Plot 106. Quinoa, squashes and the greening. It does look like today is going to be the last of the true summery days, albeit that we are now into Autumn. The warm air and hot sunshine of the last few weeks is travelling south, just like those birds. But we will still be left with good days to look forward to but must also welcome rain, wind and increasing darkness. The plot still looks good to me and September has been a great month of picking crops. The potatoes are all lifted and stored. Runner beans and French beans, sweetcorn, Spring and cooking onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes and marrows continue to delight. And squashes. Actually this is the first year that I have ever grown them and am well suited. I am not after massive pumpkins for Halloween or pies or to take part in a competition. I am growing a variety called " Autumn Crown " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/squash-autumn-crown-winter/4899TM and am impressed. Not monstrous but chunky, dense and company beauties. The blurb says you can detect the aroma of the melon in them, and I agree. I share some of the cooking roles at home and these have been included. In soups but especially roasted with some olive oil and herbs. Mmm ! But, excepting the latter, most of the crops I have mentioned we are picking are on the wane, like the sun that boasted them. They are being overtaken with brassicas. Autumn really is their season when they grow to maturity and keep well on the plot until they are picked. I have " January King " cabbage https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/cabbage-january-king-3/327TM " Purple Sprouting Broccoli " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/broccoli-early-purple-sprouting-purple-sprouting/360TM Brussels Sprout " Attwood " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/brussels-sprout-attwood/TKA2668TM and Kale " Nero Di Toscana " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/kale-nero-di-toscana/40TM A little later I will be planting up Spring Cabbages. The quinoa has Ben a great joy and interest. This South American food plant has thrived and next week I will have the enviable task of storage for the dried husks / seeds. You might of thought that all the cropping means big spaces on the plot. But no, I am sowing a variety of green manures to close all the gaps, more on that next time ....
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AuthorI launched this website on 16th August 2020 to bring together my thoughts on gardening,, its importance for health and wellbeing and two projects running concurrently, a renovation of my own garden on the West Sussex coast at Lancing and a nearby allotment. But also to learn from other gardeners about the inspirations for their plots, about their gardening projects and enjoyment of beautiful plants and gardens Archives
February 2024
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