Shanghai garlic

Written by: adekun on 28 August, 2008 5:11 pm - Filed under: garden — No Comments »

Some of the garlic to be planted; Aomori, Elephant, and Shanghai.

Just as the mosquitoes had a productive time, I too can be pleased. Dodging the rain, I got the garlic out of the way. Increasing the width of the rows by a third to eight, the following was planted:

• 2 rows of less pungent garlic from Kikkawa-san
• 8 rows of six piece white
• 2 rows containing four Aomori ‘bulbs’ and twelve Elephant
• 8 rows of Shanghai garlic
• 4 rows of garlic similar to the above from Mukai-san

The bulk of what went in was from the earlier harvest. All of the Aomori lifted had not split into cloves, which was a disappointment. Overall much better than the dozen heads I bought to increase the flock. The latest garlic was labelled as Shanghai from Nagasaki.

Tags: garden, garlic

End of the summer 08 veg

Written by: adekun on 22 August, 2008 8:32 am - Filed under: garden — No Comments »

Goodbye tomatoes

Towards the end of the weekend I thought I’d follow the crow’s lead and take advantage of the damp ground. A heap of weeds were brought together, rather like one of those Eastern European hay stacks fondly remembered. Elsewhere, more potatoes were planted; about half the amount of the previous lot. Once the tomatoes and cucumbers were removed, everywhere was dug over before a scattering of red clover seeds. There’s still a few pepper and chilli pepper plants that are good and the aubergines should last a bit longer.

Tags: cucumbers, garden, potatoes, tomatoes, weeds

Bum Tomato

Written by: adekun on 17 August, 2008 7:05 am - Filed under: garden — 4 Comments »

Bum shaped tomato

On Friday we had a heavy downpour which is worth noting for my own benefit. With the ground being damp the crows returned to dig up more peanuts. Not much going on elsewhere in the garden. The unruly sweet potato vines should be clipped; there’s a chance they will turn out all vine and no tuber. I did spot a tomato (maybe it’s two) that looks arse shaped. Holding it in my hand it really looks like two tomatoes stuck together.

Tags: garden, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, weather

Get off my nuts

Written by: adekun on 12 August, 2008 10:14 am - Filed under: garden — 4 Comments »

Some sort of netting has got to be a sound investment. The crows, having finished off the corn have recently returned from a spell further afield. They have begun digging up the groundnuts. Although harvest time a lot further off than a week, the nuts must still be appealing. As before, the evidence is strewn across the ground. I have to be a little intrigued seeing the thick but pliable shells split open.

Tags: garden, pests

Rhubarb departed

Written by: adekun on 8 August, 2008 8:59 am - Filed under: food — 4 Comments »

Since late summer last year I’ve been nurturing two dozen rhubarb seeds. The first twelve were sown directly with about a third germinating. They didn’t flourish. The remainder was put into a module tray in the spring. Again only about a third made it to the surface, of which two developed into something worth transplanting. Both were promptly devoured. One was strong enough to spawn another set of leaves. However, I think the strong sunlight coupled with a bottle cloche were too much. It doesn’t look like it’s going to make a recovery this time. I am quite upset.

Tags: garden, rhubarb

High summer garden

Written by: adekun on 7 August, 2008 2:12 pm - Filed under: garden — No Comments »

Along the back from the left:
• Empty space where the spuds were
• Asparagus
• Basil
• Peas

Middle and front:
• Sweet Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Peppers & aubergines
• Peas
• Okra
• Recently vacated kabocha and watermelon

It really looks dry out there. I’ve barely been out with either the hose or watering can. The sweet potatoes are thriving nonetheless. Expect the cucumber to have finished. Perhaps earlier with a bit more watering and mulch they may have lasted a bit longer.

Tags: garden

Kabocha

Written by: adekun on 22 July, 2008 4:02 pm - Filed under: food — No Comments »

Kabocha a few days old

These are a variety of mini kabocha; both the fruit and leaves are smaller than the usual. From the two plants only three squashes are good. The majority of the vines are now yellowing. This is in part to my idea of growing some of them up poles to make better use of space. Besides what I think was a pollination problem, many of those that did start to bear fruit soon died. I shall certainly aim to try again; in the meantime there is some new foliage to gaze at.

Kabocha harvested

Tags: garden, kabocha