tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75742587879701052232024-03-13T10:10:36.520-07:00Simply the Best.Enjoying the Good Lifel.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-30029087127480715482015-02-18T17:22:00.000-08:002015-02-18T17:23:22.854-08:00Geranium seedlings <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Last weekend i visited my local garden centre just really to have a look around for ideas than actually buy anything as by this time of the year i m mostly organised with vegetable and flower seeds so there's not a great deal i want.</i></span><br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I tend to sew my own seed as i find buying plants expensive.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>However i did buy 2 pots of geranium seedling, 20 in each, </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>all huddled together and needing to be pricked out into individual small pots. I felt at £2.99 a pot they were not a bad price for the money.</i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>So they are now all potted up and in my porch waiting for the warmer weather to arrive.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uXJbVNSMPJk/VOU41RKZw-I/AAAAAAAAC6w/rcnIlhWI-tM/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uXJbVNSMPJk/VOU41RKZw-I/AAAAAAAAC6w/rcnIlhWI-tM/s1600/004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vjvun0WIM0/VOU5SJ0mPYI/AAAAAAAAC7A/Va7wFVKtLIo/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vjvun0WIM0/VOU5SJ0mPYI/AAAAAAAAC7A/Va7wFVKtLIo/s1600/002.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Just thought i'd throw my Amaryllis in to show you all. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t3CqR7g2tdw/VOU5KNI2fwI/AAAAAAAAC64/aGKT6rC8fIw/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t3CqR7g2tdw/VOU5KNI2fwI/AAAAAAAAC64/aGKT6rC8fIw/s1600/017.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-49423619465980188522015-02-05T01:24:00.000-08:002015-02-05T01:26:25.959-08:00All Set And Ready To Go <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Well I'm ready and all set to go, just waiting for the warmer weather to arrive.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Had a bit of trouble though this year with my potato seed . I have for many years now bought Desiree from my allotment society and have usually had a good crop, but on harvesting them last year i lost half the crop to blight.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Not being deterred by this i ordered Desiree again this year, but when the seed arrived all three 2.5kg bags had a rotten potato in each bag. No way was i going to put them in my soil, so i went to my local garden centre and chose six different varieties all desease resistant.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I wonder if it was just a bad year for that variety so hopefully i will have better luck this year using different seed. </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjkZyP-COIc/VNHm2fahA6I/AAAAAAAAC3E/marKAvhIYh4/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjkZyP-COIc/VNHm2fahA6I/AAAAAAAAC3E/marKAvhIYh4/s1600/006.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5q8Cn_hloPU/VNMxlgFtMYI/AAAAAAAAC3s/TdgiQl3ay00/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5q8Cn_hloPU/VNMxlgFtMYI/AAAAAAAAC3s/TdgiQl3ay00/s1600/001.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-58681475428794286872015-01-01T01:46:00.001-08:002015-01-01T01:46:20.314-08:00New Year New Growth<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Things are starting to happen in the vegetable plot.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
In late November last year i planted some broad bean seeds and to my delight they are just starting to grow. Its amazing how they can grow in our wintry conditions.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I usually wait until the early spring to sew them, but my last crop of broad beans was such a disaster with an infestation black fly i thought I'd got nothing to loose.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">I </span><span style="font-size: large;">don't like to use any insecticides or pesticides on my plot so have to rely on mother nature to do her best.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The only things that benefited from the black fly were are the ants. They tried to do their best to keep them down, but the black fly got the better of them and took over the plants completely gradually suffocating the new growth to death .</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Here they are the little darlings protected with wire baskets just in case the birds decided to have a feast on them.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYMfRda2Y_E/VKUVJ7vjU9I/AAAAAAAACzs/lop4IRCeH74/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYMfRda2Y_E/VKUVJ7vjU9I/AAAAAAAACzs/lop4IRCeH74/s1600/003.