Tags
Beetroot 'Chioggia', Centaurea americana 'Aloha Blanca', Centaurea americana 'Rose', Tomato 'Indigo Rose', Tomato 'Tumbler'
I’m feeling a little out of control. I’m someone who likes to plan and feel on top of everything but I’m having to accept this year that it just isn’t possible. The garden and allotment are racing away with themselves. One day away is all it takes and I have courgettes morphing into marrows and French beans well over a foot long. These are the same beans that less than 48 hours ago were tiddlers. The fabulous summer weather we’re having is making everything romp away and now we’re past the solstice plants are doing what they need to do to ensure survival – going to seed. Keeping up with the deadheading is a feat in itself. At least the recent rain has meant I haven’t needed to spend time watering.
It’s been a hectic few weeks with work and I haven’t been able to spend as much time as I’d like in the garden or on the plot. Blogging too has been neglected. I think I’m experiencing what might become known as the ‘August Dip’. I remember writing last year about losing my mojo around the same sort of time. A strange wave of apathy seems to descend upon me in August. Maybe it’s just I’ve run out of steam but I’m sure it’s also linked to the feeling that the both the garden and allotment have reached their peak. Once September arrives there’ll be a renewed sense of energy, well I hope so …..
The cut flower patch in August
The cut flower patch is blooming and it’s a real joy to see it teeming with insects. There was a day last week when I managed to get up there early, it was still and warm already. There was nobody else there. It was sheer bliss and all the effort felt worth it. The patch looks exactly how I wanted it to look. New varieties of flowers I’m trying for the first time elicit excitement when the first buds start to break. Gladioli are in full bloom and I walked back from the plot yesterday with a huge bundle of them. Centaurea americana ‘Aloha Blanca’ and ‘Aloha Rose’ have been great new discoveries for me. They seemed to take forever to open although their buds are so attractive – like botanical filigree – that this wasn’t a bad thing, I was just impatient to see the flower. And they’re fabulous, think huge fluffy thistles.
Centaurea americana ‘Aloha Rose’
On the fruit and veg front it has been a good year. Lettuce ‘Marvel of Four Season’ is my favourite and it has coped well in the face of not much rain. It’s only just starting to bolt, but as the name suggests I can sow now for autumn and winter crops. For once my successional sowing of lettuce has worked although that success might be come to an end if I don’t get sowing my next lot soon.
Centaurea americana in bud
Finally after 6 years of tomato disappointment we have our own home-grown ones. Our last tomato success came when we lived in Berkshire. It was a glorious summer with hardly any rain and we had a lovely sun trap where we gathered 15kg off only 6 plants. Ever since we’ve been defeated by either dodgy compost or blight. Having the greenhouse this year has made a huge difference and, so of course, has the weather. Although my nerves have been tested as I agreed to grow tomatoes for a magazine photo shoot. Fortunately the tomatoes survived and the photos are in the can. I can’t say the tomato growing has been a complete triumph though.
Back in March I was sent some plants of a variety called ‘Indigo Rose’. They have been bred especially to have black skins. The idea behind this is that the compounds which give the black colour – anthocyanins – are antioxidants which are believed to be good for us. Oh they looked so promising. The plants grew away strongly and seemed to be very healthy and dark fruit started to form. But they have taken such a long time to ripen and when they have finally looked ready to eat I have been unimpressed. Wellyman summed up their flavour as ‘out of season supermarket’. To be honest I think even that’s being a bit kind. Of course, it could have been something I’ve done, too much water perhaps or not enough feed. Although the simple ‘Tumbler’ tomatoes I picked up as young plants from my local farmers’ market have been grown in the same way and they taste fantastic and they’ve also produced ripe fruit much more quickly. I’m still waiting for fruit from my yellow heritage variety, the name of which escapes me at the moment. I’m just glad I didn’t rely on one variety. I’d have been so disappointed if, in this perfect tomato growing year, the only ones I’d grown were ‘Indigo Rose’. I’d be very interested to hear if anyone else is growing ‘Indigo Rose’ and what they think of the flavour.
Rainbow carrots
I’ve been delighted with my colourful carrots and beetroot. The book ‘Kitchen Garden Experts’ inspired me to grow some even though they weren’t part of my original plans. I thought I’d have enough to plants to grow with the list I needed for my new book but I couldn’t resist. OK, I’m not going to be self-sufficient in carrots – I only have a few large pots on the patio but they look so pretty and taste amazing picked, washed and eaten within minutes. I’ve also been very impressed with the flavour of the pink and white striped Beetroot ‘Chioggia’ which is milder than the dark red varieties and doesn’t make quite such a mess of your kitchen.
