Everything is alright with the world when you grow your own.

Posted on September 17, 2013 by clairesallotment

Take at look at this Chipotle Ad……Makes you realise that home grown and free range is the best.

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Monday 16th September 2013 – Rhubarb and Ginger jam

Posted on September 17, 2013 by clairesallotment

Well, with the load of Rhubarb that I picked from the allotment the other day, I needed to make something with it. You get to a stage where you’ve had enough of crumbles and pies, so I was looking round for something else to make. I gave some Rhubarb to my friend Sally, and with what was left I made 2 batches of Rhubarb and Ginger Jam from Women’s Weekly Jam Book. It’s very nice, and very easy to make. The hint of ginger going through it is wonderful, and out of the 2 batches I’ve made 11 jars. That should keep us going for a while. If you do make this, the I suggest that you stir it frequently during the cooking stage, otherwise it sticks and then burns on the bottom of the preserving pan.

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Oh look, I’ve been nominated!!

Posted on September 13, 2013 by clairesallotment

Mark just found the “Grow Your Own Gardening Awards” nominations online and you can vote for little old me!! It’s so exciting, take a look at “Category 23 – Best Blog”. Click here to go straight to the page.

P.S: Mark suggested that if I win, there should be more nudity!!!

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Thursday 12th September 2013 – Lots more harvested, and my goodies box got very heavy.

Posted on September 13, 2013 by clairesallotment

I’m a strong little soul as you can most probably imagine, especially with bell ringing, and all that digging on the allotment. But what I harvested today even put my muscles to the test. I managed to harvest all my Kohl Rabi, some Cabbage, Garlic (yes I know that’s not heavy), some Gagat Squash, Courgettes, and a load more Potatoes. It was a bit of a balancing act getting the box to the car, and then to the house, but I managed. I did have to stop and put my box down several times, and the handles of the plastic box were hurting my hands, but what a haul that was. I’m now gradually working through each bed, and harvesting those that are ready, and pulling out anything that is finished. then it’s manure time….so exciting!!

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Wednesday 11th September 2013 – Another strange find.

Posted on September 13, 2013 by clairesallotment

Having dug up some more rogue potatoes from in between the Purple Dwarf French Beans, stripped the Rhubarb down to the bare essentials (oh my, there was a huge amount of it. I’ve given some to my friend Sally, and will take some ringing tomorrow for those who want some). After lots of weeding, I then picked the tomatoes that I had. As it’s getting colder during the day now, they’re not going to ripen outside, so they needed to be brought in and put under a tea towel with the others. Most of them were a normal shape, but you know me by now, not everything I grow is normal and regular shape. So here is another growth of mine that looks like a part of the body. This one, I think,

Mark reckons it looks like a heart, but I think it looks like a cute bottom.

Mark reckons it looks like a heart, but I think it looks like a cute bottom.

looks like a cute little tushy.

 

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Tuesday 10th September 2013 – Beans, beans, and yet more beans.

Posted on September 10, 2013 by clairesallotment

Well the runner beans have practically finished, so after I’d harvest what I could I pulled them out and put them in the compost heap. Runner beans are very high maintenance, not as easy as French Beans at all. They’re easy enough to grow, but when it comes to preparing them for eating, you have to top and tail, then take off the side bit, then slice them. And they get stringy very easily. French beans are far easier as you just have to top and tail them, and they’re ready. I think next year I’ll give Runners a miss and just stick with French ones. I also harvested all my Broad Beans, some Carrots, Beetroot, some purple French Beans, green French Beans and a few rogue Potatoes. Now I have the enviable task of sorting them all out. A cup of tea and some good music should do the trick. I seem to have loads of beans, I’ve not weighed them, but I’ve got a fabric shopping  bag full of runners, and half a fabric bag of green French beans……..What veg shall we have with dinner tonight?

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September Sale at Victoriana Nursery Gardens, and Chilli Day

Posted on September 9, 2013 by clairesallotment

I got this from Victoriana, it’s their latest offers, and information about their Chilli and Craft Day on Saturday 21st September. If you’re free, pop along to see them. Also there’s a 20% off Fruit trees, use the Code SEP13. See below for all the details:

Challock Chillies and Craft Fair

We’re just a couple of weeks off our annual Chilli Day now (21 September) – a chance to come and taste all the varieties we sell, as well as have a natter with our gardening friends. This year we are expanding things a little with a mini craft fair with stalls as diverse as Woodland Crafts to a giant Paella; if you can make it along, we’d love to see you – full information can be found at Forthcoming Events.