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-waR3tby-ZBA/VKUVg3f5RXI/AAAAAAAACz8/5DX57WNxnQQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-waR3tby-ZBA/VKUVg3f5RXI/AAAAAAAACz8/5DX57WNxnQQ/s1600/002.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC2sJ1MlDaQ/VKUVVMt0iBI/AAAAAAAACz0/iZKy8B5ZO10/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC2sJ1MlDaQ/VKUVVMt0iBI/AAAAAAAACz0/iZKy8B5ZO10/s1600/006.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYXv_v6FmOU/VKUVyX5iT4I/AAAAAAAAC0E/iSG5WNqFuko/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYXv_v6FmOU/VKUVyX5iT4I/AAAAAAAAC0E/iSG5WNqFuko/s1600/005.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3IUWwP9bYg/VKUWDmC2_rI/AAAAAAAAC0U/i9duW-XOD80/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3IUWwP9bYg/VKUWDmC2_rI/AAAAAAAAC0U/i9duW-XOD80/s1600/004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i>l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-13863039278968737802014-09-04T13:39:00.001-07:002015-01-01T00:35:48.439-08:00Beetroot Heaven<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Like a lot of my vegetables this year my beetroot is a lot to be desired .</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I have never grown them so big.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Soooo big i decided to make some Sticky Beetroot Marmalade from a recipe i found in a country magazine a friend gave me and here it is .</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0JmTyB3ovo/VAjMahFL5QI/AAAAAAAAClM/zCVBp0ahtlU/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0JmTyB3ovo/VAjMahFL5QI/AAAAAAAAClM/zCVBp0ahtlU/s1600/019.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDJr6JTQ6n0/VAjMVW7uQJI/AAAAAAAAClE/cSxbBCm7Ttw/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDJr6JTQ6n0/VAjMVW7uQJI/AAAAAAAAClE/cSxbBCm7Ttw/s1600/017.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-NKyQjOXzE/VAjMOO_XcBI/AAAAAAAACk8/1K_2nEUDqgo/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-NKyQjOXzE/VAjMOO_XcBI/AAAAAAAACk8/1K_2nEUDqgo/s1600/016.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I usually grow beetroot because i like it pickled in vinegar,but i must say the marmalade tasted really good with cheese and biscuits. Somebody mentioned making beetroot muffins so i think i will give them a try next......xx</i></span>l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-55661323574444366572014-08-29T13:39:00.000-07:002014-08-29T13:41:55.626-07:00Know your Onoins<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I was lucky enough to lift my onions last week just before the rain set in, Thank goodness! They are now safely drying off in the summerhouse ready to be tied up and hung in the cart lodge for the winter.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I grew 3 different varieties this year to see how each variety will keep as other years i stuck to one sort and i lost half of them to rot. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The crop has been a good size even the garlic and shallots have been good.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Red Onions</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffN1G8IvdkY/VADiqg-gxLI/AAAAAAAACiY/6Z7txB_9Nuk/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffN1G8IvdkY/VADiqg-gxLI/AAAAAAAACiY/6Z7txB_9Nuk/s1600/074.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> Golden Onions</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a45vPS9EFT4/VADi53uw2tI/AAAAAAAACig/-_phpFV9PKw/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a45vPS9EFT4/VADi53uw2tI/AAAAAAAACig/-_phpFV9PKw/s1600/071.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>White Onions</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hyiQMY3xNo/VADjBKDVpjI/AAAAAAAACio/WX5T6c2hm3s/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hyiQMY3xNo/VADjBKDVpjI/AAAAAAAACio/WX5T6c2hm3s/s1600/075.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>French Garlic</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfZqLbN1a9o/VADjLisj1qI/AAAAAAAACiw/NKNzrHiOmk0/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfZqLbN1a9o/VADjLisj1qI/AAAAAAAACiw/NKNzrHiOmk0/s1600/070.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Shallots </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0B7Udiheio/VADjQ-01YaI/AAAAAAAACi4/3ja9IecjcK0/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0B7Udiheio/VADjQ-01YaI/AAAAAAAACi4/3ja9IecjcK0/s1600/073.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-57363545047255767852014-08-29T13:08:00.000-07:002014-08-29T13:15:52.986-07:00My Potato crop <span style="font-size: large;"><i>Well! my potato crop is finally in and safely stored in the garage where i will be supplied with organic potato's until the early spring. