We are currently getting ready to move allotment, which is an extremely bitter sweet experience being that we cannot wait to move but are also very sad to let go of our wonderful plot. On to pastures new as they say! Due to this we are slightly behind where we would like to be with Autumn / Winter planting.
As you can see we're at a point where we're harvesting what we can before we move, clearing old crop ready for the compost bin and harvesting seeds / beans ready for next year but other than that we're limited. We've already planted our broad beans directly into the ground, so I will be trying to transplant them and will let you all know how it goes!
Seed saving
As a rule I like to leave one of everything for seed for the following year. One broccoli plant, one lettuce, one marrow etc. This month I have been harvesting the dried beans, seeds and pulses ready for storage and planting next year! This is my absolute favourite job as it makes growing food almost free.
We use paper bags to store the seeds in during the winter, to ensure that they are completed dried before putting in our plastic storage containers; as we don't want them sweating! This also allows me to pull off not just seeds but all the pods as well, speeding up the process. As a rule where possible I like to leave the seed to dry out as much as possible on the plant, but with salad leaves these seeds are extremely small so if left too long will blow away.
Just don't put a whole sunflower head in, they're way too heavy, will destroy the bag and the sunflower head will mould. (We tried!)
Check out our paper bags here -> Multifunction paper bag with handles
Growing food
Although we are not growing a lot of food at the minute due to the move we are still trying to get in as much as we can using containers mainly to make transporting easier! We have left this a little late for our liking, we tend to plant on Halloween but because we're moving we had to buy containers, then we forget the drill to put the holes in the bottom; so it's been a long task getting these beauties in!
Find out how to grow garlic here -> How to: Garlic
Where we can hold off we have, so we haven't planted our onions yet and have stopped planting winter salad leaves. We will start these again next month when we have moved to our new home but for now we are growing small amounts of garlic, spring onions, peas and lettuces! There is still a lot of food you can grow in November and December so have a read if you're keen to keep the garden alive ->
Growing flowers
Bare root roses are best planted in late Autumn through to early spring, however not in the middle of winter as the ground will be frozen. We got out roses in this month, to provide some colour, grow some roses for the wedding next summer (hopefully) and provide some privacy!
Clearing beds
Although it seems like a daunting task we actually find clearing beds quire therapeutic, we put some music on and just get cracking.
As a rule we normally chop the crop at the root, leave the root in then chop up the vegetation using shears in the compost bin rotation. However at the minute we are just opting for a pile of vegetation ready to move over next month - this will reduce the task of moving everything as the crop is still large enough to handle. It will be composted soon though!
Harvesting
From our experience here in the Midlands UK it is extremely difficult to grow cauliflower in the heat of the summer as it gets too hot and just bolts. We have failed 100's of times growing cauliflower!
We now plant our cauliflower in the summer for harvest in autumn and I must say this year has been brilliant for Romanesco Cauli!
Absolutely delicious and will be used in a veloute, so stay tuned for the recipe!
The family update
So 5 months ago we got a little fur baby! I'm hoping she will keep away the frogs and rodents from the garden and around the chicken run, she's still in training and only being allowed outside when we're with her but my golly is she perfect.
We couldn't have picked a more perfect cat for our property. Here's to lots more cuddles, playing and territory guarding!