God I love growing our own

[Podilia]

This is a bliss..

double bliss with this:

How do you call it in Croatian language? (just interesting for linguistic comparison)

 

[Goran]

double bliss with this:
View attachment 37514
How do you call it in Croatian language? (just interesting for linguistic comparison)

If it is same as at our place - popečci. But we don't have habit to make them..

 

[Murox]

Trying to find Sagitta spuds for next year. No one seems to have them. Maybe it's a bit early.

Try BHGS Ltd or what about Tuckers?

 

[enrico]

Try BHGS Ltd or what about Tuckers?

BHGS out of stock
Tuckers not yet

 

[Podilia]

If it is same as at our place - popečci. But we don't have habit to make them..

I like it with cream, jam, honey, cheese. Don't have the idea how to eat all those products otherways.
That word is obviously originated from the common basis which means "to bake".

 

[JamezF]

You know what they say...

Small melons...

... big carrots.

First melon of the season, a variety called Petit Gris de Rennes. Tasted absolutely amazing despite its slightly diminished size. The melons haven't done outstandingly this year. I suspect we've got about eight or nine of these, and perhaps half a dozen of another variety called Prescott Fond Blanc, which actually looks like a miniature pumpkin.

James

 

[JamezF]

Saw this little **** having a lie down next to my polytunnel on Tuesday morning.

Today I noticed that a load of beetroot that I'd planted out have had all their leaves eaten off and the plants have been pulled out of the ground

They are causing so much damage to the plants. Worse this year than ever before. They're starting to treat it like a deers' buffet. I may end up having to "get medieval on their asses".

In fact I was putting netting over brassicas when I noticed the beetroot damage. The 3d printer is still red hot from printing connectors for all the supports and may be for some days to come, but temporarily I've just rested the net over the top of the support stakes because it still helps to keep the undesirable butterflies off the plants.

I believe I have posted before that I intend to add four new beds this winter. I've worked out that they will be about 4.6m long by up to 1.2m wide. Two will be for strawberries (these may not be so wide), one for edible flowers and one for cut flowers. Moving the edible flowers from the main beds will free up space for other stuff that I want room for. And hopefully both will hide the mesh that will inevitably have to cover the strawberries for a significant part of the year so we can't see it from the house. However my knowledge of cut flowers stretches about as far as sweet peas, so if anyone has recommendations for good choices, please recommend away.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Saw this little **** having a lie down next to my polytunnel on Tuesday morning.

I can advise you on acquiring an FAC if you like, and arrange some training.
I also have a friend who can do a deal on a decent freezer

 

[JamezF]

I can advise you on acquiring an FAC if you like, and arrange some training.

I did seriously consider an FAC some years back when the local fox population was a major problem (they used to turn up even in the middle of the day to try to raid the chicken runs), but other people may have taken care of that as we see very few of them these days. I even got as far as buying a gun cabinet and ammunition safe, but the cabinet has only ever been used for air rifles.

These days I am somewhat blessed with freezer space because my in-laws barely use their large chest freezer any more. In fact the larger part of its contents is now hops for brewing beer

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

These days I am somewhat blessed with freezer space

I remember boarding the 'new' RMS St Helena back in the 1990's and commenting to the purser about the amount f freezer space they had - his comment was ' haven't you noticed that, apart from the average age of the passengers, there are fewer walking down the gangway at the end of the cruise?'........... 'and I hope you have a strong stomach, as they still need free pratique'

 

[JamezF]

Ho ho. Minor error of judgement...

I've been wanting to smoke some more cheese for a while, but it's really been warmer than ideal. Now however the temperature later in the day is dropping off a fair bit so I kicked some off before dinner this evening. Without really thinking too much about it I set the smoker up in its usual location, perhaps five or six metres from the bay window that currently has a hornets' nest in the roof.

I few minutes ago I thought I'd go out and have a quick check to see how everything was going. It's dark, obviously, so I needed a torch. Do I need to go on?

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I've been wanting to smoke some more cheese for a while,

one of the few things I miss from my times afloat - we were acquainted with the last traditional fish smoker
in Lowestoft who used to (for us) smoke stilton cheese above the prawns and kippers in his smokehouse. it was superb - a level above the commercial offerings we get nowadays

 

[JamezF]

Picked a couple of peppers today. We also have ones that are supposed to be yellow and chocolate brown, but ripening has been slow this year.

My wife also asked me to cut a cabbage to go with dinner, so I chose one of the smaller ones. Yes, those numbers are grammes...

James

 

[Goran]

Our first batch of sour cabbage is ready, tomorrow will seems have some Sarma
Since we are in middle of hazelnuts " harvest" we need extra energy.. I lost some additional weight due to heavy lifting and lot of moving around.. Usually in winter I regain 10 kilos back and melt in next season..

 

[Goran]

Our pumpkin hill is showing the signs of autumn. Leaves are lowering and pumpkins emerging.. Finally will have bumper crop and seems plenty to share also..
Vineyard peaches are finishing, but as much storms ripped them off, what left was enough for us to eat.
Little grapes we managed to keep away from birds under net we will still have for some time.. For what we had no net, birds eat all..
Since this year I didn't witnessed what pests are tit birds, luckily ( but not enough) our cats are quite fond of them.. Jay birds and starlings no need to mention, they are as usual..

 

[JamezF]

Our pumpkin hill is showing the signs of autumn. Leaves are lowering and pumpkins emerging.. Finally will have bumper crop and seems plenty to share also..

My squashes really haven't done well. I think the poor Summer weather meant they didn't grow as well. They've produced nowhere near as much leaf as normal.

James

 

[enrico]

My squashes really haven't done well. I think the poor Summer weather meant they didn't grow as well. They've produced nowhere near as much leaf as normal.

James

Ha ha! So close and yet so different, we have had a huge crop, especially a butternut variety called walnut ( I think).
We are having to sell large bunches of grapes at the gate as we can't eat them all. Tried freezing them last year but not keen on that and wine is too much like hardwork.

 

[Goran]

My squashes really haven't done well. I think the poor Summer weather meant they didn't grow as well. They've produced nowhere near as much leaf as normal.

James

Patty Pan and summer squashes were also abundant. We shared and the rest for our hens.. Though noticed hens like less Patty Pan than ordinary squash..
Butternut squashes I saw through vines a lot, mostly we make cakes of them ( sweet with puff pastry).
Blue hubbard type we mostly bake in the oven ( cut in half, remove seeds and soft tissue) and eat afterward with little spoon mostly.. It is so rich in minerals and considered extremely healthy. I got seeds from different sources so there will be different varieties and shapes..
This year Hokaido also given decent amount of small pumpkins, I think they are also nice baked in the oven ( when we try I let You know).

 

[Ely]

Still have a few letuces to come up. Parsnips are growing nicely. Seedlings have come up for winter radishes, rocket and pak choi

 

[enrico]

This is our crop of squashes in store, we go for small varieties as there are only two of us but the butternuts went mad