Sporadic Notes From the Garden 14/09/22

Rained gently this morning and then heavier and constantly throughout the day.

Picked plums in the morning. Victoria plum tree gave about 20kg.

Used 2kg in plum and grape jam. Made 6 jars - so many more plums to use!

Took some plums and grapes to our neighbour

Removed corn kernels from the strawberry corn and rainbow corn which had been drying. Got a 1.5 litre jar full, and still have lots more corn to harvest.

Right about now we have figs, blackberries, grapes and Victoria plums all ready. Next year I should spend a day foraging and harvesting everything and have it ready, and then spend a whole day making jam. It would be easier to do it all at once and have all the jam for the year done in one batch. Especially if we are using a woodstove, as is my hope for next year.

It rained on the figs I was sun-drying, and also on my dried basil :(

I sowed green manure in the empty beds the other day but it is being eaten by ants as soon as I sow it. I tried putting white rice down so the ants would eat it instead, but they carried off the rice and then came back for the seeds. I think they did the same with my carrot seeds. The only hope for carrots is sowing in module trays, and no idea how to sow a green manure mix which needs broadcasting…

I planted young aubergine and pepper plants yesterday. Probably far too late, but curious to see… Still may have a good 3 months before our first frost.

The banana tree I thought was dead is sending out new shoots! Need to protect it before the winter

Oona ate too many plums this morning and is feeling sorry for herself and burping a lot.

Tofu is not enjoying the weather.