So many Shallots

I was absolutely delighted with the quality and quantity of shallots I harvested this year.

Last year weeds took a hold and smothered most of the crop. I set aside the best bulbs for this year’s crop and vowed to be more diligent.

Diligence paid off and I have plenty of bulbs to eat and replant for next season. I hung big bunches from the BBQ roof to dry off ready for storing.

Present-ing: One gift leads to another

Aly took me to Murray Bridge for brunch for my birthday and gave me some money to spend either in the gift shop at The Davery or at Serenity Nursery, where we headed next. I can’t resist an opportunity at a nursery so came home with both male and female kiwi fruit vines.

With Christmas just around the corner I knew that a request for an Arch might be well received by the metal worker in the family, and indeed it was.

Many a design was considered and complexity scaled down. Rod was keen to incorporate a theme so elongated diamonds were featured to match in with the pyramids he made me for the tay and Boysen berries.

The kiwi fruit vines were planted in November with temporary support until after Christmas Day. As soon as the Arch was moved into position the twining began in earnest with Rod helping the vine decide where to hang on.

Berry Good Jam

The blackberry season is upon us and the most satisfying realisation is that the canes that we have growing on our trellis in the potager is producing bigger fruit and more of it than at the bottom of the hill where they are growing wild.

9 jars of pure berries, no plums in this batch. The berries are 3/4 blackberries and the remaining 1/4 tayberry and boysenberry frozen from the end of last year. 

If you are reading this post you can qualify for your very own jar of ASHWELL BERRY JAM - 6 Feb ‘19!