Allotment?Veg Patch Thread 13! Are we weathering the weather?

[bookbook]

well, we have got to August , had heatwaves and thunderstorms. Goodness knows what happens next!
All welcome to join in sharing the highs and lows , tips and experiences of growing your own :)
Previous thread HERE

Hello allotmenteers.
I hope you don't mind me posting a question on your thread.
Would anyone be able to tell me where I've gone wrong with my sweet corn?
See photo. Did I pick it too early? Too late? Has something eaten it?
I have form for being too keen and picking things too early, but it's been there for ages and I couldn't help myself.
This is my first year growing things on my allotment so I've got no experience to draw on at all.
TIA

Hi Sweetcorn Lady.

The thing with sweetcorn - each of the strands that comes out of the end of the corn cob needs to have been pollinated. And they need to have been pollinated with the same variety of plant.

So if the plants are not grown in a block, if it was too windy, or not windy enough, or some other pollen got on them, that's when sweetcorn can not produce a full cob. If other pollen gets on them, they can produce starchy not sweet nibs as well. So your problem is that not all the nibs were pollinated.

So yes to growing in a block, and only grow one variety [if you have neighbours, try to agree on one variety and you can help each other out], and what I also do when I grow sweetcorn is when the pollen starts showing on the flowers at the top, I rub my hands over it, and then run the strands through my hands to try and distribute the poll over the cobs. I do this mostly on the outside cobs when grown in a block.

To test whether it is ripe, put a thumbnail into a nib and if its spurt is creamy, it is ripe. If clear it's not ripe or gone too far.

Also when you are ready to pick, get the pot boiling, snap the ripe cobs off, peel back the layers and plunge into the water, cook for 10 mins exactly and then straight into a dish with butter. Loverly.

Thank you incrediblysturdypyjamas.

That's really helpful. I ended up with nine plants in a sort of 3x3 square so I had been hopeful that pollination wouldn't be a problem. Next year I will try to help them along a bit as you've suggested.
The plants grew so well, so it's a bit disappointing that the end product isn't perfect.
Never mind. As I'm learning, gardening really is a series of highs and lows!!

I am currently looking to buy 3 x blueberry bushes to extend the fruit patch... would anybody be able to recommend the best/tastiest varieties around?

I can't even remember which varieties I have but what I do know is that they crop heavier if they are grown together and although I've tried for years, the best crop and plants I've had are this years, when I dug them up from the ground [last autumn], and put them all into one large pot, outside the back door in a sunny spot, watered with rain water only, and actually bought some ericaceous compost to put them into.

As I'm learning, gardening really is a series of highs and lows!!

If it is any consolation, it is a series of highs and lows even when you get paid to teach it! Nothing is sacred and the experts don't have all the answers I afraid.

Morning!
well, its cold , grey , and starting to rain. I went early to pick and finish off prepping the winter veg bed . Just about there , and ready for digging in manure this week. The courgettes have finally slowed down - I haven't been since Thursday, and I only have one! . A bunch of beetroot , flowers and a few raspberries . It feels very back endish now.
Hi Hound - - good advise up there ^^ . I seem to see that the top of your cob still has white silks on them - they really, really need to be all darkish brown - if they are still white, they haven't been pollinated . So I suspect its a combination of picking too soon, and not quite enough plants. I tend to give mine a gentle shake/brush as I go by .
Tell me about ups and downs - I am really thinking my sprouts are not going to amount to much this year, they have just not thrived in the heat and lack of water. You have to take the rough with the smooth, as every year the conditions are different to previous years.
This afternoon will be picking more aubergines and tomatoes. to make pasta sauce . They have been good this year - particularly the aubergines. I will be growing Jackpot again, its been a star. Must sow some more beetroot and spinach too , with the hopes of a mild autumn, I can maybe squeeze in another harvest.

I had two full waterbutts yesterday at the allotment, so I popped over and emptied them into the non-collecting water butts to make sure I have water for the greenhouse and it means I can probably re-set up my solar watering again. Which is very good news. As it is raining again and I will hopefully have two more full waterbutts by tomorrow.

I'll be doing some late sowing this week - as we have the whole week off - and will put on here what I am sowing and when.

It has rained here virtually all the day now, not massive quantities though , but a steady heavy drizzle, which will hopefully do some good.
I did go and do my greenhouse pick - sauce is now simmering . The smaller aubergines are the Jackpot ones - the two paler, bigger ones are the Black Beauty, I'm not sure if I have left those to go over a bit, as they are a bit pale rather than glossy now, but they will eat okay . Still some on the plants - a bit small , but its turned so much colder over the last couple of days, I'm not sure I will get any more than that

Much needed rain here too. Am hoping that the rain today and sunshine due next week will finish my tomatoes off before we start getting blight. Think I read somewhere that 18 degrees and rain is blight weather but may have just dreamt that.

I might give aubergines a go next year book. Hopefully getting a polytunnel up so will be looking for hotter crops to try.

