Also noticing a lot of random potato plants all over the length and breadth of the plot...not ones I planted myself, so I'll ask my neighbours and see if they are worth leaving to get an extra unexpected harvest from!!
Strawberries have done very well, all looking bright red and shiny...which attracted the birds!
They munched a few of the ripe berries, it seems that blackbirds take a nibble from a berry fly off, and then come back to the same berry to take a little more...this is what I'm noticing, about four or five strawbs with about half the berry eaten! Though I'm still not sure causing the berries that are totally detached from the plant - and animal walking through, a bird pulling it off??
To protect the strawbs, I've covered the bed with some netting, the left over from covering the fish pond. This seems to have done the trick, and the birds are now elsewhere to get their grub.
Photo: Netting on strwaberries, straw not fully installed.
Bought some straw to lay under the fruit, as this keeps them drier, and stops them from rotting - also looks nice too! I've seen one allotmenteer heading home with 4 large boxes of strawberries which seems an amazing result to get that much in one go...I'm getting enough to share around at home with ice-cream - but will need more plants next year if I want to make strawberry jam.
The onions are nice and mature now, so will just take these home as required...so no need for shop bought...ok, that is apart from red onions, and spring onions! I'll grow some red onions next year to give a bit of a mix.
Broad beans are coming to an end, I've been really pleased with this new vegetable, it grows quick it fairly hassle free - it crops very heavily and tastes nice too. I've had three big harvest of about 4-5kg each time - and this gives about 1kg of beans to eat, I think I'll have another small harvest to go, and then I'll clear out the bed. My excess beans have been blanched and frozen. Also given some away to people who say they like them (had them as kids etc...).
I've got some canes up at the plot, which gives a professional look to the plot.
Unfortunately the canes are over 2metres tall, and the peas I've planted are only going to grow about 90cm. So will look a bit bare!! Should have put in some runner beans, but no one was keen on eating runner beans!! I have also planted some French Bean (alors!), which don't climb high, and some courgettes.
The photo above is shows the last of the sweetcorn from this bed - 8 plants left, from the original 40 - I've moved them together. I'm hoping that the slugs will leave some of the french bean and
peas alone, but the word from the rest of the allotment is that the slugs are on the rampage. Watch this space - which is all that the slugs leave behind.
News from the rest of the plot...fish are happy, raspberries and currants show early fruits, so I'm feeding these up. Carrots are few and far between, beetroot looks good...potatoes are healthy.
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