I hear a storm is on the way for Sunday so today will be spent staking plants on the plot. They’re promising strong wind and rain. I’m just hoping everything will be standing by Monday. Growing plants for a book is not for the faint-hearted and I’m wondering why I ever suggested I would do it for a second year in a row. Well I do know why, it’s because I love growing but it would be nice if the weather didn’t cause me so many headaches. So, wish me luck and lets hope the weather forecasters have got it wrong.
wellywoman 
Reblogged this on Linda's wildlife garden and commented:
Awesome post thank you for sharing
I’ve grown Indigo Rose since it first appeared and I think its flavour suffers partly because it is hard to work out when to pick it, so it is usually past its best by the time it makes it to the plate. But the other problem with it is that the flavour is very old fashioned. Most of our modern varieties have been selected for sugar/acidity balance. And Indigo Rose is lacking in both sugar and acidity. If one looks at old – pre-20th century – recipes, tomatoes are always served with added sugar, salt and often acids. Indigo Rose has basic tomato flavour, but on the plate it needs to sit for a few minutes with extra seasonings of the old fashioned kind.
Thanks Kathryn. That’s really interesting. I’ve picked mine at a variety of different stages and have yet to find one I like unfortunately. Interesting to hear about the seasoning. 🙂
Hi Lou, I’ve grown a tomato variety called Ukrainian Purple – which doesn’t sound too promising does it? But they are large, succulent and very tasty. I got them from the marvellous Real Seed Catalogue – if you haven’t used http://www.realseeds.co.uk/ do so! They have a large variety of interesting seeds and a great ethos too. Dave
Thanks Dave for the tips. I don’t know, Ukrainian Purple has a certain Eastern Bloc exoticness about it. 😉 Haven’t grown anything from Real Seeds for a few years now. I really must go back to them. Lou
The carrots look, and taste great!
Beautiful
Thank you! 🙂
I often feel like that too, that the garden is running away from you, usually in April/May, when everything is bursting into growth and I haven’t finished the prep jobs. And at this time, when the plants are determined to do their own thing. I’m learning to be more relaxed about it, though (she says!). Despite your “dip”, the Cut Patch looks amazing! We are at the mercy of the weather, but at least I don’t have the added pressure you have. Fingers crossed for you! 🙂
Hi Ali, Everything survived intact so I can breathe a brief sigh of relief. I’m so pleased with the patch, it has been a real delight this year. Yes, learning to be more relaxed about things in the garden would be good. :0
Yes trying to keep ahead of the weather with photos for your new book must be stressful. But just think about how you’ve inspired so many of us with our cutting gardens. I am doubling up the bed for next year to increase my new found love for dahlias.
Hi Sue, Thank you for such a lovely comment. It hasn’t been a great weekend with one thing and another and it has really cheered me up. I love my flowers so if I have managed to encourage a few other people to discover that love too then that really makes me happy. I’m in love with my dahlias too. Karma Fuchsiana is my fave this year. Which ones are you growing?
I’ve lost the labels as usual but will photograph for the next blog.
It’s the same here. I’m just going with it : )
Sounds like a good mantra to me. 😉
Good luck!
Thank you! Good news is that everything survived. 🙂
Your cutting garden looks fantastic, WW! I remember Helen of PG showed us C Aloha blanca last year – but Aloha Rose looks even better – very pretty. Great to have achieved success again with your tomatoes – I failed year after year till I realised that the greenhouse was no longer getting any light – a new greenhouse in a better part of the garden made all the difference for us. Hope you manage to keep juggling…
Thanks Cathy. I think I prefer Aloha Rose – such a pretty light pink colour. The bees love them too. I’m hoping to keep the juggling up too. 😉
Your new Centauria is gorgeous. I too am feeling that I will never catch up, the garden is racing away from me, I hope it slows down soon. Your carrots are also looking beautiful in their different colours, do they still taste the same?
Yes the carrots taste the same. They look so fantastic on the plate, particularly as crudites.
Tomatoes are tricky things aren’t they. I always grow Sungold, they’re they most reliable I’ve found. My garden and plot are always romping away out of control, but there are only so many hours in the day so I live with it being (a lot) less than perfect. Your flowers are looking amazing, I do hope the storm is kind to you. I’ve a feeling my pear tree won’t come out of it particularly well.
Sungold is on my list for next year. I know the feeling, I could do with a 26 hour day but I’d just be too tired to do everything. 😉 The storm was kind and everything is still standing which is a relief. Hope your pear survived. I think our weather wasn’t as bad as they predicted.
I can really relate to how you feel, I am reading your post with a cup of tea thinking yes exactly, your cutting garden looks gorgeous and I am inspired by your rainbow carrots, I know mine will be soapy this year as they were not watered enough.
HI Julie, It’s good to know others feel the same, isn’t it. I think we’re all so busy from April to mid-July that we’re exhausted by August. 🙂 I got my carrot seed from More Veg – they have a good selection of coloured carrots.
