. . . manure . . .

21st October :  3 trips to manure pile so far.  10+10+7 barrow loads shifted and almost all of strawberry patch 1 (with 20 single spade full).  Weather turned now and clocks go back at the weekend.  Still a big pile left though.

My manure

Couldn't resist posting one image of the pile.  Half of this is mine (sharing a 'full load' with Alan) and I'll start barrowinf it away later this week . . . maybe.  Not sure what the carpet's for but I think it's to keep it warm!

Borlotti bean harvest

I was planning to leave the borlottis for as long as possible to dry out but it's too wet now and I need to clear some space to start spreading the manure (see previous post).

Some seem to be dry and nicely speckled but others are still green.  I wonder if they'll speckle as they dry?

A big pile of manure

Yes that's right.  Driest September for ever (apparently) and then after just a few days of rain it happens to be the manure delivery. It's messy and I don't think it needs any photos.

Glut, what glut?

Ok maybe there are a few too many but they still keep coming and I keep finding people to eat them.  I imagine Sainsburys and Tesco are wondering why there's a dip in their courgette and tomato sales figures.  Bunch of sweet peas seems decent enough payment for allowing me to sit and watch football all afternoon. (Nearly October and I'm still picking sweet peas!  Definitely doing a load more of them next year)

Tomatoes in abundance

Next year, when I know a bit more about want I'm doing, the tomato harvest is going to be crazy.

This year, with not much idea of what I am doing, they are continuing to deliver in abundance.  Swapping them, giving them away and , of course, eating them - smell and taste is perfect.

Here's last night's harvest - when will it end I wonder.  Other plants e.g. Peas just seem to give up in an instan! wither and die.  I guess the tomatoes will do this too at some point - loads of green ones left though, maybe I'll get through to October.

Couple of images ...

The main catwalk

3 that didn't make the main catwalk, splits caused by irregular watering apparently - and I though I was on top of that!

And how I see next year's harvest going with the Inaugural Ecclesall Allotment tomato Festival - like the Spanish one except a little more gentile.

Harvest time continues

Courgettes are coming thick and fast now, so two meals this weekend have included them.  When you can combine them with tomatoes (easy) you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone.  I have got rather a lot here so I'll take some to work tomorrow.

Swapped some tomatoes with Margaret for Bramley apples, so picked a load more blackberries for more pie/crumble experiments this week. Going to try that blackberry, oats and whiskey thing too - cranachan(?)

Peas coming to an end but managed to get a few more.  Sweet peas continue to deliver.