This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Sunday 30 October 2011

Halloween in the Garden

It's Halloween weekend and a glorious sunny day today! Pictured are the lovely pumpkin earrings I won in a giveaway by Rainy Day Gardener (thank you!).

Below is an update on the garden front.
The sunflowers withstood our heavy October gales but are now looking like characters from a zombie film.
Some fab Autumn colour around the garden. And lots of leaves to rake!
I'm liking the coppery glow of the spent astilbe. I think these were pink in summer.
Ghostly little plant - I grew some Silverdust from seed and have really enjoyed the silver foliage. I plan on growing lots more next year.
Variety:  Cineraria 'Maritima Silverdust', half hardy annual, Carters tested seeds.
Pulled up 2 celery stalks  and carrots from the veg box at the weekend. The celeriac is still growing strong, but not big enough for my liking - I hope it can take frost!
VarietyCelery, Plant Hart's Seeds, Sown 3 April 2011 indoor, planted outside June. 
A closer look at the celeriac. Mine will never match those grown at Mark's Veg Plot!
VarietyCeleriac 'Monarch', Mr Fothergill's seeds. Sown 3 April 2011 indoor. Planted outside in June.
The veg box has 2 types of  kale, celery and celeriac. Slugs aren't too bad on these plants. I really like using kale in stews and casseroles.
VarietyKale 'Nero di Toscana', and
Kale Curly Scarlet


No frost yet! Can't believe it. Last year the first frost was on 20th Oct.

So the Calendula Orange King are still going strong.


Happy 
Halloween 
Weekend!

11 comments:

  1. Thanks for the compliment about Celeriac, Kelli, but if the truth be known, I'm only one step ahead of you! I have used four of mine now. Two left. And your carrots are way better than mine.
    The pumpkin earrings look gorgeous - though you'll probably only wear them once a year...

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  2. Love those earrings! Congratulations! Cute post. I have always thought silverdust (never heard it called that) looks rather spooky. Almost like a skeleton! The astilbe still looks beautiful, though - I'm surprised. I'm also amazed how your vegetable garden just keeps producing on and on! Happy Halloween!

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  3. Celeriac... reminds me I'd best harvest more of it. It does make the best soup. Congratulations on the earrings win! they are quite cute.
    Happy Halloween

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  4. Happy Halloween. by the time you get this post, the trick or treaters have come and gone. Hope you had plenty of candy. I am always amazed at how your seed starts develop into such heathy food and gorgeous flowers.

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  5. Hi Kelli,
    So glad you like the earrings! I love your Halloween themed post, so clever! Your veggies are still looking strong, such pretty carrots! Sunflowers turned zombies...classic!! Happy Halloween ~ Cheers, Jenni

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  6. Congratulations on winning the earrings, they're so cute. Silverdust does look rather Halloweenish now I think about it, there's some lovely autumn colour in your garden. Happy Halloween.

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  7. Great looking carrots on both your posts. I thought celeriac didn't cope with frost but I may be wrong. Mine never lasted long enough (or got big enough) to try out that theory. I'm sure they could be mulched.
    The colour of the leaf photo is glowing.probably helps to have the sun on it.

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  8. We really must try growing celery next year.

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  9. What cute pumpkin earrings and I think you could definately wear them any time of the year!Lucky you to be the winner of Rainy Day Gardener's give-away! I love your ghoullish sunflowers and the colors in your garden. Amazing veggies, too.

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  10. Cute earrings. Your carrot harvest look a very good size! Celery look very juicy and crispy.

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  11. Hi Kelli, we have never had any success with celery and gave up on it completely!Celeriac got a spot on the plot one year but just grew to golf ball size so yours looks humungous in comparison.
    I pulled up all of our calendula as it reseeds all over the place, I planted seeds about 3 years ago and the seedlings are still coming up each year.
    Congratulations on winning the ear rings, it is always lovely to win something.

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