Allotment Vegetable Growing in September 2010

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Mustard Green Manure

Mustard Green Manure
12/09/2010

This is mustard green manure on plot 29. It really should have been dug in a few weeks back before the flowers formed. Still, it's stopped the weeds and is will improve the soil.

Unlike some green manures, which are really hard work to dig in, mustard is easy. It's a good follow on for potatoes as well - confusing the worms into hatching early so cleaning the soil of a pest.

Bean Teepees

Bean Teepees
12/09/2010

For the first time on the allotment my teepees have blown over. Try as I did, I couldn't get them back up without damaging the beans so I've just left them leaning on the greenhouse.

I've had them go wobbly before and managed to sort them out, but not this time. Oh well, can't win them all.

 

Plot 5 Red Clover Green Manure

Plot 5 Red Clover Green Manure
12/09/2010

This is the view down plot 5. The empty frame had tomatoes but the blight got them. I've sown red clover green manure down to the squashes. Red clover fixes nitrogen, which is good, but isn't as strong as mustard so its not supressed the chickweed that's mixed in with it.

I didn't use mustard as I'd had a little clubroot on plot 5 and don't want to provide a home for it.

Plum Tomatoes

Plum Tomatoes
12/09/2010

The last plum tomatoes - they're not doing brilliantly but better than the outdoors ones which have all been killed by blight.

These are Incas (the same variety I'm giving away with the books) and they're delicious.

Pumpkins and Squashes

Pumpkins and Squashes
12/09/2010

A selection of pumpkins and butternut squash on the table to ripen in the sun, if we have any!

The smaller squash are actually easier for us as there's just enough for the two of us. Not huge pumpkins either, but we're growing to eat these rather than the Halloween giants I've grown in some years for the kids.

Tomatoes Finally Ripening

Tomatoes Finally Ripening
12/09/2010

This year the tomatoes are really late for us, but they're finally ripening

I didn't plant too many this year, not knowing when we'd be moving.

Trees starting to turn

Trees starting to turn
12/09/2010

Just in case I had any delusions about it still being summer, the leaves on the trees in the woods next to the allotments are starting to turn. You can just make out that they're yellowing on the western side (to right of picture)

I always find this time of year a little sad, still some lovely days but chilly in the evenings and you know winter isn't far away.

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