Thanks Dpack. Might try that as we do have chimney rods.
My courgette finally seems to be growing some courgettes, I managed quite a good haul of blackberries again, and got a few potatoes and lifted the onions. They have done well this year, so letting them dry off and then will take them in and knot them up. One of the raised beds isn't too good and think it needs a lot more biochar as it is too dry. Still fighting the caterpillars on the cabbages. The grapes in the greenhouse are doing well at the moment, so hope to get some this year. They often split, but we have had sporadic rain this summer, so hope it came at the right time for them. I have been thinning frequently too.
So far we have been eating most of the blackberries, but I am already freezing some. Will have to bottle up the bramble wine and make some more from the blackberries already in the freezer. Had a blackberry and apple crumble last night using some apple from the freezer and fresh blackberries. Having the rest cold tonight. Nice.
Courgette problems here (Mistress Rose, have you had similar ?) : my courgette plants started with the usual (few) male flowers, and then switched over completely to all female flowers, hence tinytiny courgettini with blossom end rot if left on the plants.
I suspect it was too hot for producing male flowers earlier and now it is too late. Any other ideas ?
not courgette, tomatoes, my big boys set fruit then had a month not setting fruit and have now started setting again
i have been fluffing them again as there is a scary reduction of hoverflies and an almost total lack of moths
the cucumbers are prolific at setting fruit with no fluffing, just a few bees and hoverflies have done well
temperatures might be involved, although the same type of courgettes have done well for me in cool and hot summers
it might be worth fluffing the courgettes if there is a male flower among the women
otherwise pull em and replant with something else for sooner or perhaps later
a couple of months of growing season is plenty for some things that are better that barren courgette plants
My courgettes are just producing fruit, and seem all right although the one remaining plant hasn't grown that well. I will be keeping an eye on them to pick as ready, so will look out for that Gil. I do sometimes have trouble that way with them in the greenhouse though.
These courgettes are outdoors, and it is really obvious which are male / female flowers - if I had both, I would be paintbrush pollinating just in case. The plants are otherwise healthy. I also have plenty of pollinating insects of various kinds. Disappointed - not the crop I was expecting to fail.
No such probs with the assorted greenhouse toms, which are cropping very well, and at an even, manageable rate.
I do have brassica plants awaiting a final spot. There is space where the broad beans were, as well as the courgette area.
Will give it a week or so. Bearing in mind that the growing season here is behind places south, and shorter (though really depends on first frost). Next time, I will revert to planting more than one variety (usually two or more).
so tis eat em or blackberry gin, like sloe gin but not sloes
View Latest Posts