I’m always suspicious of designer varieties, we’re never going to get people to eat more fruit and veg if they do not taste wonderful. If you want a dark skinned tomato try Black Russian – large juicy and sweet. It may not win prizes in a supermarket beauty contest but the flavour is wonderful!
Yes, it’s frustrating. They were designed to be ‘healthier’ but I’d rather eat something which tasted good. I do eat broccoli even though I don’t like the taste but that’s because I DO know it’s good for me. I’ve heard good things about ‘Black Russian’ so hopefully that will be on my list for next year.
A lovely post and pictures. I feel just as apathetic towards the plot at this time of year, and like you will be happier when we head into autumn.
I like the look of that cornflower ‘Aloha Rose’. I just wish that I could grow some ordinary carrots, I sowed some recently so fingers crossed yet again.
Good luck! xx
Thanks Flighty. Funny isn’t it how August affects us. To be honest though I don’t think I could have maintained the pace of July into August. I think I did just run out of steam. I think you’d love ‘Aloha Rose’. Bees seem to love it too. I got mine from Chiltern Seeds. I’ve given up on carrots at the allotment – it’s riddled with carrot fly but those in pots at home seem to escape. xx
Your cut flower patch looks dreamy! Glad I’m not the only one feeling defeated by August and all those dead-heads…
Than you so much. It’s nice to know others feel the same. 🙂
You must have nerves of steel to grow plants for posh photo shoots, at all, let alone two years in a row! Your cutting patch looks wonderful, a cornucopia of delights. As for purple tomatoes, I will check out Real Seeds version for next year as I love the colour, but I won’t be growing Indigo Rose again, I feel I have been the victim of clever marketing. They look lovely, but I am having huge problems ripening them, and am about to give up and make early chutney. Chilli tomato chutney, to guarantee some taste… At least I am not alone! I do recommend Real Seeds though, the Irish Gardener’s Delight and Jen’s Tangerine are fab!
Good luck with the weather and the photo shoots…
Ha ha! Nerves of steel, I like that. 🙂 If only it were true. Wellyman, bless him has to listen to a lot of ‘it’s going to be a disaster’ type phrases on a loop in the run up. I’ve been lucky so far …. Thank you for your tomato recommendations, they’re going on my list. I have used Real Seeds before but not for a few years. As for ‘Indigo Rose’ I agree. I don’t understand how it made it to market. I’ve even tried them roasted to see if that concentrated the flavour but it didn’t. Oh well!
Checked the plot this afternoon and the modern art installation of canes and crisscrossed twine seemed to do the trick – everything is still standing. 🙂 Hope you didn’t get too much rain or wind.
The cutting garden looks great, whatever you did in July is sure making up for the dip!
A great tomato year here too…. lots of watering to keep things alive but the tomatoes keep growing and growing!
Thank you. There was a lot of work earlier in the year so it’s good to see it being able to manage without me at the moment. 🙂
I’m afraid the forecasters have got it right, it’s been raining all day here and I’ve heard the winds are on their way too. The allotment will be pleased of this soaking, everything will be romping away, like you say, it does run away with itself at this time of year and it will take lots of hard work to get back under control. I’m glad your tomatoes are doing well for you this year, I had a dose of the iffy compost and mine aren’t up to much but there’s always next year. Your carrots look fab. I grew that colourful variety when I first took on my allotment, I thought the kids would enjoy them but they were very suspicious of carrots which aren’t orange, typical.
Hi Jo, It fells like autumn out there. Just got back from a few days at my parents and the wind was decidedly chilly. Hopefully that isn’t the last of our summer. I’m not quite ready for autumn yet. Hope your plot and garden have survived the stormy weather.
August low, pah, you sound so energetic and full of yourself, Louise, so don’t worry. I’m worrying about my tomatoes as we’ve had so much rain recently…which is good for the garden in a way and myself as I don’t have to run around watering! Let’s enjoy it while it lasts. Don’t work too hard and find time to chill out too 🙂
Ha ha! 😉 July was my energetic phase – think my batteries drained though. 😉 The weather has cooled a lot in recent days and it feels very autumnal outside. Hopefully the last of my tomatoes will ripen in time. Hope yours have survived all the rain.
I hope the storm passed you by. The cutting patch looks wonderful, you must be so satisfied by seeing it growing so well. I grow my carrots in pots too, the only way I am successful with them.
The storm wasn’t as bad as I had imagined although it was unseasonably windy and still very wet – it was the remnants of a hurricane. Seems quite early for that to happen but I imagine it’s another part of climate change. Fortunately all my staking helped everything survive and they’re all still standing. I have been so pleased with the cutting patch this year – the weather has made a huge difference. I’ve enjoyed picking the carrots. I’m never going to be self-sufficient but it’s a nice treat.
