old) leeks, surrounded by squash and zuccini, Aug 2018
Vegetables:

33.5 oz chard
81 oz cherry tomatoes
12 oz cucumber
16.5 oz achocha
11.5 oz spring onion
5.5 oz Aztec broccoli
15 oz French beans
15.5 oz lettuce
13 oz zuccini
21.5 oz carrots
49.5 oz Savoy cabbage
5 oz runner beans
9 oz beets
1.5 oz basil
1 oz squash blossoms
101 oz tomatoes!
9 oz curly kale
4 oz patty pan squash

Total: 405 oz, or 25 lb 5 oz

Note:  I weigh all my vegetables after preparation:  peeling, trimming, etc.  Does not include fresh herbs which were too small an amount to weigh, i.e. less than 0.5 oz.

Fruit:

4 Sparta apples (not fully ripe)
50 Laxton Fortune apples
8 figs
22.5 oz plums (incomplete)

Eggs:

Total: 46 eggs from 7 hens
Total feed bought: 1 bag layers pellets (20 kg)

Preserves:

1/2 small jar salted French and runner beans
1/2 small jar dried savory
6 small jars plum jam
6 small jars apple jelly (from wild harvested apples)
1.5 large jars fermented salsa fresca
1 large jar sauerkraut
3 large jars zuccini relish (from gift zuccini)
1 medium bottle thyme vinegar
2 medium bottles mint sauce (mint from a friend's garden)

Homebrew:  

20 L cider bottled up
8 L new season cider begun, from wild harvested apples
8 L cider vinegar begun, using pulp leftover from cider making