Category Archives: Smallholding

Peppadews incoming!

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

I hate getting to the end of the day and feeling that I have achieved nothing, so on Wednesday I fought my way through the lurgy (a quite nasty cough/cold) that my wife and daughter have very generously shared with … Continue reading →

Posted in Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Winter salads after two weeks

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

Looks like most of the salad leaves are doing nicely under the grow light. I usually sow several seeds to a cell, so I might even need to thin them down to one seedling soon. Except the radishes. I sow … Continue reading →

Posted in Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Starting to clear the polytunnel

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

On Sunday I started removing the tomato plants from my polytunnel. In previous years I’ve completely emptied the beds one day and then planted out my Winter salads the next. This year is a bit different for a number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding | Tagged | Leave a comment

Spiced pear chutney

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

I woke up on Monday morning and came downstairs (not necessarily in that order) to the wonderful smell of spiced pear chutney being made. It’s a recipe that my wife found in a 1976 copy of the Good Housekeeping Cookbook. … Continue reading →

Posted in Kitchen, Smallholding | Tagged | Leave a comment

Done for the time being

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

I think that’s as much harvesting as I can cope with for the moment. The next job is probably to remove the stripped tomato plants from the polytunnel and, feed them through the shredder and into the compost. Normally I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

There’s no need

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

Honestly! I spend the Summer wobbling around the polytunnel watering, pruning and generally caring for the plants to the best of my ability and this is the response I get. There’s no need. Just no need.

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged | Leave a comment

Stage Two complete

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

I’ve picked all the jalapenos. I’ll be pickling them once I find a jar big enough to fit them in. Cayennes next, I think.

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I just had to share this

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

A red Corno di Toro pepper (which was buried under the heap in the photo with the previous posting). Is it not a thing of beauty? I’m salivating just looking at it 😀

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Stage one complete

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

These are all my remaining sweet peppers other than the ones for making paprika and a half-dozen or so that I found hiding in the foliage after taking the photo. A mix of red and yellow Corno di Toro, Slovakia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged , | Leave a comment

It’s time…

Posted on November 7, 2026 by james

I’ve had a few issues with rust over the years, as have my garlic plants, so these days I grow them in the polytunnel, planting towards the end of October. I saved these bad boys from this year’s harvest. I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged , | Leave a comment