Good to hear your garden survived the weather. Oh I feel like you at this time of year, seem to have run out of steam and now there are so many things to do again. But then I see a flower that’s been sitting around for ages and suddenly starts to do its bit, and that cheers me up. I am growing Brandywine tomatoes, an old heritage variety. The yield is small, but they taste fantastic without added sugar or anything. But not all varieties are worth keeping, I tried Black Krim some years ago, not worth the effort, in my opinion. And the carrots do look lovely.
I’m so pleased to hear it’s not just me who suffers from the August dip. 😉 Brandywine sounds fantastic. Interesting to hear your thoughts on Black Krim. I have heard it mentioned before. Will have to dig out the seed catalogues this year and give my tomato varieties some consideration. 😉
The August dip happens to me and it is because, aged 54, I still resent not having a 6 week summer holiday, or even the 3 months I had as a student! Love the carrots, I garden in pots as I live in London but I had success with dwarf French beans and tomatoes this year.
Ha ha! Yes I’m with you there. 🙂 I now think all that free time was wasted on me – all that lying around doing nothing. I have so many things I want to do but can’t now fit them in because of ‘grown-up’ life. We rented for a long time so all my growing was in pots. It’s surprising how much you can grow and I would certainly recommend these carrots for pots.
Nothing to do with all this, but just wanted to say that I was thinking of you today because we went on a long bike ride through the Northern French Countryside (which looks alot like the Norfolk countryside where I used to live before) and came across am amazing Hydrangea place with over 250 varieties, and another town known for it’s flowers and how it looks after bees and insects through its flowers. Gorgeous, I might put in my blog…
Just got back from a few days at my parents in the north-east. I love the sound of the hydrangea place. Would love to hear more about it. We might be in northern France next year so it might be somewhere we look out for. :))
We went by bicycle, I have no idea where we were! I’ll find out exactly where it was. I hope you enjoyed your time at your parents place 🙂
This is it:http://www.hydrangeasduvisemarais.com/Pages/default.aspx
It is in a town called La Caloterie next to Montreuil-sûr-Mer
Thank you for the link, I’ve just had a look and it looks an amazing place. Maybe we’ll get there next year. 🙂 Hope you’re having a lovely break in France. x
Hi Lou, I’m just catching up as this is a busy time of year for me (the time when I regularly contemplate giving up the blog and garden and thereby freeing vast amounts of time for myself … as if!) It’s been great reading everyone’s suggestions for flavoursome tomatoes; I’m going to jot a few ideas down in my notebook for next year! I picked up a couple of Indigo Rose grafted plants from the Suttons stand at Chelsea. They grew well but have yet to ripen (black with green bums at present – no rose anywhere!) but I fear my experience will be the same as yours. I always grow at least 4 varieties (Sungold, yellow pear, maskotka, G Delight this year) but none of mine has ripened yet. I might have to rig up some kind of mini-greenhouse next year to help them along. I had a touch of the glums before all this rain started as the drought continued to kill everything off but am now happily resowing for autumn/winter (rocket, radish, Marvel lettuce, chard, quick carrots) and got my winter veg in that I grew at the beginning of summer, so am feeling a bit more positive! When will we know more about your new book …. I’m very curious!
Hi Caro, It’s such a strange time of year, even the most ardent of gardeners need a breather. 😉 My tumblers had a phase of production but are having a bit of a break at the moment and I’m starting to wonder if the yellow heritage ones will ever ripen. I’m surprised at how long they are taking. Funny, isn’t it, how we spend so much time growing tomatoes but only get a few months of crops. Just resowed my autumn/winter salad crops too which felt good. Hope you haven’t suffered in the torrential downpours. I was reading about the ‘biblical’ rain London had last week. As for the book – well I need to keep it under wraps for a little longer. Sorry! 😉
Hope that have managed to pause and catch your breath by now. No longer working I have all the time in the world in theory but still feel that I am lagging hence apologies for my late comment on this post. Don’t be hard on yourself as it sounds as if you have achieved all sorts. Your cutting garden is positively glowing with colour. I’m glad that I resisted growing ‘Indigo Rose’ this year which sounds a big disappointment. Glad to read that you have had success with ‘Tumbler’. My toms are only just ripening now. Looking forward to hearing more about your new book. Somehow I feel that the subject is not flowers. I know what you mean about September – roll on the start of a new gardening year 🙂
Hi Anna, I’m always surprised at how long tomatoes take to ripen and all the effort we go to for a only a few months of fruit. 😉 I am too hard on myself but I have such a long list of projects I want to do. ;0 I sowed some more lettuce seed the other day for autumn crops and that felt good.
You have the garden of my dreams. Magnificent. Especially the flowers. I think I’d feel overwhelmed with trying to keep up such a space, too.
Oh thank you so much for your lovely comment. It’s not so much the space that is overwhelming it’s just trying to fit it in with work and occasionally needing a rest. 😉