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Post by cernunnos on Nov 9, 2022 9:25:29 GMT 1
I am slowly converting our " grass patches" ( can't call them lawns) , to either ground cover or fruit trees, less work, cheaper and more productive. Planting the veg garden , between rain periods, so far, broad beans and halve of the onions
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Post by cernunnos on Nov 12, 2022 21:12:54 GMT 1
We are so privileged living in the French countryside. I finished late this evening, coming back to the house in the dark from the bergerie , there were two tawny owls calling to each other across the valley and high in the distance the cries of the cranes could just be heard . A wonderful moment .
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Post by houpla on Nov 14, 2022 22:06:28 GMT 1
It's greening up and colouring up beautifully now. We've had 20mm of the wet stuff today, with a lot more forecast for the rest of the week. Broke my usual rule about not doing anything noisy on a Sunday and got the grass cut, so tranquille now, until the next batch of weed seeds germinate The liquidambars, acers, lagerstroemias, kaki and sumac are doing their autumn stuff and even the pecans and paw-paws contribute splashes of gold. It's lovely to have a proper autumn season.....
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Post by cernunnos on Nov 15, 2022 9:47:29 GMT 1
We have some beautiful American oaks that are now in full colour, the liquidambar has just about finished . 13 rows of onions and 5 of garlic finished yesterday just before the rain arrived . Looks like a quiet week in the garden waiting for the rain to pass.
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exile
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Post by exile on Nov 15, 2022 19:57:52 GMT 1
Picked the first of the broad beans today. If it holds off giving us the first frost of the winter, lots more to come. In fact by far the very best harvest despite very slow germination due to the drought and high temperatures.
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Post by houpla on Nov 15, 2022 22:55:28 GMT 1
? Picking broad beans in November? How do you manage that, exile ? I don't sow mine until October usually. The peas and beans are up but they'll overwinter and be harvested in spring.
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exile
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Post by exile on Nov 16, 2022 0:43:08 GMT 1
houplaI have written elsewhere but am happy to repeat. I have had exceptional problems growing broad beans. Our winters are usually too severe for even the hardiest autumn sown varieties Aquadulce just curls up and dies in -20C. Our springs start late and move quickly into summer - too quickly and spring sown seed does not really develop before being baked and crops are poor. Then I discovered an autumn cropping Spanish variety - Luz de Otono. Sow in July (here) or August if first frosts are going to be late. Harvest in October through to first frost. If the winter is not too wet and too frosty, although the plants will wilt in frost, they bounce back and some years you can even get a second spring crop. I sow my beans where the early potatoes come out - two crops on the same bit of land in one season. This year the earlies were rather late - even for here - so it was well into July before I could sow the beans. Germination was poor and by the time the second row of earlies had been cleared in August I had about 18 germinated seeds in a 10ft row - I am guessing because of the temperatures or the limited water. Anyway I sowed a second block after the second row of earlies was cleared. They germinated much better and as we got some decent rain the gaps in the first row filled out with germination from the first sowing. Today's crop was from the earlier germinating seeds from the first row. If the frosts hold off I will get a lot more from this row and the second row will produce a good crop as well. So the secret is Luz de Otono - available from Graines Baumaux - and other sellers as well. Sow in July/August and crop October through to first frost
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Post by houpla on Nov 16, 2022 8:32:04 GMT 1
Thanks, exile! I'm having to adapt my growing seasons to what are becoming increasingly 'mediterranean' conditions here, but with the added complication of ever-possible nasty winters Will have a look at Baumaux, and will hold you personally responsible if I spend a fortune on other plants too
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Post by cernunnos on Nov 16, 2022 8:49:55 GMT 1
Sounds like a good plan for next season exile , thank you very much for the tip .
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Post by ajm on Nov 16, 2022 12:11:49 GMT 1
Just had a good picking of raspberries.
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Le-Dolly
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Post by Le-Dolly on Nov 17, 2022 9:47:31 GMT 1
Just had a good picking of raspberries. As have we. We also have approximately 40 Cherry Toms still on the vine (outdoor) and slowly ripening, but may yet be culled for yet more chutney. Beetroot and Leeks still doing well but will be pulled soon, probably after our short break/hols next week. Aubergines, food of the Devil, are still banging on, the OH loves them, me, I think they should be binned at birth.
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Post by cernunnos on Nov 17, 2022 20:11:34 GMT 1
Why would you pull beetroot and leeks , they will stay good in the ground . Our tomatoes and peppers are still producing and will do so until ( as usual) the frost arrives , if it does this Winter.
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Le-Dolly
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Post by Le-Dolly on Nov 17, 2022 20:23:17 GMT 1
Why would you pull beetroot and leeks , they will stay good in the ground . Our tomatoes and peppers are still producing and will do so until ( as usual) the frost arrives , if it does this Winter. That is true, but the beets will be cooked, sliced and pickled, very nice on a cheese and onion sandwich and the leeks will transform into soup and will live in one of the freezers until as and well.
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Post by cernunnos on Nov 20, 2022 10:13:38 GMT 1
Getting colder, feels like we may have a frost soon, so picking tomatoes for ripening inside. The broad beans have come up , so I will put a cover over them to stop the pigeons eating the tips , although sofar there havn't been too many in the garden this season.
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exile
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Post by exile on Nov 20, 2022 23:23:25 GMT 1
2C at sunset this evening. Temperatures dropped quickly as the sun went down.
Mind this time 3 years ago we had a metre of snow; trees brought down across roads; no lecky and no internet or telephone because the falling trees brought down the poles and wires.
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