THE VEGETABLE GROWING THREAD 2018

The first harvest of Physalis peruviana (aka Cape gooseberry).


Penny sized fruit within its own papery lantern wrapper.

 

I have a question ! are your plants sticky ? I grew these for a few years in the greenhouse but gave up because I found the sticky plants too annoying to deal with - I have oftern wondered if it was just the variety I had or if it was a general thing with them.

 

No, the plants are not sticky.

They are furry to the touch, like felt material but not as soothing. The pods have a mild sweet smell once they reach the yellow drying stage.

Could it be that your plants were infested with aphids, hence, the sticky residues they leave behind?

 

About ten days ago.


These usual suspects were rounded up.


The mastermind kingpin Keyser Söze, or could it be the other one on the end?

 

I’d given up with my autumn bliss raspberries....you’ve given me hope! So far I’ve not had one raspberry .....*goes outside with torch to hunt for berries! Xx

 

Ditto.

The Devil piddled on the blackberries a while ago, and the frosts have finished outdoor courgettes, tomatoes, beans, etc.

 

Oooh, I must be lucky then. My autumn raspberries are fruiting nicely. I've eaten about half and they should finish before the first frost.

 

We got over to the allotment this morning and Mr Kandy picked some more Runner Beans and I picked some Autumn Bliss raspberries,plus some Allgold raspberries that have started fruiting again as they all but stopped before we went away the other week and also some of our summer fruiting raspberries have got flowers on them again and some have set fruit which is most unusual as they have normally finished by early July

We didn’t stay over there long as my back was playing up so before we left I asked Mr Kandy to dig up the stray parsnip that has been growing near the main path all summer.Was pleased with what he dug up and that should last a few meals. Oh and Mr Kandy has started harvesting the celeriac that he sowed in May and we had to take to Wales when we went away in our caravan at Whitsun and looked after them for two weeks until we got home and I could prick them out

 

Popped over to the lottie again this morning and while I picked the raspberries and did some composting work and weeding of fallow land as now we have had more rain the weeds are getting a move on

Just before we left Mr Kandy decided to pull up the last of the carrots and after he gave them a good wash this afternoon at home before storage while I was tidying up the garden borders I took these photos.Seems like the drought this summer was to their liking underneath the insect netting

 

@shiney These runner beans are the ones we had to buy as seed when we were up in North Wales at Whitsun as our other two lots we had sown failed so they were late going in the ground plus they got attacked by the dreaded blackfly.We still have more coming on but have left some to go to seed just hoping they dry off before we get heavier frosts

Your pile looks good and there must be a few lbs worth there.Are you going to sell them?

The carrots are Chantenery (sp) Red Cored and have been pulling them for a few weeks.Mr Kandy only sowed three rows this year,one early variety and then these ones.I think we shall be eating them until we get sick of them although I have cut down on portion sizes so won’t have as many as Mr Kandy