What are you growing this year ?

[Hope]

We've had about 5-10 or so tomatoes. they are fairly small ones, which ripen earlier. Loads of courgettes. Lots of wild rocket. Slugs ate my pea plants and have had a good chomp on the beans, but other beans are fighting back and in bud (only someone thought yet again that she'd remember which was which so didn't bother to label and well... it'll be a nice surprise if we get any pods to then see which ones they are!) Had three radishes. Everything else is either eaten by slugs, or is taking forever to grow. Potatoes should be ready soon though.

[Herbidacious]

Just did a bit of harvesting:

Tromboncini area coming along nicely. Sorry photo a bit out of focus

My Lucciolo toms are ripening and the Rosello are turning.

[Herbidacious]

Lucciolo are rather a sweet shape!

IMG_2817.JPG (24.21 KiB) Viewed 69449 times

[liketocook]

OH lovely veggies Herbie , after getting a bit over excited I've a (temporary) lull in my cucumbers and courgettes though more on their way. Picked a goodish amount of runners and broad beans earlier, these were from my earliest planting so are waning now, though the next batch should be only 2-3 weeks away

[StokeySue]

I'm a bit puzzled
I'm going to have enough chillies to start a business from the four small plants round the edges of the terrace, but the huge one in the middle doesn't seem to have set any fruit at all, I don't need them to eat, but was hoping for decorative effect. Fingers crossed

Herbi, those tromboncini look amazing

[Herbidacious]

Hmm odd Sue. Mind you the beans I grew from seed aren't flowering. Hoping they will at some point. I started them off in April. The ones I ate last night went in about 4 weeks ago (albeit as small plants). Maybe your chillis will glower eventually?

I am still getting cucumbers but a bit bored with them I may not get any more courgettes.

I confess my excitement for gardening always seems to wane around the critical
harvesting time. Not sure why. I shall try and focus my attention on cooking (tomatoes may feature heavily...!) when I get back from Italy. Hopefully I shall be inspired by Umbrian cuisine. I shall be on my own too. OH goes to Germany a week on Monday to start new job.
I will water tromboncini when I get home!

[Herbidacious]

I picked the longest tromboncino (sorry I probably spell it differently every time.) Now what to do with it... It's supposed to be quite courgette-like actually. I may just fry it in butter, to find out what it tastes of. I also discovered some ripe, grape-sized tomatoes... (Anna Nasa) and ate them. Not sure they are supposed to be grape sized... And noticed some blossom end rot (I think) on my Ananis Noir. I have not been as assiduous with feeding as perhaps I should have been.

I removed lots of mildewy leaves from things and sprayed the rest.

[liketocook]

My word that's a big 'un seems a shame to chop it up. I've one wee cherry tom (Sungold) that is ripening, they always seem to be the first ones to get there! I doubt when it's ready it will make it out of the greenhouse A few brambles are nearly there too!

[Herbidacious]

There was quite a lot of it, as I realized when I began slicing it. It was curiously squeaky when I ate it! Quite a mild taste. I ended up adding s-d tom paste, some smoked hot paprika and some garlic, and topping with parmesan.

My husband had some vulgar things to say about it...

Well once you've had one ripening, the rest will follow suit. Ethylene, I guess.

I am looking forward to a tomato tasting session - compare and contrast sort of thing. I might bring some in to work if enough of all the different varieties ripen at once.

[liketocook]

First brambles picked earlier, just a small bowl so I think they will either just be scoffed with some cream or turned into a small crumble. Though I do have some venison haunch steaks in the freezer and I love a bramble sauce with that......
Courgettes have picked back up so a I've a few to use up. I've a notion to try dehydrating some thin slices so might have a bash at that sa i've still to use my new hydrator.

[StokeySue]

OK, any expert chilli identifiers out there?
I have 5 plants grown from the same packet of seed ("Patio Peppers"), two varieties, neither as advertised
The smaller plants (top) are covered in skyward pointing ivory coloured fruits, look a bit like shark's teeth but I think will finally turn red
The bigger plant is covered with downward hanging dark green fruit that look a bit like jalapenos, can't get a decent pic due to the foliage

[liketocook]

I think the top one could be this http://www.chileseeds.co.uk/products/om ... ur-337.php or this http://www.chileseeds.co.uk/products/su ... re-306.php though I'm no expert. REckon they'll be hot though
Apart from jalepenos I can't think what the bottom one might be.

