Winter Squash Time

There are two types of squash, the Summer and the Winter.  Summer squash include courgettes, Patty Pan, and Yellow Crookneck, but its the Winter vareties I'm talking about.

I love winter squash, though not been too lucky with them this year, poor crop. We used to have an allotment years ago and grew lots of varieties one year. We cured them for a week or so and they kept us fed til the following April!

 

Uchiki Kuri

There are many varietes to chose from, Butternuts, Acorns, Pumpkins, I could list them but it would make for dull reading! If you want to know the difference between Squash and Pumpkins heres a short description http://voices.yahoo.com/the-difference-between-pumpkins-gourds-squash-6691116.html?cat=22

Squash have trailing and bushy habits, depending on variety, so make sure you chose carefully, especially if you have limited space to grow. I start mine off in pots in the greenhouse and plant out once frosts have gone. Give them a soil rich in manure in a sunny spot for best results. Once ready pick them and leave outside to cure for 10 days or so before storing (keep an eye out for frosts and protect if necessary)

I tend to get my seeds from Tuckers, I happen to live near one of their stores but you can buy online. They have a great choice of all kinds of veg. Take a look http://www.tuckers-seeds.com/

They are fairly easy to grow, great for kids as the seeds are large so easy to handle and once they get going, they don't half move fast! Get them growing Sweet Lightening, a tiny fruit measuring 11-13cm, perfect for little hands to harvest and eat.

Soup is a favourite way of cooking squash, I like to add toasted cumin seeds before blitzing, it gives a lovely spicy flavour. I also like to roast pieces in the oven along with beetroot. Add some cooked green lentils and some feta cheese, yum! Theres so many recipes out there, sweet as well as savoury, what a versatile vegetable. Will try and put some on my recipe page...when I get around to it!

Follow me!

Its all a bit confusing this blog following business, just a simple button to press would be nice wouldn't it??

There are three options on my blog, subscribe by email, Google+ followers and Google Friend Connect. To help me out the best option is Google Friend Connect. This does mean you need to sign up to Google+ which is a bit of a faff but doesn't take long (stick it in a search its easy to do)  and it would really help me as everyone can see how many are following. Not a good thing at the mo, but in time....the more followers the more enthusiastic I get and the more interesting my post get, everyones a winner!!

So what you waiting for ? :)

A Very Local Attraction

We met up with friends at Castle Drogo yesterday, a country home built by the famous friend of Gertrude Jekyll, Edwin Lutyens, now owned by The National Trust. The castle is under wraps at the moment, there has always been a problem with the flat roof,  hopefully they are now going to fix it. 

There was a 'country fayre' on but it was a lot smaller than expected, BUT, the Punch and Judy show was superb, well done Mr Poulton! Proper old fashioned entertainment, though I guess some would suggest its not very 'politically correct'!

Had a good wander through the gardens, came across this unusual looking plant

A Shoo - Fly Plant, Nicandra physaloides (it happens to be in Gardeners World magazine that came through the door yesterday!).  Its an annual originating in South America, and a member of the potato family (Solanaceae), that can sometimes turn up unexpectedly as its seeds are often in bird seed mixes.The flowers are a lovely blue and the fruits are encased in green/black mottled calyces, similar to the Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi), these can be dried and used for decoration. The plant stands around 5 feet tall, with large leaves, and black stems, so a striking addition to the garden.

I spotted a butterfly feeding on a Rudbeckia laciniata .My friend thought it was a Skipper, though just having a look online, it is actually a Small Copper. The Rudbeckia was looking fab, great for late colour and as a cut flower.

 Heres a few other flower pics...

I think this is Crinium x powellii 'Album', also known as a Cape Lily. Can be bought as a bulb from specialist nurseries, there is a pink form which is more widely available. Beware, slugs and snails can cause unsightly damage to the thick strappy leaves.

 

Red Hot Pokers are easily recognisable and make a real statement. Also known as Tritoma, Torch Lily and Knofflers (my personal fave!). Give them lots of room, though keep an eye on them if you want contain them as they tend to be pretty vigorous! I  didn't see a label for this one but think it may be Kniphofia caulescens. There are lots of varieties to chose from, some being more suitable for a smaller space like K. Little Maid.

These autumn flowering Cyclamen hederifolium were looking gorgeous, great for covering a partly shaded spot near a tree. They are happiest with a soil rich in leafmould, and if content they will self seed.

Cornus Kousa. This is one of the flowering dogwoods, very different to the dogwoods grown for the bright winter stems. These beautiful small trees are grown for their large bracts of white or pink, depending on variety, followed by lovely autumnal foliage and these amazing looking fruits.

