When I first started writing this blog on the 5th February this year, I said at the time, “All I need to do now is defrost the freezer (or maybe just buy a bigger one), check out my stock of seeds and get my wellies on.” Well, I still have a pretty large stock of seeds despite being most of the way through the planting season and my wellies have had plenty of wear, but I still haven’t defrosted the freezer and I definitely need a new one. I know that I have procrastinated on this issue for six months now but there is no longer any excuse as Thomas has redecorated and reorganized the utility room ready to accommodate a chest freezer and the allotment is about to produce its glut of almost everything. Last week I came very close to ordering one but then I happened to read a semi-negative review on which.com; found another freezer which had good reviews and set my heart on it until Thomas checked its dimensions and realized it wouldn’t fit through the front door! Sometimes this internet business makes things so much more complicated. As I write this now I make a pledge to order a freezer today (and be done with it).
Ok, I’m glad I’ve got that out of the way.
Our Cobra climbing french beans are lovely and crisp and so long and straight. The Streamline runner beans are a bit disappointing – quite a lot of the beans are curled and there’s not many growing on each flower stem. A couple of the red cabbages are ready to eat as are some of the swedes. Yesterday I cut one up into cubes and roasted them in olive oil and we had them with our bangers and mash. Ever since we have grown our own swede I have always been surprised at how pale in colour and lighter in taste they are compared to shop-bought ones.
On the weekend I dug up the shallots and because the weather is so wet I’ve put them on the shed floor and on our picnic table under our carport to dry. I am considering whether to put the heating on and hang them from the curtain poles because if this wet weather continues I fear they will start to rot from their moist stalks. They are a very good size compared to the tiny bulbs we harvested last year - I might even put in an entry at the village Horticultural show next week…
Joseph's proud of his sunflowers