I have been having visitors on my plot. Next doors plot is a huge, double length one. They don't do much, have a huge empty polytunnel and a lot of weeds and scrap wood on the half next to mine, and chickens and a goose on the bottom.

And apparently some Indian Runner Ducks that have taken a liking to my plot. Saw one of the other chicken folk I talk to the other day. Said he had seen my new runner ducks. Said I didn't have any. He says both him and his wife have seen 4 runner ducks on my plot and that he was surprised as they will eat my crops.

Well they have been doing. 2 pumpkins (small ones thankfully) have been gradually decreasing in size with duck billed marks. My lettuce bed has now been decimated, big bird poos everywhere and a few half munched tomatoes today.

I never see them next door, maybe half a dozen times in the last 15 months. My fencing is pretty good but it's possible ducks could squeeze through the size of netting we have. And I haven't seen the ducks myself just the damage.

Will see what tomorrow brings. If there is more damage I don't know whether to either leave them a note on their gate or ring the council and ask them to contact them. Am not even 100% sure it is their ducks as I can't see what they have on their plot. And I don't know if they know the ducks they may or may not have are getting in my plot as I haven't seen them!

Have asked my other plot neighbour to keep an eye out, and told other chicken folk to let the ones at the side of me know that if they have ducks they are getting on my plot.

Ds is thoroughly over excited by it all and has set a series of elaborate duck traps using string, trugs and bricks. Nearly broke my neck this afternoon bombing up to feed the chickens. I think he has a future as an engineer or something. String across the path, secured to my bean stakes, and fence with a trug balanced on the string half way down, which I was looking at as I went through the gate, so didn't see the string.

If I catch the ducks am going to send them home with notes around their neck saying "I ate all the lettuce at plot 18'.

Aww Frouby, that comment about the notes on the ducks made me smile, but it's no laughing matter really, hope you get it resolved.

Book - yes, the bindweed gives me away, I also know you from woolly places.

Well, I managed an hour at the plot last night and am glad I did, it has rained non-stop here today. I was going to make some runner bean pickle, but inexplicably decided to do my tax return instead (CBA to go out in the rain and buy the vinegar etc for the pickle).

So yesterday I came home with courgettes, runner beans, yellow tomatoes whose name I have forgotten, a few raspberries and a huge sack of bindweed to go in the garden waste disposal bin .

Not just wet here, but cold too - 11 degrees when we got home from a couple of days away.

Just picked a few bits, courgette, squash, beans and tomatoes. Quite a few tomatoes are split, but I'm not too surprised given the summer we had and the struggle keeping them watered evenly. Mostly still usable though.

Tassles have only just appeared on my sweetcorn although the 'flowers' have been out for weeks. Worried it's too late especially with the temps now.

Courgettes and squash are flowering again! Climbing beans also flowering well.

Forgot the picture

DH and I went to the plot yesterday morning and dug up the main crop potatoes. They won't be keeping us going all winter that's for sure! They were small and some plants didn't have many on at all. Never mind, overall our potatoes have done OK.
Also harvested more beetroot, lettuce, broccoli, beans, spinach and chard. We had fish pie for dinner with spinach, chard, onions, garlic, potatoes, broccoli and beans all from the plot so that is not bad going.
It poured with rain from about 11.30 onwards. I was doing some weeding and just had time to chuck the weeds on the compost heap and go home before it really poured.
Just gloomy here today but not too cold.

Long time lurker here. What can I be planting / sowing now for winter or spring?

(Once I've sorted the massive bindwind problem, pulled the bolted chard, etc etc)

Frouby probably a bit late with this but herewith my fav runner bean chutney recipe.

I actually picked and froze a load or runner beans yesterday as we have a serious glut. Already made this year's batch of chutney too....

Afternoon !
pumping - hello and welcome . My list of planting and sowing
sown yesterday ! - beetroot/spinach/perpetual spinach
planting out in this week - late autumn/winter cabbage /spring greens/late autumn/winter cauliflowers
plans to sow later in the autumn - garlic /overwinter shallots and onions/ broad beans .
Frouby - I think if I remember aright that Incredibly actually has runner ducks , ( maybe not hers though) - they could be very annoying if they are ruining everything .
tiz - fingers crossed that the weather is turning warmer again, so you may be lucky. I very deliberately chose Swift, as they are an early cropper. They have been great , so will be doing those again next year.
I managed a quick hour this morning, digging up the last of the Marfona potatoes . A sad harvest. I do have the pink firs to dig up yet, but as they were chucked in a bit late ( given as freebies late on ) I'm in no rush to see how well they have done ... Have to go back and water though , its still bone dry even after the rain we have had .
And finally , after being so careful, I found the courgette that got away ...

book the little buggers have been on again. Lettuce patch absolutely obliterated and we had just started harvesting them. Another 2 small pumkins half eaten, duck poo everywhere.

