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Post by Dutchy on Jul 20, 2013 9:00:00 GMT
Paul says....
" The Newsletter is a bit late this week as I’ve been working very hard and not had much time to write stuff down. Currently taking a break from clearing a patch of ground of weeds and brambles so I can plant out a giant bed of Lavender. Suttons Seeds had a special promotion on last weekend for 48 Lavender plug-plants for £9.99, so I purchased two lots thinking I could decide where to put them later. Of course I forgot until they turned up and then I had a minor panic on where to plant them. So I have a patch of ground 10m x 2m which I am clearing and preparing for the planting this evening.
Last weekend was a bit of a disaster for the Elderflower Champagne as the plastic lemonade bottle decided to explode in a very spectacular way. We lost about 30 of the 40 litres in total, but we did get to try the others so it wasn’t a total loss. It wasn’t very alcoholic but it was very fizzy and refreshing.
This week has been the start of the ‘Courgette Glut’ and rather than stuffing myself with them and then giving the excess away I have been preserving them for later in the year. The recipe I have been trying is to barbecue sliced Courgettes until they take on a bit of colour and then to pack them into jam jars with fresh Thyme, Garlic and some salt and pepper. Finally top up with some olive oil. Then place the open jamjar in a medium oven for 20-30 mins along with the lid of the jam jar and then take the jars out and tighten the lid down before they cool. I tested one jar already and it tastes wonderful. Hopefully it will still be good in the depths of winter.
A quick update on my Automatic Watering Solution. I have a Hozelock automatic waterer connected to some seap hoses. I have it set to water twice a day and so far I cannot fault the system at all. I am watering beans, squashes, courgettes and fruit bushes and everything is flourishing, and what’s better is it is taking almost no effort from me. I’ll keep you updated.
Happy Gardening "
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Post by Dutchy on Jul 20, 2013 9:00:49 GMT
Moon Planting
20/07/2013
Waxing gibbous
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous
Moon in Scorpio: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Peas,
21/07/2013
FULL
Moon Phase: FULL
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, Fruits Harvested now should be eaten straight away.
22/07/2013
FULL
Moon Phase: FULL
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, Fruits Harvested now should be eaten straight away.
23/07/2013
FULL
Moon Phase: FULL
Moon in Capricorn: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Beetroot, Carrots, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like Calabrese, Fruits Harvested now should be eaten straight away.
24/07/2013
FULL
Moon Phase: FULL
Moon in Capricorn: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Beetroot, Carrots, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like Calabrese, Fruits Harvested now should be eaten straight away.
25/07/2013
Waning gibbous
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous
Moon in Aquarius: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like Calabrese, but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Beetroot, Carrots, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips,
26/07/2013
Waning gibbous
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous
Moon in Aquarius: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like Calabrese, but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Beetroot, Carrots, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips,
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Post by Dutchy on Aug 9, 2013 8:21:56 GMT
Paul's update...
"August already and what started off as a late growing season with all the bad weather has evolved into a much more abundant growing season than I would have expected. It seems like everything is trying much harder this year and I don’t just mean the plants. I haven’t seen this many butterflies for years, in fact I don’t think I have ever seen this many butterflies? I know some people are having problems with the Large Whites eating all of their Brassicas, but I’ve seen large numbers of all types of butterflies. Also I have spotted a huge harvest of wild fruits this year so Blackberries and Sloes with be gathered in great masses this year, and maybe for a change I can make enough Sloe Gin to last the year!
Whilst the summer was late to start this year it would seem the Autumn is early. This week the mornings have started with a nip in the air and a heavy dew on the grass, and some parts of the UK have already had a light ground frost. I’m hoping the fruitful abundance of the summer is going to continue into the Autumn and the mushroom season is going to be just as healthy. My Quest to find huge quantities of Ceps will be starting soon and I have a few locations in mind which are hidden away from the general public and cows. (Cows for some reason don’t like me to get mushrooms, especially Ceps as they jump up and down on them as soon as they see them, or at least it would seem that way.)