I do love this time of year, there's a huge choice of plants that really show off right now, whether through their flowers, fruits or leaves. There is so much colour that seems to glow on these dull days.. I'm actually quite looking forward to getting wrapped up, and heading out onto Dartmoor to soak up the Autumnal atmosphere. Lovely!

Goodbye Summer

Well, there it goes, a lovely sunny summer, for a change! I really noticed a seasonal difference yesterday, waking up for work and it was still dark. Time to dig out the woolly jumpers.

It has been a real mixed bag in the garden this year. Due to the dry weather a number of my perennials have really suffered and I even resorted to getting the hose out a few times. My Rudbeckias (Black Eyed Susan) have had a tough time, even though they are well established, they really cannot take long dry periods and have hardly flowered. I lost at least two Echinacea (Coneflower), even in this dry weather I still get plenty of slugs and snails and these plants seem to be most popular. On the positive side, the Clematis have done really well, full of flowers.

 

 

Clematis vitecella 'Polish Spirit'

Clematis 'Fascination'

In the veg garden I've had great success with beetroot, I've grown Bolthardy this year so given the dry weather I think that turned out to be a good choice. Also done well are climbing french beans, broad beans, courgettes - especially the yellow one 'Jenner' and even some florence (bulb) fennel.

The fennel is less likely to bolt if seed sown in situ. Unfortunately, some seedlings were eaten, so I grew a few in cells and planted them out when big enough to handle, these were the ones that bolted.

We have a small, homemade greenhouse which is full of tomatoes, basil, a couple of bell peppers and a cucumber donated by a friend. This one plant has already given us 3 large cucumbers.

The veg that dissappointed were the Charlotte potatoes, a very poor crop. This is definately due to lack of water. We also have a number of squash which could do better!

So, you win some, you lose some!

Well, I have to get on with some paid work now :)

Autumn Approaches....

I know, time to start thinking about putting away the sandals and digging out more substantial footware. Thoughts of putting on the heating crept into my head last night, but no, must hang on til October. Its raining heavily right now so I'm nice and dry inside, having a go at a new crochet pattern, while my husband it out walking with his Dad. Hope they have their waterproofs!

Its time to be buying and planting your Spring flower bulbs. I have been buying mine from here for a number of years now http://www.jparkers.co.uk/  I fancy lots more tulips but am going to hold off this year as we are going to be giving our flower garden a complete overhaul - by the time we get it sorted it will be too late for planting....though it doesnt stop me planting up some pots!

Its best to plant Daffodils by the end of September, this gives them planty of time to get rooted so getting a better show in Spring, though they are usually fine for planting later. Make sure you plant them at the right depth - at least twice as deep as the bulb is high ie a bulb that is 5cm high should be planted at least 10cm deep. Shallow planting is one cause of blindness - no flowers!

Tulips should be planted later, from October to December. They root later than daffodils, if planted too early there is chance of them rotting. Tulips need drainage so make sure the ground is well prepared before planting. Plant them 10 - 15cm deep.

This is just a tiny bit of info on bulbs, a reminder for you to get out there and plant! All you need to know is out there online, try the RHS website or check out the site you are buying from, they usually have great advice available.

Getting Back into Work Mode

Well, what a great weekend! Only rained once so there was no need for wellies, though some still see them as a fashion accessory at festivals - crikey, their feet must have been hot!

Ok so I am deviating from my usual blogging banter but even passionate gardeners have other interests!

So for those interested....Dinosaur Jr were amazing. I have never seen anyone play the bass like Lou Barlow, he was great! Am a bit biased as have been a fan of his for years - Sebadoh and Folk Implosion are/were top bands. And he has lovely hair!!

A 'new to me' musician was Damien Jurado a fantastic singer/songwriter who bantered with the crowd and happened to be very good at it!

Doug Paisley was not to be missed, have seen him at the fest 3 times now. A lovely Canadian with beautiful songs full of feeling and a fellow redhead! If you ever get chance, go see him. I think he has a new album coming out soon.

Theres loads of other entertainment, much of which we missed but we made sure we went along to see Ronan Leonard and his musical quiz Ringo: Music Bingo. Basically its bingo with songs to tick off instead of numbers along with a lot of jokes and banter. Ronan has such a clever way with words, he's a very funny guy. Based in Cork, Ireland, if you get chance go see him do it, you won't be disappointed. Check out his page on Facebook. There, thats enough plugging his stuff!!

So thats that for another year, will be back onto gardening and Dartmoor ramblings asap!