Wednesday 2 November 2011

Death Row

So many of you commented that I ought to protect my chillis or keep them over Winter, that I have decided on a compromise. I have moved three of them into my little plastic mini-greenhouses, under which protection they will probably keep going another month or so, and hopefully bring a bit more fruit to maturity.


However, the mini-greenhouses will not keep the chilli plants warm enough to survive a severe Winter like we had last time, so this move is simply a "Stay of Execution". If one of them is REALLY lucky, I may find room for it next to the window in the garage - but no promises.

Here are a few other plants that have perhaps left it a little late...

My olive tree's few tiny fruits have coloured-up now. In previous years the fruits have fallen off while still tiny and green.


Not in the same league as Christina's 300kg harvest in Lazio, though! [If you have ever wanted to know how olive oil is made, you MUST read her post on this subject.]

My cucumber plant, having failed to produce anything worthwhile during the Summer has now decided for some reason that fruiting in November would be a good thing. Those little fruits are never going to make it to maturity - surely???




Though not really on the same theme, I wanted to show you this photo anyway. It shows that more of the Earth Star fungi tucked away behind the cucumber bin have burst open - presumably in the process distributing their spores far and wide for next year too.


If you are interested in fungi, may I suggest you take a look at Mushrooms and Toadstools, which is run by Kalipso, (from Croatia) who also runs Busy Bee.  Some great photos there.

16 comments:

  1. Do you have an executioner's outfit?

    The picture of the olives is very interesting, I have seen them in France and Italy but only as green and black objects, never the shades that you have there.

    What a shame about the cucumber.

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  2. Maybe if you protect the cucumber with some fleece or something they'll mature? Mine took most of the summer to be edible. The chilli relish in your last post looks fantastic.

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  3. I wonder what happened with your cucumber... too much lavish care? Mine are just coming on now - let's hope they fare a little better. I LOVE cucumber! Your olives look lovely, how do they go over winter?

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  4. It's been an unusual year for the garden. Maybe you'll have cucs for Christmas!!

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  5. Yep, I would be keeping the water up to the cucumber (I wonder if cool -tepid water would be the go?) and covering it. Once they set fruit, cucumber seem to grow rapidly...you might sneak a couple in.

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  6. Whenever I read about Northern Hemisphere gardeners preparing for winter I realize how lucky I am - we don't even get frost in winter.

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  7. It's a shame you don't have space for one of your chili plants indoors, you would have a head start next year.

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  8. Can't quite see you getting a cucumber harvest, but hey, you never know! Good to see that you are protecting your chillies, they've done so well they deserve a chance...

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  9. Great idea to give the chillis one last chance! If any survive then they are surely meant to be in your garden forever!!! The fungus is very cool. We have some fab fungi here in South Africa, quite a few of which grow on the tree bark. lol x

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  10. Fingers crossed for your chillis - and maybe a late cucumber.
    Those fungi are incredible.
    Sara

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  11. That certainly is a late cucumber Mark hope you get a cucumber off it even if it is only a tiny one.

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  12. Super late cuke! Maybe hazel has a point. Worth a try since there is nothing to lose.

    I've never seen the star fungi - very cool.

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  13. Good Luck with those chilli plants. If I remembered well I read in someone blog that has severe winter that they kept their chilli plant indoor at very warm spot that received many light in pot. Their chilli survived through winter.

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  14. I love that they have a little house each - very cute.

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  15. Your mini greenhouses are very interesting. I wish I could have similar sun blocking ones for my plants in summer.

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  16. Thank you Mark. I was not very busy as concerned my other blogs. I guess they deserve more posts. Garden season is slowly over so, I will have more time to turn to my other blogs.
    Nice specimens of Geastrum fungi on your photo!

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