20% off Fruit Trees & Soft Fruits

Now is the perfect time for planting Tree Fruits and Soft Fruits – the ground is still warm so anything planted now will establsih before the onset of Winter – and so roar into growth next Spring! As a ‘seasonal something extra’ you can claim 20% off Fruit Trees and Soft Fruits until the 22nd of September – by example that brings a single apple tree down to just £14.40. To claim this discount use the offer code SEP13 between now and the 22nd of September when shopping for Fruit Trees and Soft Fruits.

So that’s it for September! Follow us on Twitter @Victoriana_NG and you’ll know what we’re up to every day at Victoriana!

Kindest Regards

All At Victoriana

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Puppets are so cool, who couldn’t love them.

Posted on September 6, 2013 by clairesallotment

I’ve been brought up on The Muppets, and when Emily was a baby, we just had to sit down and watch Sesame Street. I think that Elmo is our favourite, but check out this wonderful scene between Tom Hiddleston and the Cookie Monster…priceless!

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Thursday 5th September 2013 – Is it just me, or do all vegetable look like a part of the body?

Posted on September 5, 2013 by clairesallotment

Another scorcher of a day today, I think it reached about 29 again, if not higher. It’ll all change tomorrow as we’re due for a load of rain this evening, and tomorrow. But we do need it, so I mustn’t really complain. I spent a sweaty two and a half hours on site this morning. Yesterday I seemed to get a heat rash just above my tummy, and it’s flared up again today. It doesn’t look very nice, and itches when it gets hot. But I solider on up the allotment, as it’s my little hobby, and keeps me out of mischief. So this morning I finished off digging over the onion bed. I found another 3 onions, and they’re all now drying nicely in my greenhouse. I’ll leave them to dry for about 2 weeks, and then put them in a netted bag, and use as and when I need them. I then moved onto the 2 strawberry beds I have. The runners are going manic, and I’ve now trained them to grow in the beds rather than on the paths. I weeded the beds, and dug up some rogue potatoes. I found more huge ones, and some diddly squit ones.

This potato was 18cm long, and weighed 1lb 7.8oz!!

This potato was 18cm long, and weighed 1lb 7.8oz!!

Then this afternoon I’ve started to sort out the tomatoes in the greenhouse, and pick them all, and put the ones that aren’t quite ready on trays above the kitchen cupboards to turn. I’ll check them once a week to see how they’re doing. Time for another bath, and I’ll see what tomorrow’s weather brings. If it’s raining I’ll finish off the greenhouse, but if it’s dry I’ll be down the allotment again sorting out the next bed. Take a look at the photos of the huge potato and the one that looks like a body part. I’ll let you decide what you think it looks like, but I’ve made up my mind…..

The front view....

The front view….

And the side view.....now you maKe up your own mind.

And the side view…..now you maKe up your own mind.

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Wednesday 4th September 2013 – Kids are both back to school, so I spent the morning down the allotment.

Posted on September 4, 2013 by clairesallotment

Emily went back yesterday, but George started secondary school today. He looked so grown up in his new uniform. He had a great first day, but both the kids have got blisters from their new shoes, so I’ll have to sort them out with plasters later on. Anyway, I digress. I popped to the allotment this morning for a couple of hours, it’s been rather hot for the last few days, and today got up to 29 degrees! Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter…then rain on friday and a drop of 10 degrees apparently. Now is the time to start harvesting most things and getting the allotment ready for winter

I got all these potatoes from 1 plant. The largest was 13cm long!

I got all these potatoes from 1 plant. The largest was 13cm long!

. So I decided to start with the onion bed. They’ve done really well this year, and I’ve got onions to last until at least Christmas if not longer. Some were really huge! I also found some rogue potatoes in the bed and dug then up also. I took some photos, which I hope you enjoy. Some of the potatoes were enormous, and some just plain weird. But then I never grow any normal veg, you should know that by now. I must have a bath before I got out tonight, and I’m a bit stinky!

You know me and odd shaped vegetable...well here are some odd looking potatoes.

You know me and odd shaped vegetable…well here are some odd looking potatoes.

 

Here are some of my largest onions. They're all between 9-10 cm wide.

Here are some of my largest onions. They’re all between 9-10 cm wide.

All my onions. Hopefully they'll keep us going for a while.

All my onions. Hopefully they’ll keep us going for a while.
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