Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The quiet time

Things are very slow at the moment. It's too cold to sow much into the ground (though I have been moving cabbage and spinach seedlings out into the orchard).
I thought I'd planted way too much broccolini this year (about 20 plants) but no, it's still not too much. We've been harvesting from the first succession every week or so (small amounts) and now that the others have caught up I managed to get a substantial double handful for tonight's chicken pie, but there still isn't enough to have this much every day or two, nor give bushels away to family/friends.
I wonder how much it takes? Every year we plant more, but still nowhere near enough. I'm at the point where I've decided to make every seed I can, count... and fill every space I can find with a vegie plant. I know some won't get the water they need, but those that tough it out will have their seed collected and perhaps I'll develop more drought tolerant varieties.

The good thing about winter is the time it leaves to plan and organise. I've been scouring Diggers' catalogues and placing orders. Boy will I be busy in spring!
In particular I've set myself a tomato goal for this summer. I'm waiting on an order of Amish Paste tomatoes, Jaune Flamme and some others of mixed varieties. The first two are for the sole intention of preserving.
The tomatoes were a flop last year. Soil was moist but leaves got burnt to a crisp in the 40plus heat...no crop!
This year I'm planting the tomatoes under trees in the orchard and in other spots where they'll be partly shaded. I was reminded by my father in law this week that they only needed heat not sun, which I knew..why didn't I do this last year?
In any case, we've never had a big enough crop of tomatoes that there's been heaps of surplus. This year I want SURPLUS PLUS! I dream of jars of homemade pasta sauce and dried tomatoes, neatly lined up in our store cupboard, ready for the winter months when we love to have pasta and pizza. This is the year!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

My dream every year too Nat! Hopefully the weather will give us the opportunity to realise our dreams:)

Louise said...

Hello,
I am replying to your post in response to a post I made on your blog over a year ago? LOL what a complex web this is already. I can't remember my original post but we have a lot in common looking at your blog. My life is a bit chaotic at the moment with us having moved into a new house and not being able to get the internet on there as yet, but I would love to contact you again once all is settled.

Blessings
Louise

Cwm Goch Chronicles said...

Yes Molly - that's the crux of it isn't it.
You guys are getting frost your way just as we are (although your trees seem worse affected - being in a valley only some parts of the property were affected here). I don't know about you but we're not getting any rain - it feels like spring - warm sunny days, not a drop in sight.
Here's hoping this summer is a little milder than last.

Louise - lovely to hear from you.
I look forward to hearing from you. Hope you're settling in well - moving house is always a big thing.

Nat :)

The Crone at Wits End said...

Still got a day or two to plant up broad beans!

Cwm Goch Chronicles said...

I chuckled when I read your comment Crone....you'll see why in my next post! :)