[Badger's mate]

Could the lower one be Serrano?

[StokeySue]

It could well be the first of LTC's, Omni Colour, but I don't think it's Patio Fire / Basket of Fire as those have more slender fruits
Serrano definitely a contender for the brute, not least as it seems to make vigourous but scruffy plants, which is what I have

[liketocook]

If not Omni - I do think it is probably an Iranian type. I grew "Pretty in Purple" a few years ago, beautiful plant and small nice tasting but very hot chillies.

[StokeySue]

I didn't even know Iranian was a type of chilli
I keep thinking of the Chinese (Sichuan) "facing heaven" chillies but those are much bigger, I've got some dried

[liketocook]

I'm not sure they are type of chilli as such but typical chillies grown from the Middle East are smallish and face upwards. Hopefully someone else who knows a bit more about these things ......

[Badger's mate]

Sue, your light coloured chillies reminded me in form of some of the 'Numex' ones. Not so much the colour though, but there are lots of Numex varieties. The prettier ones are sold as pot plants. As I understand it they are so-called because they were bred at an institute in New Mexico. It's a bit like Pentland or Maris spuds, several varieties named after the place where they were bred.

This might be a red herring, but they might have produced one like those you have. We're at Benington on Saturday, I'll see if there's anything similar there. (if I remember )

[StokeySue]

That looks far more like it
And as T&M and Suttons sell it it could quite easily have found it's way into a Wilko own brand seed packet, they must buy them in

NuMex Twilight

[liketocook]

[Badger's mate]

They are indeed very pretty, recommended for the house or patio. I believe they can be quite lively tasting too.

[StokeySue]

So far they taste like those near tasteless pale green Turkish peppers, (biber dolma) but I maintain a state of optimism

[Badger's mate]

Chillies do like warmth and light to make them spicy. If yours aren't yet ripe, there's still hope.

At least you've got some fruit. My plants are only just beginning to flower, they are going to require an Indian summer...

[liketocook]

[StokeySue]

I started indoors, and just got them out onto my roof terrace just at the start of the hot spell so they got a good start, as the terrace is a hot spot even during normal weather

[suffolk]

Very pleased with the Borlotti beans ... I've picked them all now and am drying them in the studio

Aren't they beautiful

[Herbidacious]

Beautiful!

[liketocook]

These look lovely Suffs

[Zosherooney]

My rude carrot having a little dance, he has lost his other appendages and head !!!

Hope this does not get me in detention !!

[Luca]

Love it!

My garden looks like the triffids are taking over. Last tomatoes eaten pretty much. I place my chair by them and nibble. Have about 10 still to ripen.

What should I be thinking of planting now? Would love to be more self sufficient. Slugs are a menace around here.

[suffolk]

At this time of year I like to sow winter lettuce variety - Winter Density (like a dark green sweet Little Gem)
Garlic
Radish

towards the end of October you can sow broad beans variety Aquadulce 'Claudia' is a hardy variety to grow over winter and provide an early crop by late May/early June

[Luca]

Thanks Suffs. I love all those although Winter Destiny new to me I think, love little gem as it is so adaptable.

[Herbidacious]

I planted out my purple sprouting broccoli on Sunday. Fingers crossed they don't get slugged, and are not permanently stunted by not having been planted out for months (although some were potted on.)

[StokeySue]

I have harvested about half of the fruit from my rogue chilli plant, don't think I'll harvest the others, just leave them as ornamentals, as I don't really need them and they are full of seeds
The rogues (Serrano?) made a lovely pico de gallo

Chillies!

[Herbidacious]

I have been too chicken to try my Vampire ones yet! They are drying out a bit on the plant.

Some seedlings that were potted on very late have been brought inside and there is actually a little chilli on one of them. May not last though. However many chilli plants are biennials so I will keep looking after them.

I have harvested some fennel seeds but not sure what to do with them...

[Zosherooney]

I have no room in the DF so have dried out my chilies on the sunny window ledge. The lady who sold me the plant says that there is no reason it should not winter indoors and then should produce again next year. I will have a go.

[Herbidacious]

Ah that's what I am doing, re the drying.

I am still watering the plant indoors, but it's very raggedy (something nibbled the leaves.) so not sure it's worth nurturing.

[Herbidacious]

I seem to have ordered some elephant garlic. It's years since I grew it. Will have to do some homework.

is there anything that doesn't like growing with it? i Son;t want to commit some of my raised bed to it, if so.