However, saw someone on the plot where they are coming from. Wasn't the plot owner, but asked if there were ducks on that plot, which there are, and told him they were getting on my plot, and causing damage.

10 mins later plot owner turned up and they started messing around with the fencing. So hopefully that is the end of it. If it carries on I will definitely phone the council though.

Started havesting the sweetcorn. Me and ds had some for lunch. Ds not impressed though he did try it at least. He is a veg dodger.

Am really pleased with it, last years was x pollinated by the mini cobs I put in.

I also found a courgette that got away, so the chickens have had that and the remainder of my lettuce.

Need to pick more tomatoes tomorrow, check the orange pumpkins and pop something under them, lift the rest of the potatoes, have a million or so lemon cucumbers that are a bit big so the chooks can have them too. Plus more french beans.

Clara thanks for the recipe. The last lot went back on the.compost bin, I think they were too far gone to do anything with but my runners seem to be having a second wind and flowering again so going to try it with those.

I was thinking last week that everything was coming to an end with the weather but looking at it all today after the rainy weekend, everything looks really perky again.

Forgot photo

Fingers crossed that sorts out your duck problem Frouby.

bookbook - your potatoes size are on a par with ours. As I said upthread, OK but won't keep us going all winter. But then they are saying potatoes will go up in price in the shops because the weather has been so dry so the size is not surprising.

Raining here again today. No plot as I am working. Although I might pop and get some more spinach/chard to chuck into our bolognaise. Not a normal ingredient but I feel that it should be added to every possible meal so we are using it!

My lettuce has done surprisingly well this year. I prefer the mixed leaf salad where I can just pick a few at a time because I find that the hearting ones don't keep as well and I can't eat them quickly enough.

Morning all. Still not sown any seeds...been busy with the allotment renovation.

We've levelled everything, put down the weed fabric, lifted all the slabs between ours and the weedy patch next door, removed all the crap growing in between from their side, trapped the weed fabric umderneath, relaid the slabs, measured and positioned all 27 pallet collars and put wood and rotting compost in the bases of each bed to absorb moisture and give the worms something to get their teeth into.

Today we have 6 tonnes of screened topsoil coming. Thinking about it this morning we/I may have over ordered but no problem as if I have I will just use it to fill more beds!

I am already shattered and that's before the topsoil needs shifting.

I'm leaving the other 5 shaws of King Edward in the raised bed and the 2 potato bags (3 seed potatoes in one, 2 on the other) for as long as possible - or until I see signs of blight. No signs yet

My onions are miniscule

I picked a few tomatoes a couple of nights ago (along with yet more plums): one Shirley, 1 Gardener's Delight, one rosella and one "yellow Peardrop" - aka the brownie purple stripy one.

The plums in the bowl are the ones left over after making another a batch of plum gin, using about a kg of plums. This time I've also put in a couple of sticks of cinnamon. Looking forward to trying it in a few months time

Yard Long Beans

First lot just did not grow.

Second lot just sat at a few inches high for weeks.

They have all finally decided to start climbing in the last 10 days.

First bean will be sliding around on the soil rather than hanging down.

Wow Pyjamas you have been busy! That is a nightmare with the ducks Frouby, hope they are now sorted.

Haven’t been back to plot for a bit after having over done it after op (despite Bookbook telling me to be careful. As a result arrived to find yet more marrows, collapsed beans and pumpkins trying to invade the raspberries, strawberries and neighbouring plot plus remaining bit of grass very long.

Something has been at one of my sweet corn , luckily the others look ok at the moment I think. Harvested my hops, dwarf plant and first year, grand total of 30g. Have a carrier bag full of beans , some spring onions and a few raspberries plus lots of calendula and sweet peas. Perpetual spinach still going well and could do with picking, that’s been going for months and great use of shadier bit.

Forgot to take harvest pics so here’s one of my sunflowers.

Top tip, don’t use old bamboo canes as they are prone to snapping ..

Evening!
Frouby - hope the fencing in has worked, fingers crossed!
Cedar - by the time I have fed a few at the weekend ( 7 of us) , those potatoes won't last at all, but I don't grow many , as I always struggle with slugs . Think I may just grow Charlotte next year , you lift them earlier .
Incredibly - good gracious, you must be superhuman to have got all that done , no wonder you are shattered ! I had to resow borlotti beans this year - I never normally have trouble germinating beans .
I had a good go this morning ( nothing quite as intense as Incredibly mind) - I finished forking/digging over the winter greens bed, barrowed 5 loads of manure, but still need to dig that in before planting. Picked a couple of sweetcorn, and saw I had a few runners too. I noticed the french beans have got a new flush of flowers - green and purple , so may get a few more yet .Autumn raspberries are getting going at last. DH and I went back this afternoon to water - nor rain for the last few days. The butternut squashes are now popping out everywhere - I don't know how big they will get, but fingers crossed for a good long autumn for them . Hoed all around my brassicas - clouds and clouds of white fly