Late Harvest & Green Manure

 As we reach the middle of autumn and the weather turns a little cooler, it is time to harvest the last of the  'Mediterranean' vegetables (sweet peppers, aubergines and tomatoes) in the polytunnel. The sweet (or bell) pepper crop has been very good this year with over a hundred 'fruits' from the ten plants. The bulk of these will be processed and frozen for use over the coming winter/spring.

Photo 1: Sweet Pepper Harvest

The tomato crop has also been good this year thanks to the warm sunny summer months. The sweet cherry varieties have been great in salads and the plum tomatoes ideal for cooked dishes (curries, moussaka, lasagne, etc) and for making passata for freezing & storage.

Photo 2: Super Sweet Mini Plum Tomatoes

We have been enjoying the aubergines over the summer although the crop yield suffered from a later than normal sowing. One of my next jobs is to pick the last of the 'fruits' before clearing out the polytunnel.

The courgettes were somewhat neglected this year and suffered a little from the lack of rain. The plants have stopped producing earlier than normal and we have ended up with quite a few marrows; about 15 kg in fact. Not a problem as these will keep us in soup and broth until Christmas and the New Year. The marrow is an underrated vegetable; it stores well, is an excellent base for soups and bulks out stews, curries, hotpots, etc. Just remember to add plenty of flavouring as it is rather bland on its own.

Photo 3: Marrows for Winter Storage

Some vegetables such as potatoes, beet and turnips can stay in the ground until for a little longer while the parsnips will benefit from some frost (i.e. taste sweeter). The Swiss Chard has been a big disappointment this year with a strong tendency to bolt due to the hot dry weather. Fortunately, the perpetual spinach beet has cropped strongly and is still going strong.

With the exception of the red cabbages, the brassica plot has been very disappointing. The plants have suffered from the almost desert-like weather conditions this summer. The calabrese and cauliflower heads have not set well and the plants have undergone a severe whitefly attack. I will definitely grow red cabbages next year but will probably give the other brassicas a miss in the hope that the whitefly population will die out/down.

I did grow a few Roma F1 plum tomatoes outside (spare plants) and they have produced a decent crop of unripe green tomatoes. These might ripen up indoors; we shall just have to wait and see.

Photo 4: Unripe Green Roma F1 Plum Tomatoes

 

As plots are cleared of crops, I need to decide on whether to just cover with black plastic to suppress weeds or plant a green manure crop. Field beans and rye grass worked very successfully last year so I plan to do the same this year.

Photo 5: Field Beans For Autumn Planting

The mixed plot (French beans, courgettes, Swiss Chard, outdoor plum tomatoes) was the first to be cleared. Preparation was to hand weed before raking level and dibbing in the field beans (10 cm apart in rows 20 cm apart). No need to to be too neat with the rows!

Photo 6: Long-handled Dibber For Sowing Field Beans

Finally, lightly rake to fill in the holes and wait for rain!

Photo 7: Field Bean Plot Waiting for Rain!

The next few weeks will be busy harvesting the last of the tomatoes and aubergines in the polytunnel so it can be cleared and cleaned before winter. I am hoping to put my feet up while it is cold but there are always some jobs that need to be done during the winter months.