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I always grow Desire' in my clay soil because over the years of growing potato's they always crop the best and keep well in storage. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I rotate the crop every three years so as not to infect the soil, but i have dug some up with potato blight which i think is due to the heavy rain we have had recently. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Although they do need water to grow and swell out it can be devastating if the ground is too wet for too long. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WxnV3nKfkXg/U_xdnbSN_II/AAAAAAAAChc/VMk5MsM1Nl0/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WxnV3nKfkXg/U_xdnbSN_II/AAAAAAAAChc/VMk5MsM1Nl0/s1600/021.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Its me doing the digging, so good for keeping fit.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyhrqLD7lpg/U_xdrS4isfI/AAAAAAAACho/9KxjkJEL6Vk/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyhrqLD7lpg/U_xdrS4isfI/AAAAAAAACho/9KxjkJEL6Vk/s1600/019.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Avgwi1lHSDM/U_xdnJPMe4I/AAAAAAAAChY/oU6sWQt3T5I/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Avgwi1lHSDM/U_xdnJPMe4I/AAAAAAAAChY/oU6sWQt3T5I/s1600/025.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hubby showing off some of the crop, quite a good size don't you think!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No i don't mean his belly</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nNosfOnOJ_I/U_xd7-6-eRI/AAAAAAAAChw/YWchdltKM48/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nNosfOnOJ_I/U_xd7-6-eRI/AAAAAAAAChw/YWchdltKM48/s1600/027.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am very pleased with the yield this year</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cBgorFokNY/U_xedYNIFmI/AAAAAAAACh4/pEMvxJpgwZw/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cBgorFokNY/U_xedYNIFmI/AAAAAAAACh4/pEMvxJpgwZw/s1600/018.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> This is potato blight which can be very serious if left to spread. </i></span>l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-17544607003752417692014-08-14T08:12:00.004-07:002014-08-14T08:12:48.588-07:00My fig tree<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I love fresh figs especially the ones that grow in my garden, but this year they don't seem to be fruiting as well as other years.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The small amount that have ripened though have been plump and sweet, but i had to be quick to pick them as the wasps also like them too.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>However there are signs more fruit coming so i am keeping my fingers crossed that it will ripen to a good size later on in the season. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This year the weather seems to be topsy turvy as my rhubarb didn't come to much in the spring and now late in the season its growing like mad again.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The tree is around ten years old and situated on a south facing hedge which has suited so far. That's the trouble with growing fruit and veg it all depends on the seasonal weather conditions.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>One fig that the wasps didn't get</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieiEvp60FS8/U-xyR1KdlQI/AAAAAAAACgw/2jqPj7GhiLI/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieiEvp60FS8/U-xyR1KdlQI/AAAAAAAACgw/2jqPj7GhiLI/s1600/021.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WA-pWuKoApg/U-xymf8pHMI/AAAAAAAACg4/CnvKy79qtNw/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WA-pWuKoApg/U-xymf8pHMI/AAAAAAAACg4/CnvKy79qtNw/s1600/022.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Some of the young fruits that will hopefully mature later</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c35qbK2oqLc/U-xy_-bdurI/AAAAAAAAChI/NzdHYNBUST4/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c35qbK2oqLc/U-xy_-bdurI/AAAAAAAAChI/NzdHYNBUST4/s1600/023.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The site of the fig tree.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9AB-x3koDoQ/U-xy83QlXZI/AAAAAAAAChA/jpcqplbA4AY/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9AB-x3koDoQ/U-xy83QlXZI/AAAAAAAAChA/jpcqplbA4AY/s1600/025.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-83210527123839712722014-08-11T12:15:00.001-07:002014-08-11T12:16:38.144-07:00Potato Picking<span style="font-size: large;"><i>It was a great day today for digging up some of my Desire late crop potatoes. The storms had passed leaving sunshine and showers to soften the soil making it easy to put the fork in.