Anyone for a game of noughts and crosses? This was the sky whilst out on the Sunday morning dog walk. What a cracking day….and the first of Greenwich Mean Time too. More of this please. The downside? Oh yes, there has to be a downside – sunset just after half past four!
It was good to be out getting some fresh air into my lungs. I’ve had a week of heavy cold symptoms, hot on the heels of a lengthy unpleasant dose of shingles, and before that I had conjunctivitis, so I’m just about fed up with feeling under the weather. I’m eating most of the right things, I’m taking my vitamin supplements, so I’m not sure what more there is that I can do, I’m putting it down to a run of bad luck – and that’s my 3 out of the way.
Not being on top form has meant that my autumn work schedule has been somewhat compromised – that’s code for I haven’t got as much done as I should have. However, I did take advantage of a window of opportunity on Thursday to sow a couple of rows of broad beans. The soil was a bit claggier than was ideal, but it was a case of now or never. Actually today would have been better, but I wasn’t to know that at the time, and at least they are in. I am pleased with how my winter cover crop is looking, the rye grass/vetch mix has established well and will feed the soil next spring. There are still apples to pick, but so many have fallen now that it’s marginal as to whether it’s worth bothering. My priority now is to get the polytunnel sorted for the young plants in the propagating greenhouse that are ready for planting – spring greens, salads, land cress. Meanwhile in the greenhouse I am battling with little green caterpillars that are munching holes in the chard and Pak Choi leaves. I keep going through them hand picking the little blighters off, each time confident that I have found them all….each time I am wrong! Still, it gives me a hobby.
We need to talk citrus. I always wait for the European season to begin, because I don’t want to be buying any from further afield. So when the oranges and satsumas from Spain appeared on the availability list from my supplier I jumped at the chance to add them to my shop. The problem is I may have been a bit quick out of the blocks, because so far the fruit that I have received can not be described as fully ripe. If you don’t mind a sharp citrus then you are in luck, but if you have a sweet tooth it may be best to hold off until I advise you that the brix levels have improved. Having said that, both remain in this week’s shop, you have been warned, though I have found the satsumas to be quite refreshing. Lemons are smallish.
The change in season brings some old favourites back, not least Brussels sprouts! I love them. We also have some ‘Emerald’ green cauliflowers, as well as cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli and cavolo nero. There are carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, swede, squash, beetroot, onions, red onions, and mushrooms. That lot should keep you going. Apples are russets.
So we’ve got Halloween on Thursday, followed by All Saints Day on Friday, that’s if you are Christian. If you are pagan or Gaelic then you may well celebrate Samhain, which celebrates the end of harvest, the bringing in of livestock from its summer pasture, and the beginning of winter. It was a time for great gatherings, feasts and bonfires, which were believed to have protective and cleansing powers. Mumming also went on, when folk went door to door in costume, reciting verses in exchange for food. I reckon that the Christians are just old copycats.
Right, I’m off for a quick steam inhalation, perhaps with a drop of Olbas Oil in the water, that should make me glow. I have also got to work out what time that I need to go to bed tonight to avoid jet-lag. Do I go early or late? Answers on a postcard. Have a good week.
Phil