The temperatures have dipped suddenly and Autumn is officially here, the leaves have started to fall and the allotment is starting to look a tad empty… So on these colder days it sure feels good to be harvesting some colourful crops from the plot to brighten up the day!
The raspberries are still producing beautifully and have provided me with a huge harvest this year which are all waiting in the freezer to be made into jam. It will be the first raspberry jam made using homegrown raspberries and I cannot wait. However, right now I’m obsessed with the fact that my nail varnish matches the bright berries and I’m a little in love…
The last of the sunflowers also showed it’s face and it’s waited patiently until October to bless us with it’s smile, one that I was glad to see on this rather grey, dull day. I’m planning on growing lots more sunflowers next year as I have simply adored them shining down on the allotment this year.
The sunflower isn’t the only late flower on the plot, along with the cosmos is the stunningly pink ‘Penny Lane’ rose which is climbing up the side of the shed. A late bloomer but a beautiful one which is often forgotten about behind the other rose bush. I have plans that this climbing rose will one day cover the side of the shed and spread onto the galvanised roofing that still has yet to be attached to the shed roof…
And last but not least I’ve started harvesting one of my all time favourite crops… Swiss chard. Just look at those colours! It not only looks good but it tastes delicious and it’s so easy to grow. I sowed the seed in the greenhouse during June when I was also busy harvesting the potatoes from the allotment. They were later planted out in the empty potato bed in July along with 3 rows of leeks and have been happily growing since then. They are a cut and come again crop and are extremely hardy which means they can withstand a harsh frost, perfect for that second season growing period. I am so happy with how well the chard has grown, I added this bunch to some omelettes for lunch but soon I’ll be showing you all how to make a swiss chard quiche over in the Allotment Kitchen later this month…
But for now have a lovely week x
One thought on “Colourful Crops”
What a continuing joy to read your happy and interesting comments….Thank you, again, Katie!