Sowing green at Rosemoor
This month has seen more patches of ground cleared and sown with green manures. Vetches sown on 13 September were just coming up on the 22nd; these will cover the ground until spring when they will be dug in to provide nitrogen for the vegetable crops.
We have started harvesting the pumpkins, some of which will go to the restaurant and some will be dried for ornament. The gourds are also ready for cutting (see left) and will be used to decorate the vegetable garden during the winter months.
We've started with the first double digging of the season, notably where we have taken out some old thornless blackberries. These had reached the grand old age of 15 and were beginning to get tired with less than impressive crops. We will plant vegetables along this strip for a couple of seasons and then replant with newer and improved cultivars.
- The spring cabbage trial is underway with plants going in at the end of the month.
- The Hesperis and Digitalis have been planted out ready to flower next spring and early summer to give a colourful display.
- The Florence fennel is coming along, but the bulbs are not as big as they have been in previous years, this could be a combination of the weather (something we always have in Devon!) or the fact that we were unable to get them out of their restrictive plugs as early as we would have liked.
Jury's out on tomato 'Black Cherry'
The greenhouse tomatoes are still cropping very well and we have not been troubled by much blight this year. A rather novel variety in our greenhouse is Tomato ‘Black Cherry’ the jury is still out on the taste – some like it, others do not! A more resounding success as far as taste and appearance goes, is another new one for us – Tomato ‘Sun Cherry Premium’.
Autumn raspberries
As you can see below, the autumn raspberries are looking delicious – I’m surprised any of them make it to the restaurant – or maybe they don’t!
Pak choi protection is working
You may remember me mentioning that we planted out the Pak choi last month – well here they are looking good with minimum slug damage! The nematodes have been doing their job and they save many crops from failure every year.
The apple picking season is upon us and the first load of apples has been taken to be made into juice for sale in the shop; blended from several varieties including apples with glorious names such as ‘Tom Putt’, ‘Upton Pyne’, ‘Laxton’s Epicure’ and ‘Mother’.