[scullion]

i was given a clove a couple of years ago to eat but i planted it. it flowered and went to dig it up to separate the new 'cloves' to harvest and eat - but there was a ring of six inches of green leaves sticking up so i left them and went to look them up. they are a form of leek rather than onion - like babington's leeks - and it seems you can harvest the greenery (i will wait until they're a bit bigger).
they don't seem to care what they're growing with here, they're just getting on and doing their own thing. i may go and have a dig and split up soon, though, as the raised bed needs moving.

[Herbidacious]

It said avoid soggy ground, so down the bottom, it would have to be a raised bed, but I guess they will be ok in the herb patch at the top. (Apart from the cat potentially going to the loo on them )

[Herbidacious]

Still not put them in. This weekend...

I also need to put a mulberry on that arrived a few weeks ago.

I am still getting the odd raspberry!

I didn't like my celery and haven't eaten any of it (apart from the one stalk that made me think this and the other that confirmed it.) I imagine it's still ok. I suppose I could use the leaves if they are nice enough.

I decided to ditch the vampire chilli plant, but have some little plants (one with a tiny purple chilli) that were very late, that i have put in the unheated covered part of the house.

Was thinking about getting a mushroom kit.

[suffolk]

The Swiss chard is still producing really well and is soooooooo tasty

[StokeySue]

"Did" my roof terrace this morning for the winter

General tidying up, moving things around, discarding summer bedding. I stripped the serrano chilli, but the four whatever they are I have bundled into one big pot, they won't last long but they will be cheerful for a while, might try to get a Christmas rose or something to replace them.
Bedding replaced with tulips (frilly magenta streaked ones), iris danfordae, pansies (crimson) and a few wall flowers

Every year I carefully plan out and plant my posh terracotta pots, and bundle all the leftovers into a trough. That's usually what looks best in the end

[Zosherooney]

I have planted some tulips some weeks back, I have forgotten where I planted them....

[Herbidacious]

I had another dwarf cherry tree and a dwarf plum arrive last week. I need to pot them on asap but it may have to wait a while as I need a driver to take me to get big pots. I suppose I could just pot them onto the next size. Need to do some reasearch.
PSB still not doing a lot. One was being eaten. Not sure what by at this time of year.
I have little chilli plants that came up too late in a single wide pot in the lean to one of which has a little purple chilli on it but it’s afflicted by sticky little bugs. Suggestions? I have tried spraying with diluted washing up liquid.

[scullion]

You could try painting them with a strong solution of washing up liquid, with a soft paintbrush, then rinsing with fresh, running water after. It's a method I've used on small, delicate plants before now before hitting the bug killer spray (although I would be disinclined to use something like that on something I was going to eat).

[Herbidacious]

I’ll have a go. I can’t put them under a tap but could use the hose pipe on a gentle setting.

Thanks. I don't think the big is hurting them though. Not sure.

If I eat anything off them it will be if they fruit next year.

[Herbidacious]

I like to think about, and indeed order things at this time of year, to brighten up the winter months. And I am sure I am not alone in this, as the seed catalogue companies know full well (loads of catalogues over Christmas and lots of emails in my in box.)

Does anyone have any plans?

I will not be ordering tomatoes from the same supplier as last year, as I am fairly sure they were what introduced the blight. I won't be growing celery again, I think. Peas yes. Beans probably/maybe. I'll have another go at courgettes, but on the look out for powdery mildew from the start. But what else? I am, as usual, being tempted by James Wong's unusual things, but they've not always been great.

I am not going to attempt too much from seed this year. It's just not worth it for me, really.

Last year was great for (lack of) slugs ( and terrible for disease) The year before was the converse. I wonder if this year will be sluggy again. It's been very mild so far.

[Zosherooney]

This year is going to be a very busy one for us with (hopefully) phase I and II happening to our home and I know it will be the first priority and I may just not do anything with my GH at all. At the moment our last wood delivery is stored in there but at the rate Mr. Z is going through it, it may not be there much longer......! The rest of the garden will just be on tick over - grass cut - weeding shingle (or even maybe weedkiller).

[Herbidacious]

I ended up buying some sillies from Suttons (yuzu and finger lime. Bet they don't fruit!) Some patio potatoes, some callaloo (sp?) and a few other things I probably shouldn't have.

I really ought to pot on my new dwarf fruit trees.