The perfect location for a Cep to grow is short damp grassland or moss, near the overhang of an Oak tree or sometimes Beech or Pine, and to have a good amount of sunlight. Edges of fields and paths are usually good places to find them. Once you find you Cep the identification is generally quite easy so long as you have a good reference book, not a vintage ‘Ladybird book of Mushrooms’. I have several books as I’m quite paranoid about eating something which might kill me. I’ve found the Rogers Mushrooms book to be excellent as it has many pictures and ways to identify a mushroom. See here for a link to the book's website.
The Cep is also known as the ‘Penny Bun’ as it can look like a sticky bun with a dark brown top. Underneath the cap instead of gills the Cep has pores, usually of a yellow colour. But they can be different colours depending on the genus. Some Ceps will tinge blue when cut or bruised and this can indicate a genus which is not as good to eat. But saying that there are also some which can be good to eat and will still turn blue! So get a good book or even better go on a foraging trip with John from River Cottage and have some fun hunting Mushrooms."
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Post by Dutchy on Aug 9, 2013 8:22:41 GMT
And the
Moon Planting
09/08/2013
Waxing crescent
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent
Moon in Leo: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce,
10/08/2013
Waxing crescent
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent
Moon in Leo: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce,
11/08/2013
Waxing crescent
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent
Moon in Virgo: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like
12/08/2013
First quarter
Moon Phase: First quarter
Moon in Virgo: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like
13/08/2013
First quarter
Moon Phase: First quarter
Moon in Libra: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips,
14/08/2013
First quarter
Moon Phase: First quarter
Moon in Libra: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips,
15/08/2013
First quarter
Moon Phase: First quarter
Moon in Scorpio: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like
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Post by Chuckles on Aug 9, 2013 10:26:27 GMT
 Dutchy I can't get this vision out of my head of the cows jumping up and down Thanks for posting the updates, its a nice read 
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Post by Rosefriend on Aug 23, 2013 16:00:41 GMT
Just had a mail from Dutchy asking me to add Paul's "ramblings" as the ipad isn't doing what she wants it to do... They have been to Sizergh Castle today and learnt that they have had to fend off over 400 rabbits....think you are lucky Jasmine !!! OK here we go.. 23/08/2013 Waning gibbous Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants 24/08/2013 Waning gibbous Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants 25/08/2013 Waning gibbous Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants 26/08/2013 Waning gibbous Moon in Aries: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce 27/08/2013 Last quarter Moon in Aries: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce 28/08/2013 Last quarter Moon in Taurus: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants 29/08/2013 Last quarter Moon in Taurus: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants ++++++++++ Paul says... The August Bank Holiday weekend approaches and for some of us this may be the start of the end of the summer holidays. The Autumnal mornings are already here in the UK and for me this makes me feel like I should be harvesting and storing as much food as I can for the up and coming winter. I must have Squirrel Genes in me somewhere? My next harvests are going to be the mixed Beans, Squashes, Beetroot and Pumpkins. All of which will make excellent soups or roasts to keep us warm in the winter. They will also complement the Mutton we shall be collecting in a few months time which by then will be large enough to see us through the next year in meat, if not longer. We're not finished in the garden yet, the winter greens still need to be nurtured and kept pest free until the first of the frosts kill off most of the bugs. And then there are the bulbs to plant for next year. September is the month when you should be buying and planting bulbs, edible or not, so they can overwinter and get a head start in the early spring. Looking back on the year so far I've been happy with everything so far, apart form the number of slugs and snails, and the only disappointment I've had with growing any of the plants was the Turban Squash which should have been Crown Prince squash. I've never eaten Turban Squash and from what I've read about them they are not great to eat, where as the Crown Prince are the best. So we shall see how bad they really are and maybe we can swap them at a farmers market for something else. Happy Gardening |
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Post by Jasmine on Aug 23, 2013 17:04:36 GMT
Squirrel genes!  I really enjoy Paul's news. I won't moan again til we get to 400 rabbits in the fields around us...well, I probably will! It feels like 400 sometimes! |
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Post by Dutchy on Sept 7, 2013 9:14:45 GMT
Now there is a thought. Eurgh 400 hungry critters. I saw this film during hols where not only did a white horse climb a tree but rabbits started feeding on something else all together... yikes. Thanks for posting for me RF. This week Paul has gone very quiet again. Maybe he has too much harvest on his hands.
