Monday 20 October 2014

Harvest Monday - better than expected

Yep. Autumn is here now. Not much chance of getting on the plot after work anymore as its getting cold and dark sooner and we've got lots of busy weekends in a row (and for the past few weekends). It's all fun stuff but means the plot is a bit neglected (and the house is a tip). I did get nearly 3 hours on the plot yesterday and made a start at clearing the bed I'm going to sow broad beans. Of course I got side tracked many times and didn't seem to finish one job off. I had wanted to clear the bed for garlic too but didn't even make a start on that. Never mind!

And on to the pickings this week:

Thanks to the warm daytimes I've still got some courgettes limping along. The chard is doing ok too.
We were doing some baking for a hen weekend and there was some leftover melted chocolate, so I cracked open a few of my hazelnuts, toasted them and coated in the choc, yum!
Also toasted some flaked almonds and added some sultanas (not home grown!). Brandy snaps in the background made by Jan. I also made cheese and courgette muffins (using my courgette) but forgot to take a pic.
Toms ripening in a paper bag in the kitchen, basil from the lean-to and rocket from the garden.
A lonely pepper from the lean-to.
Headed down to the plot yesterday (Sunday) after coming back from the hen-do. These carrots were a nice surprise. And a couple more courgettes, one was a big 'un! Not sure how I missed this one before the weekend. A happy courgette-face too, although one of the little squashes was brown inside so it ended up in the compost
I had some neglected perpetual spinach that had got out of hand, so cut it right back and picked out the best leaves. Discovered a few missed potatoes when weeding the leeks (that I planted out where the pots had been). Brought back a few onions from the allot shed and cut a teeny bit of broccoli. Also found a small butternut squash and brought it home to ripen. I've now taken up all my winter squash plants as they were all looking very sorry for themselves. It's ironic that the courgettes have out-lived the winter squashes!

And finally, a few more toms ripening slowly in the kitchen. These went into a curry with the big courgette, a couple of carrots and the spinach. Very nice :) If I was being clever I'd have picked one of the chillis from the lean-to and added that as well. What can I say, I'm not clever!

Linking in with Harvest Monday on Daphne's dandelions. Also must apologise for not being very social on people's blogs at the moment, October and early November this year are v busy for me, which is quite unusual!

 

8 comments:

  1. What a great variety ... my harvest's are all green these past couple of weeks. Chocolate and hazelnut - yuummmm!

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    1. Thanks Susie, I think I'll do some more choc hazels, yum!

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  2. I second what Susie said - so much wonderful variety you have going on! This late in the season I am down to all green, unfortunately. Your foray into the garden sounds like mine - I get started and the next thing you know I've done a bit of this and a bit of that but didn't get anything totally done...such is life. It does all get done.....eventually ;)

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    1. Thanks Margaret, very kind. Yes, you're right, it all gets done at some point!

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  3. Courgettes still? iur plants were composted a week ot two ago.

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    1. The plants don't look v healthy but I got one more this week sue! Think I've just been lucky with the mild autumn so far but now had some cold snaps (no frost yet so leaving the plants for a bit longer)

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  4. Lovely harvests. And oh those chocolate covered nuts look delicious.

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  5. Mm thanks Daphne, I'll be making the choc nuts again for sure

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