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I grow Desire every year because they are the only variety that seem to do well in my clay soil. I rotate the crop every three years so as not to infect the soil with blight.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I planted about 3 kilo in the spring and hope to harvest around 4 hundred weight which will last me until next April. I wont be lifting all of them up just now, but will wait for the binds to dry out which will be early September. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I will then store them in the garage and cover with sacking to give some protection from the frost. Every now and then I'll check the sacks for any disease as one bad potato could infect the whole sack.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VALJwJleHUM/U-kS0AIyjlI/AAAAAAAACgQ/zBsYf1sstN8/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VALJwJleHUM/U-kS0AIyjlI/AAAAAAAACgQ/zBsYf1sstN8/s1600/016.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Me with muddy boots and hands after digging potato's</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K67IiwYTloA/U-kTNxQCH6I/AAAAAAAACgY/yxZmrSkfrz0/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K67IiwYTloA/U-kTNxQCH6I/AAAAAAAACgY/yxZmrSkfrz0/s1600/038.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My crop of Desire potato's drying off in the sunshine.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PdiBOhjefY8/U-kTlhKEtbI/AAAAAAAACgg/f-hQABoAIMQ/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PdiBOhjefY8/U-kTlhKEtbI/AAAAAAAACgg/f-hQABoAIMQ/s1600/014.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574258787970105223.post-2990829386292471452014-08-10T17:29:00.005-07:002014-08-10T23:57:11.021-07:00Bringing in the harvest<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I have always been keen on growing fruit and veg, i suppose i got it from my dad who up until his death at the age of 91 spent many a day cultivating his allotment to supply the family with fresh organic produce. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The thing i remember most was when mum dished up new early potatoes, carrots, peas and beetroot that dad had painstakingly grown. There is no other taste like it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Now that mum and dad are no longer here i feel i must carry on where they left off. So with all the skills and knowledge i have learnt from them i am able to supply my family with home grown produce too.</i></span><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">The one thing i am proud of so far in the garden is my sweetcorn, due to the ideal growing conditions this year here in Essex the cobs have filled out well and today i harvested the crop.</i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I like to pick the corn when it is just ripe as if its too over ripe it tends to loose its sweetness and doesn't keep as well in the freezer, I then blanch them in my Burco boiler for a few minutes,(this is only used for blanching veg) cool it down quickly by putting it in a bowl of cold water, drain it well then bag it up and put freeze straight away. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>If some of the cobs are too long i cut them in half as it makes it easier to put in the freezer bags. </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LrjrTBNKXhY/U-gLE9gIFpI/AAAAAAAACew/vv9hv87DsbQ/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LrjrTBNKXhY/U-gLE9gIFpI/AAAAAAAACew/vv9hv87DsbQ/s1600/045.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvDxHFkVofg/U-gLYZD5ZRI/AAAAAAAACe4/z1JW6EenZxI/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvDxHFkVofg/U-gLYZD5ZRI/AAAAAAAACe4/z1JW6EenZxI/s1600/049.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmPkdShrzAk/U-gLnhfwkgI/AAAAAAAACfA/G4L0fj-zB1M/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmPkdShrzAk/U-gLnhfwkgI/AAAAAAAACfA/G4L0fj-zB1M/s1600/050.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbYqIGXBj9Y/U-gLoENYbrI/AAAAAAAACfE/_S0i7EyF1MU/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbYqIGXBj9Y/U-gLoENYbrI/AAAAAAAACfE/_S0i7EyF1MU/s1600/052.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWJxyiVxepM/U-gL-KS2CgI/AAAAAAAACfQ/kgMTWhKQyB4/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWJxyiVxepM/U-gL-KS2CgI/AAAAAAAACfQ/kgMTWhKQyB4/s1600/054.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMzbQaTGesY/U-gMNJjgO5I/AAAAAAAACfY/9banbN2eHRE/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMzbQaTGesY/U-gMNJjgO5I/AAAAAAAACfY/9banbN2eHRE/s1600/055.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-83kiiM6Cdqs/U-gMXj5fPYI/AAAAAAAACfg/1EM0ll3kZeE/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-83kiiM6Cdqs/U-gMXj5fPYI/AAAAAAAACfg/1EM0ll3kZeE/s1600/077.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span>l.wilks11http://www.blogger.com/profile/10386349895743472357noreply@blogger.com0