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Post by Rosefriend on Sept 7, 2013 13:01:56 GMT
Now there is a thought. Eurgh 400 hungry critters. I saw this film during hols where not only did a white horse climb a tree but rabbits started feeding on something else all together... yikes.
Thanks for posting for me RF. This week Paul has gone very quiet again. Maybe he has too much harvest on his hands. Where did you say you had been on holiday - horses climbing trees ...you haven't been smoking stuff you shouldn't have..or??!! RF |
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Post by Dutchy on Sept 20, 2013 7:31:58 GMT
It was in the old film house at Bownes on Windermere Rosefriend. One of those silly but enjoyable Johny Depp films, no not any pirate of the Caribean stuff. Ah well, still building the photo album and my new allotment part two and trying to get to grips with my pond ( new liner in the shed but pooring rain keeping me from it ) And and and Turns out I am not the only distracted person.... Paul has quietly prepared for something big in his life and as a result skipped some moon planting information. Read it and forgive him  " This week sees the start of Autumn and the weather here in the UK has certainly turned autumnal, and in case you hadn’t noticed the Harvest moon has arrived which all means the digging is about to start again. Composting, digging, leaf clearing and small bonfires burning are the jobs and smells of Autumn to me. I say this about every season, but Autumn really is my favorite month. It’s the hunkering down after a lovely summer, storing your carefully grown crops and preparing for the long winter to come which make it so much fun. Spring brings promise and warmth, summer brings the gluts of Courgettes and Beans, Winter gives you the anticipation of the new year but only Autumn has the retrospective look back at the last year and the hope you have grown and stored enough food for the winter. This winter in the UK has already been forecasted as being colder than normal so just like last year we are going to have to batten down the hatches and stock up the wood stores. I already have a batch of Cider being made and that should be ready for mulling by Halloween. I am planning to start some beer off too, and that will go with the wine we already have bubbling away in the demijohns. This week's jobs will be clearing away the courgettes, squashes and the beans and getting ready to build the new raised beds, but having said that I may not get any of it done as I’m getting married tomorrow and I think popping out to do all of that may result in the shortest marriage of all time. Have a good week. "
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Post by Dutchy on Sept 20, 2013 7:32:59 GMT
Moon Planting
20/09/2013
FULL
Moon Phase: FULL
Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans, Peas, Fruits Harvested now should be eaten straight away.
21/09/2013
FULL
Moon Phase: FULL
Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans, Peas, Fruits Harvested now should be eaten straight away.
22/09/2013
Waning gibbous
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous
Moon in Aries: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans, Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Lettuce,
23/09/2013
Waning gibbous
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous
Moon in Aries: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans, Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Lettuce,
24/09/2013
Waning gibbous
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous
Moon in Taurus: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Onions, Radish, Spring Onions, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like
25/09/2013
Waning gibbous
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous
Moon in Taurus: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Onions, Radish, Spring Onions, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like
26/09/2013
Last quarter
Moon Phase: Last quarter
Moon in Taurus: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Onions, Radish, Spring Onions, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like
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Post by Rosefriend on Sept 20, 2013 12:35:15 GMT
I do enjoy Paul's ramblings !!
Love this bit..
This winter in the UK has already been forecasted as being colder than normal so just like last year we are going to have to batten down the hatches and stock up the wood stores. I already have a batch of Cider being made and that should be ready for mulling by Halloween. I am planning to start some beer off too, and that will go with the wine we already have bubbling away in the demijohns.
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Sept 21, 2013 6:08:49 GMT
This week's jobs will be clearing away the courgettes, squashes and the beans and getting ready to build the new raised beds, but having said that I may not get any of it done as I’m getting married tomorrow and I think popping out to do all of that may result in the shortest marriage of all time. I like this bit, he'd best get his priorities right.
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Post by Jasmine on Sept 21, 2013 6:23:30 GMT
I don't like the sound of this winter at all  But all the best to Paul...and he sounds like a wise man who knows where his priorities lie! He's right about the harvest moon - the light it creates at this time of the year is amazing. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Sept 21, 2013 7:40:05 GMT
Yes I saw the moon night before last and the reflection of it on the old building opposite to me. I love the big harvest moon. There's something settling about it.
