The last of the squashes

As part of the preparations for autumn it has been necessary to pick all the remaining squashes in case a sudden frost should damage them. There are still a few courgettes left (somewhat less precious!) in the front border of the plot but they will soon be over too - to be replaced temporarily by some wallflower plants to provide a bit of early spring colour at a time when many things will be starting off in the greenhouse but very little will be in the allotment itself.

Having said that I'm hopeful that some winter lettuce will make it - some seeds planted directly in the soil and some in trays in the greenhouse until they germinate. It'll be interesting to see how they get by.

Preparations begin for 2011

Although there are still plenty of vegetables still to pick - including beans, beetroot, carrots, chard, some brassicas and leeks - it's definitely time to start to plan for the new season.

I've already checked what seeds remain from this year which we can use next time, and also assessed the pros and cons of everything that we've grown or tried to grow! I've ordered most of the fresh seeds which we'll need through the Organic Catalogue but there are one or two things - including a beautiful sweet corn seed which will need to be bought through Thompson & Morgan and Suttons.

I've dug over most of the area which had potatoes this year, as well as the onion and garlic plot, and scattered Vetch seed as a green manure on them. It'll be interesting to see how it grows and what benefits it brings to the soil but I'm hopeful!

I'll also be getting manure for those parts of the plot which didn't get much this year but also being careful to leave untouched those sections which will have root crops on them next year - I think I see a plan emerging!!

Early September update

At the start of the month I dug up all of the Miro Spira maincrop potatoes, filling 2 hessian sacks. They are spectacular in terms of appearance and yield, and apart from falling a little when boiled they are excellent. The flavour is good and in particular they make great baked and roast potatoes and also mash.

Elsewhere on the allotment the beans, beetroot, carrots, sweet corn, chard (spinach), squash continue to grow well and we have to make sure we pick them as often as we can whilst everything stays fresh.

I've already had a look in the Organic Gardening catalogue for next year and spotted one or two likely varieties of potato to try, but undoubtedly we'll be having plenty of Charlotte again.

As far as the greenhouse is concerned I'll try an earlier maturing greenhouse tomato next year as well as the all-time favourite Gardeners Delight, and grow some red hot chili peppers again. The supposedly hot cayenne red peppers this year are (so far) not that hot.

The cucumbers are excellent though and I'll grow the same variety again both in the greenhouse and at the allotment.

I have ordered two types of green mature (Hungarian Grazing Rye and Winter Tares - Vetch) for the allotment, two varieties which will grow through the winter and can be chopped down dug in early spring. They will help supply and fix nitrogen as well as add to the overall quality of the soil.

I have also provisionally put my name down for a consignment of manure to be delivered direct to the allotment so we'll see how that works out. Apparently 'The Professor' will be testing it first to make sure it is good and doesn't contain any weeds or chemicals!