Two word Tuesday - Turning red

Seeking out the perfect courgette...

The nights may be drawing in, put that doesn't put a stop a veg production.  I currently have some aubergines are sprouting in the green house (though to honest I don't think the aubergines will be ready by the first frosts :(

However apart from my pumpkins there was one vegetable I would have loved to have had a glut of and that's courgettes, although my courgette experience this summer has very been trail and error.  The first one I grew was from my ebay pot luck selection, it was a round variety and it produced a tangerine sized lovely and then... That was it, rain and sudden cold weather killed the plant, at least I managed to rescue the plants lonely occupant before it suffered too.

The second plant I had was a cheat, I bought one from the garden centre.  And this turned out to be prolific producer, but to be honest it wasn't to my liking.  Unfortunately I can't remember it's name, but let me tell you if your after a plant that once your back is turned creates a behemoth (which I was) then this plant is not for you.  It's production was small and perfectly formed.

Third go and I went back to basics, I bought a pack of seeds from Wilkos called 'Astia', and within a few weeks of planting I had my first 'standard' size courgette!



But why so fussy you might ask?  well ever since my husband was diagnosed diabetic he has given up most carbs with one being pasta.  He used to enjoy a Spaghetti meal and following a trawl of the internet I found he still could - all thanks to zughetti - which is basically courgette sliced into thin ribbons.

 you can even buy a tool for the job.

 

Be careful with it though they're sharp!

 

 

Injury cleaned up I fried up the zughetti in a mix of butter and olive and serve it with tomato and garlic Bolognese sauce topped off with cheese.  The meal was a success, so I'll definitely growing plenty of Astia next year.



 

 

 

Christmas time....

It's not only the supermarkets that have recently become preoccupied with Christmas.  I have also started making plans for 'The most wonderful time of the year.' :P

The beginning of September is when my poinsettia house plant finds itself getting an early night, as I limit it's time in the day light to seven/six hours. All in a bid to grow yuletide leaves.

Here's the plant with it's summer growth, there's even some faded red here and there.

 

I wish I had a picture of the plant when I first bought a two years ago.  It was nothing more than a scattering of tiny leaves!  It definitely had a growth spurt.  It also put on a good show of red last year too, following a month or two in a dark cupboard.

 

 

Fingers crossed it should be glowing with festive cheer again this year.  I'll keep you posted.



 



Two word Tuesday -Autumnal Sunflower

Back in the garden

I've not been out and about in the back much recently, what with rain and hurricanes (there was even a tornado down the road from where we live!) I haven't really felt like venturing out.  The has also been another reason why I have been a absentee gardener.  At the ripe old age of 39, I have decided to learn to drive.  I've had a few lessons and last week I sat my driver theory test. I don't think I revised so much in all my life!  Not even for my G.C.S.E's!

Anyway the hard work paid off and I passed!  Coming back home from my test, I decided not only to treat myself to some chocolate but also some gardening. 

It was nice to see that my Asters are starting to flower

 

 



Baby bear has produced a baby!  Fingers crossed for an Indian Summer to give it some much needed sun shine!

 

 

My spaghetti squash is still hanging on in there!  Again fingers crossed!

 

And finally

 

 

I have tomatoes!  I best stick to gentle watering to prevent any splitting!

 

So that's me pretty much up to date in the Pot luck garden, drop by again soon! ;)



Two word Tuesday - Flowering cannas

An alternative use for potato bags

We used to love potatoes in our house. From deep fried to those well known snacks featuring a man with a big 'tash on the tin, we couldn't get enough.  Then hubby was diagnosed type 2 diabetes.  It was a real wake up call and following a bit research he decided to gave up carbs and sugar, as a lover of all things sweet, I decided to cut down carbs and sugar too.  A few months later we had both lost weight, and my husband's blood sugar levels had stabled all without medication.

From a gardening point of view his diagnoses has had an impact on what veggies I grow, out went sweet corn and new potatoes.  In came courgettes and aubergines, both low carb and versatile (recipes to follow when veg is fully grown :)



Sweetcorn plants  from 2010

 

With spuds no longer growing in the garden, a large collection of potato bags sat unused in the shed until I had a brain wave. Just because it said Potato bags on the wrapper it doesn't mean they can't be used for anything else.

 

So with that in mind, I decided to pot up my sunflowers in these sacks and it's worked quite well,  it means I can put these tall plants into hard to reach gaps without that hop, skip and a jump which usually entails when planting at the back of the bed.

 

 

And there you have it, a sunflower at the back of the boarder and

all without falling on my face!