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Post by Jasmine on Sept 28, 2013 16:17:59 GMT
You can imagine folk of bygone times working in the light of it!
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 4, 2013 7:47:54 GMT
One can indeed that moon was very bright.
Well so far so good it looks as if Paul has gone through his honeymoon days unscathed and he is back.
Here are his ramblings for the next week.
"Well it’s all go down here in darkest Dorset, as well as the harvesting of the last of the summer crops, the wine, cider, and jam making from the bumper harvest of hedgerow fruit, and the most abundant Fungi we have ever seen. We have also got a Hollywood blockbuster being filmed on our doorstep. Far From the Madding Crowd (https://www.facebook.com/maddingcrowdmovie) is being filmed at a secret location in Dorset, (on the Mapperton Estate shhh!) which is just over the hill from where we live. So when the film is released you will see the beautiful countryside we live in down here. You may also see the torrential rain we had as they have been filming over the past three nights as we have seen the huge lights illuminating the clouds. With all the filming going on it has attracted film stars a plenty to our little town making for a surreal sight as the likes of Sienna Miller wander around the local shops and boutiques. I wonder how strange it must be for her too?
Anyway back to the hedgerow harvesting. This year unlike previous years, there have been a huge amount of mushrooms around and we have found it very easy to find all sorts of delicacies. Chicken-of-the-woods was one of the first finds we had and it turns out it is just like chicken, which amazed me. Also we have found many members of the Boletus family some of which have been Ceps, but sadly not the majority. We have also tried for the first time the Beefsteak fungus which is a bracket fungi that grows mainly from Oak trees. The Beefsteak is easy to recognise as it looks like a severed cow’s tongue stuck to a tree. I’ve never seen a severed cow’s tongue stuck to a tree but I’m sure this is it would look like. The resemblance doesn’t stop there either, when you cut it away from the tree it oozes red liquid just like blood and frankly does nothing for the appetite. When we got it home, carefully hiding it on the way in case we should be spotted with our bovine contraband, we cooked it up with garlic, parsley and butter and served it next Cep’s on toast. As you can expect any fungi served next to a Cep would pale in comparison, but this one was quite spectacular in it’s failings. It was acidic in taste and that was about all it could come up with. After the frying in a little butter it hadn’t changed much in its appearance even though we had peeled away the outside layer of ‘Tongue’ wasn’t very appetising. So the conclusion we came to was to forage with our eyes more and only pick the fungi that we know is edible and looks good to eat.
Thank you to everyone who has sent messages to us for our wedding last month. The day was beautiful and we had a wonderful time.
Happy Gardening "
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 4, 2013 7:48:32 GMT
Moon Planting
04/10/2013
NEW
Moon Phase: NEW
Moon in Virgo: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like Fruits Harvested now will store for longer.
05/10/2013
NEW
Moon Phase: NEW
Moon in Virgo: This is a Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, but it would not be a good time to sow Flower plants like Fruits Harvested now will store for longer.
06/10/2013
NEW
Moon Phase: NEW
Moon in Libra: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Jerusalem Artichokes, Fruits Harvested now will store for longer.
07/10/2013
Waxing crescent
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent
Moon in Libra: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Jerusalem Artichokes,
08/10/2013
Waxing crescent
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent
Moon in Libra: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Jerusalem Artichokes,
09/10/2013
Waxing crescent
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent
Moon in Scorpio: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans, Peas,
10/10/2013
First quarter
Moon Phase: First quarter
Moon in Scorpio: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans, Peas,
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 4, 2013 8:23:46 GMT
I do enjoy this thread Dutchy, many thanks, and I look forward to reading the ramblings of the now happily (hopefully) married Paul !! RF |
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 4, 2013 8:29:00 GMT
We might end up with him complaining about having to behave now that he is married...  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 4, 2013 8:45:51 GMT
We might end up with him complaining about having to behave now that he is married... hahaha - yes there might be that....you can leave that bit out then !! |
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 4, 2013 8:49:39 GMT
Nah....
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I really enjoy Paul's news.
