Celebrating Red, Orange and Green!

Posted by Rosie

As I mentioned yesterday, I can't quite believe that it's October.  It's been so warm and dry all through September, although I have to say after writing that we had had no rain for ages, guess what?  Yes, it's raining as I type!  The gardener side of me is actually a bit pleased with this because any weeding I have tried to do recently has been difficult with the ground so hard.

Instead of trying to weed today I decided that as it was October it was time to harvest the pumpkins.  This is always an exciting time, wondering how many I will find hidden beneath the giant leaves.  I struggled to get the seeds to germinate in the spring so had fewer plants than last year but despite that I am quietly pleased with the crop:

Pumpkin harvest 2014 at Eco-Gites of Lenault

The small green pumpkins are called Crown Prince Table Queen (thanks CiG for pointing out my error) and are delicious.  Last year I ended up with just one of these but this year I have loads.  I cannot remember what either of the pale orange ones are* but if anyone wants to know I can go and get the packets.  The big orange ones are Rouge vif d'Etampes and the butternuts are ... well they are butternuts! (and I have more of those in the polytunnel).

*Update - the large pale ones are Jaune de Paris and the smaller pale ones in the barrow are Autumn Crown.

Last year I lost a lot of the pumpkins through the winter with the wet and mild weather leading them to rot.  In previous years the cold has got them so this year I have a new plan.  I saw the picture below on Pinterest and so this year I shall be storing the pumpkin crop up in our attic room!  Tom is currently sleeping up there whilst we sort out a wasp's nest above his bedroom ceiling ... I hope he won't mind keeping company with a room full of curcabits.  Curcabit is the family name given to plants that includes courgettes, marrows, melons, pumpkins and cucumbers.

Attic pumpkin store from Whole Systems Design, LLC

I also harvested the last of the larger tomatoes, just leaving the cherry ones which tend to go on a bit longer. With the hot weather we have been having they have ripened well meaning I do not have many green ones.  Hopefully there are just enough at the bottom of this basketful to make a batch of green tomato chutney!

The last of the 2014 tomatoes at Eco-Gites of Lenault

And in case I was under any illusion that we are still in summer one of the blueberry bushes is showing off some gorgeous autumn colour:

Autumn colour from a blueberry bush

So that's a quick view of the veg garden as we move into October.  How is your garden looking?  For more gardening blogs pop on over to the linky at Annie's Manneskjur: