A few months ago I was given two Cape Gooseberry plants. I haven’t tried growing these before but the plants were very attractive so I planted them in the greenhouse. According to the internet Cape Gooseberry bushes should live for several years and grow to quite a size. The plants I have look lovely and are adorned with little lanterns. I really hope they ripen properly, they could make a great addition to the veg Shares in 2025. Even if they aren’t super productive they’re worth it for the little lanterns.
I think the glut may have arrived. All three types of French beans are now producing, so expect to see purple, green and yellow. All four types of tomato are ripening (hurray.) The squash plants in the greenhouse are truly enormous, there must be many metres of vines now. The greenhouse was always the best squash/courgette environment. We think there may be a spring running underneath as some areas in there never really dry out. The Polycrub does a good impression of an arid dessert, the soil is super dry and needs a lot of watering. Some spiders are still in residence in the Polycrub. I did have a spider in hair incident, the spider was OK, I had heart palpitations. I have actually got used to them – I have a favourite one now. She’s not in the most helpful location but has a very large, symmetrical web which I’m trying not to walk into.
Outside the slug menace have retreated somewhat, not before doing a lot of damage to the cauliflowers. Will there be any more cauliflowers? Maybe if the slugs take a holiday. Slug damage to a cauliflower doesn’t make it inedible, it just looks awful. I think some cosmetic damage to organic veg is acceptable and to be expected, but zombie cauliflowers are a step too far. The broccoli is excellent this year though. The purple sprouting broc looks good too. The cabbages have got a lot of cabbage white caterpillar damage, hopefully this is just the outer leaves.
Me and the youngest boy had a busy time at the Kilmuir Craft Fair, I now have one basket left! The next Kilmuir Craft Fair is on August 14th. Before that I have Armadale on the 10th and the Gathering Hall on the 8th.
This week’s Croft Shares will have:
Small – potatoes, courgettes, broccoli, tomatoes and mange tout/sugar snaps.
Medium – potatoes, courgettes, broccoli, tomatoes, French beans, chard and a cauliflower if they look reasonable, if not something else instead.
Large – potatoes, courgettes, broccoli, tomatoes, French beans, onions, kale, kohlrabi salad leaves and herbs.