Jottings on a windy day

The weather here has changed markedly since the end of last month and we are very rapidly descending into autumn, to be followed by the long winter months.

There's a bit of a breeze in the air today and I've taken the opportunity to hang out the washing and do some gardening. A good day for both. I wonder how many more there will be like it this year?

The crops are nearing their end, but I scarcely think that the produce I've gathered today counts as a good harvest. In short, a few beans, a courgette that just about does, a kohlrabi and some dwarf beetroot (they weren't meant to be small, but that's how they have turned out).

My two remaining courgette plants have come to the end of their life, I decided, so out they came. I shall definitely plant more next year.

The scene is set for winter and I have planted out some onion sets given to me by Kate and four spinach beet plants I have been growing in the conservatory. They join another six already in the ground, sharing the same part of the garden as the onion sets.

We had one of the kohlrabi the other day in a stew, a first for us, and thought it neither good nor bad - not having much of a taste at all. The one I dug up today is in the fridge now and I must look up some recipes. Another four plants remain in the garden, but seem very slow at coming to anything. Likewise with the broccoli, which I have left in the hope they will sprout.

Fewer and fewer beans have been available to pick over the last few days and I guess the two wigwams will be dismantled very soon. The runner beans have been very successful, the french beans less so. They climbed up the poles very well, but haven't really produced that much for eating.

My thoughts are turning to green manure. Must get some.

Using up the beans

I've got more runner beans than I know what to do with, so this afternoon I am making runner bean pickle.

It's a rainy, squally day as we head into autumn and the pickling activity seems just right. Soon the kitchen will be filled with the smell of vinegar, something which produces mixed emotions in this household. I quite like it, but I know the others will make a comment.

I'm using a recipe from the John Harrison Allotment website, a site I have mentioned before and which is invaluable for tips and advice, not just on digging and planting but also on cooking.

The mention of mustard powder in the list of ingredients sets me off back to childhood, when mustard didn't come ready mixed and every home had that yellow tin of mustard powder. Then, all of a sudden, there was a revolution and it came ready done in a jar. My mother was ever so pleased, although I don't think it had been a big job to mix it yourself.

One problem with the pickle recipe is that I don't have mustard powder, so I will have to get over that in some way. It's not very helpful of one website to tell me I can use wasabi powder instead. Oh yeah, we've all got that in the store cupboard.

I think I'll take the advice of one of the people who posted a comment on the recipe and add a handful of raisins - they're cheap in Lidl and we have quite a number of bags.

Here's wishing and hoping.