Peas?

Today I sowed some peas. I've been reading that early peas, sown now, may give crops in October. So I'll give it a go in the ground recently cleared of broad beans. My variety is Piccolo Provenzale from Franchi Seeds of Italy. Reports of success or failure to follow!

Report 9 October. Just a few pods to harvest today, used as mangetouts in a ratatouille. Not a real crop.

Bean harvesting

On Wednesday I cleared the broad bean patch, collecting the main crop of beans. I was very pleased and consider that this was a good harvest! I did a rough clean-up, lightly raked an area and sowed a drill of salad greens. I'm not sure if there's anything I can use the rest of this plot for at the moment. I could have had some squashes, courgettes or cucumbers to go in.

Elephant garlic harvested

It looked ready so up it came. I'm pleased with the results. Two cloves planted last autumn and two good bulbs harvested. I'll probably save more than two cloves from these or I may just be patient and bring on the bulbils. I've got two round bulbs from last years bulbils - one about an inch in diameter, the other about half that. I wonder what they will produce next year?

Coriander

My first sowings, planted out, just went to seed with no substance worth cutting. I have potted up my second sowing into 3 inch pots but they look like they are going the same way. I found on the internet today that you should not try transplanting coriander! And they seem to sow it thick in situ without any thinning. So I have sowed a couple of big pots with the rest of my seeds today. I will be interested to see the results. They also seemed to feed a lot so I will try that too.

Biennial futures

Hesperis and foxgloves sown on the solstice had germinated yesterday. (I think.) Certainly the hesperis are there but the foxglove seed is so tiny it's difficult to see the first sign of germination. Higgledy gardener says they should be planted out well before the equinox. (Foxglove definitely up on Sunday 28th. But they are so TINY! I've never seen them at this stage before. )

Hay bale

I planted a squash (Metro) into the hay bale today. The trowel slipped easily into the bale. It seems to have composted inside OK - but then out came a million ants! They have decided it's a good place for a nest. I don't think they are very pleased about the soaking I gave the new squash plant. I await developments. What else will go in the hay bale? - Answer: A couple of days later, another nasturtium and a butterpie squash.

More veg.

The chard seemed ready so I planted it out today - hottest day so far! The second sowing of spring onions also went out. Chard is in the bed near the hedge. I think it can stand a bit of shade. The shelter may be useful for an overwintering crop.