Saturday 27 October 2012

The First Real Frost of the Year

After a windy night,( the weather not me), I woke up to see heavy frost on the car windscreen signalling that winter is on the way.  The temperature was only 1 deg. but it felt colder after the mildish weather we have been having.  I ventured out to check on my sheep and see how the frost had affected the veg plot.
I gave Alf (pictured) and Ed some Sheep Mix which they love and they lick their bowls clean, but then hang about wondering if I will give them some kale leaves.  This morning I didn't as they were frosted.

The leeks that have gone to seed are putting on a lovely display

Although they look wonderful like this, it does mean they are mostly inedible due to the hard core that forms down the centre of the leek.

The last courgette plant is a gonner now, the colder weather has seen to that.  Now that it has finished I can compost it and start to weed the area before I mulch it.  Funnily enough the Nasturtiums have survived the frost, they are still manfully flowering, as are the Marigolds.
This year my raspberry crop has been zilch, and guess what, it is nearly winter and they have suddenly decided to produce fruit.  Contrary or what?
 It's been a funny old year.  Hoping for better next year - what say you?

19 comments:

  1. I always feel for animals that are out in all weathers, it's a good job that Alf and Ed have good wool coats to keep them warm. Believe it or not, we had snow last night. I woke up to a fine layer covering the cars, which melted soon afterwards thank goodness. Thank you so much for your comments on my blog about Archie, it's such a relief that he's on the mend.

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  2. Ooh you have sheep! You are so lucky. I would love to have a pet sheep. I woke up to white rooftops (frost not snow) here in south Cumbria (the second frost for us this season). A funny old year indeed!

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  3. I'm surprised that your nasturtiums are still okay as they usually go mushy. I've been picking a few raspberries each time I go to the plot, much to my surprise.
    As you say it's been a funny old year but it will be better next year. Flighty xx

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    1. The nasturtiums are in a more sheltered spot this year if this cold weather keeps up they will soon turn to mush I am sure.

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  4. I say "Do sheep not like leeks that have gone to seed?" Are your sheep reared for slaughter, or are they just pets?

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    1. My two are kept to keep the grass down in the field, the rest of the flock are used for breeding and filling the freezer. I have never tried them on leeks but they do like dried onion tops.

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  5. It has indeed been a funny old year. I've now admitted defeat and over the past couple of days dug everything up and put it on the compost heap. The soil is still so claggy, but hopefully the winter cold can now get to work on the clods of clay.

    Here's hoping it's better next year.

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  6. Yes indeed, a funny year. My nasturtiums also survived the frost last night.I even have some seeds that dropped now growing again!

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  7. We had snow last night, and some more this morning - thank goodness it was too warm for it to settle! At least with the growing year coming to an end we can give up the struggle and settle down in the warm with the seed catalogues to plan for next year!

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  8. Very cold and windy here yesterday.... no frost as yet, but it won't be long. Brrrrr.

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    1. I spoke too soon; we did indeed have a light frost this morning.

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  9. We were in York yesterday and it actually snowed - wet snow but snow!

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  10. We had a great hailstorm last night. There's not much left in my garden apart from some brassicas. The leeks were doing well, but some have got rust now. Strange year it's been!

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  11. Your right there, it has been a funny old year! We've gone from scorching heat to rain. It's been very hard cleaning everything up.
    Raspberries this time of year would be amazing here. Do enjoy yours.
    Have a lovely Sunday
    Hugs Rosemary...xo

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  12. We've had quite a few light frosts in October but not a hard frost yet. I really like your sheep! So cute they are.

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  13. Only 1 frost here so far, a couple of weeks ago and not a heavy one. I'm surprised your Raspberries have not been good this year. Although the weather has been odd and varied in different parts of the country.

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  14. No frosts here yet, but here is hoping we have a mild but dry winter for a change. Loving the Raspberries

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  15. I wonder what variety your raspberries are, Elaine? Now that prices for summer fruit have rocketed in the supermarkets, how lovely to have home-grown fresh raspberries. I only have my frozen fruit now and am tidying the veg patch and putting it all away for this year. Even my perennial cauliflowers rotted away earlier this year but at least I saved seed from one plant.

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    1. Hi Caro - no idea about the raspberries as they were inherited. They usually start fruiting early then have a little break and start fruiting again in autumn. This year no early fruit but a really late harvest. It has definitely been a topsy-turvy year.

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