Down on the Allotment

Matron grows vegetables and fruit in a Hampshire garden. I've been growing veggies since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Some traditional varieties and old favourites as well as new ideas. I share my garden with my allotment assistant Daisy the Labrador. On Twitter as @MatronsVeggies

Friday, November 25, 2011

Matron's Christmas Veggie Blog

Just another reminder of how to enter Matron's Christmas Veggie blog. I will be asking bloggers to send me a photo of any veggie from their own plot that will be ready to eat on Christmas Day. I will be asking you to send me a photo via email at the beginning of December, and I will be publishing the blog in the week before Christmas. Come on! let's see what you can do!

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Queensland Blue Pumpkin

My favourite pumpkin by far is the Queensland Blue pumpkin. Dense, sweet flesh that doesn't go watery when you roast it.
Wonderful for just roasting, steaming or making into pumpkin pie.
If you can get your hands on some seeds they are well worth it. They do just about OK in a hot Summer over here but they really prefer lots and lots of heat and daylight.
Dilemmas. What to do with my lovely crab apples. Do I leave them for the birds to enjoy over Winter and to give the garden some colour on a grey day? Or do I make jelly? Do they stay or do they go? You decide.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Dried Chillis - Part 2

Second batch of Bishop's Kiss chillis are fully dry now. I have threaded them on to a piece of strong thread. Now hanging up in the living room.
Completely home grown, environmentally friendly Christmas decorations!

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Precious Pickings

These last few tomatoes are so precious. I have been savouring them one at a time as they hang on in the greenhouse. In a few short days they will be gone and I will only have horrid supermarket tomatoes for the next 6 months. These Ildi tomatoes grew well in a small hanging basket.
Just a few Gardener's Delight in the greenhouse too. These are just a bit small but the taste is amazing. Tomatoes on the lower trusses have all gone now. Leo goes in the greenhouse and helps himself if I leave the door open!
And a few Black Cherry tomatoes hanging from the roof of the greenhouse. Leo can't reach these!
And a late sowing of Hurst Greenshaft peas in August has been well worth it. A few sweet, tasty pods to eat in the garden today. I have noticed that in this late crop there is not a single pea moth anywhere. I suppose the adults laid their eggs in the early Spring and Summer crops and had all gone when these were flowering. Note to self!

>