Tidying Up

Autumn has arrived and time to tidy our plots ready for the winter.  Having decided to give up our plot 69 next time the rent is due, the tidying there is being kept to a minimum.  Went there first today and harvested some cabbages and pretty much the last of the decent runner beans and a few parsnips for our tea.  Took down the french bean poles as  those have all finished now and had a general sort out.  Pulled out some duff cabbages and cauliflowers and then had a sort out in the shed, taking all our tools and useful items down to our other plot.  Feel a little sad to be giving it up however it is a lot harder to maintain than our other site and it will be nice to give 100% of our time to one plot instead of doing 2 halfheartedly.

Down on plot 69 as is well.  Pulled some decent cauliflowers and the last of the rhubarb, also more runner beans.  Lots of tidying to be done, Simon got busy with the hoe and I worked with the shears to get the paths looking better.   Actually got some aubergine flowers coming now, never expected that so late in the season, dont think they will come to anything though.  Some of the onions we planted just a couple of weeks ago are showing growth, the January King cabbages are being nibbled though by something so put up netting.  Couldnt find any caterpillars so not sure if its pigeons.



All in all a pleasant day, had lunch on the plot too which was nice when the sun came out!  Already looking forward to the Spring!

First big chilli harvest!!

With the weather starting to turn a bit cooler, I have had to harvest some of the chillies from the cold green house. I've been growing Jalapeño, Prairie Fire, Cayenne hot peppers, and Patio Red sweet mini bell peppers.

As well as those I have grown 2 unknown peppers, which I have yet to identify. I think one is a Cayenne as it's around the same heat and shape as the others.

The other one, well I have no idea what it is.

I picked all the Patio Red (Sweet Peppers). Some have started to ripen but I wasn't expecting any of the peppers to ripen very well, what with the weather this year.



The Cayenne's have all been picked as well, even tho' they are still green.



The Jalapeño's looked about ready so again the plant is now naked of all fruit.



This is some of my unknown chilli plant fruits, no idea what it is, but it's a hot one. Just picked a few that where about ready, I have already pickled some that where green a month or so ago and still have plenty more left on the plant.



Picked a few of my Prairie Fire chillies as well, just the ones that where changing colour, these little chilli plants are very productive, with about 60 fruits on the plant still to be picked. They are VERY hot small fruits, so you only need a single pepper to heat up a dish.



Another of my unknown chillies, no idea what this could be, it's a small chilli plant about 2 foot high with lots of small 2inch fruits, that are currently green but are changing to orange, then most likely turning red. They have blunt ends to the chilli fruit and a very hot.





I'm hoping to over winter some of these plants this year in the cold greenhouse, I've not done this before, in fact this is only the second time I have ever grown chillies or sweet peppers. If I can over winter the plants, they should get better crops next year.