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

Saturday, 1 October 2011

Apples & Rainy Day Veg Soup

This year I had a bumper crop of 14 apples on my self fertilising apple tree! This is an all time record for me. My tree is in a large pot and has been in a pot for years.
I've no idea what kind of apples they are but they taste delicious - sweet but also tart. They're one of the best tasting things I've grown.


Every Spring the tree is infested with green caterpillars which seem to eat the buds so I've learned to keep a careful watch. This year it has paid off. Plus I've made an effort to feed the plant weekly and ensure the pot doesn't dry out.

Today I'm making vegetable soup. (So excited as first time ever growing many of these plants). Pictured: celery, carrots, parsnip, spring onion, courgette, kale, spinach. The type of seed & when I planted them can be viewed at: http://kelliboylesgarden.blogspot.com/p/2011-grow-list.html 

I was going to put a few potatoes in my soup but I forgot. I've harvested (approx) 7 kg potatoes / 15 pounds.
Variety: Maris Peer

I'm surprised to even have potatoes this year. My plants were devoured by something (caterpillars and/or slugs?) very early on (pictured). I didn't have much hope for harvesting any potatoes this year. Left it really late but when I was digging I got a nice surprise - potatoes!
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12 comments:

  1. Mark Willis1 October 2011 at 11:37

    What fab photos Kelli! Those apples look amazing. It has been a really good year for apples in England. When we were on holiday in Herefordshire we swa so many orchards just groaning with fruit.
    Bet your soup was lovely. Tonight we are eating potatoes, beans, carrot and peas, all from the garden. You'll have to make some more soup with the spuds now. How about leek and potato?

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  2. Egretta Wells blog1 October 2011 at 11:54

    What fine looking produce you have harvested! Your apples are amazing! They look very healthy and I can't believe you grew that tree in a pot!Also your ingredients for the soup are so pretty...I know the soup will be delicious. And 15 lbs. of potatoes...I am really impressed!

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  3. The Musical Gardener1 October 2011 at 19:42

    Nice apples. Did you spray or are rust, scab and various other ailments not an issue in Ireland. I didn't spray and mine are horrible looking things - but the wasps like them.

    Not sure on your variety, although that lobey shape is ringing a bell somewhere, must look up in my apple book see if there are any similar looking varieties.

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  4. ann1 October 2011 at 21:02

    Kelly, you are amazing at growing your garden in containers. Your apples are just perfect.I love home grown apples. Why don't you post a photo of the apple tree? I'd love to see it.

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  5. Travel With Lulu1 October 2011 at 23:37

    I have been amazed at how heavy the trees have been this year with fruit. Your bounty looks scrumptious! So thrilled to have stumbled upon your lovely blog ;) XOLaura

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  6. Sue Garrett2 October 2011 at 02:34

    It's frustrating isn't it to have apples that you don't know the variety of we suffer from the same thing.

    As or the caterpillars - they sound like winter moth - do you pop grease bands around the trunks of the trees? I have some info on how we try to protect our apple trees from pest on my website here if you are interested.

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  7. littlekarstar2 October 2011 at 04:05

    You've had a great harvest! Love all the colours. That apple looks so crisp and crunchy. Yum.

    I've got an apple in a pot as well, not much fruit last year (it's only 2 years old this year) and I hope I get a few this year too!

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  8. Peggy2 October 2011 at 04:32

    Hi kelli, your soup ingredients look delicious and colourful!We have a small apple tree with 8 apples on it, they are not as big as yours but could be the same variety but we dont know the name of ours either!

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  9. Malar2 October 2011 at 18:56

    That's good harvest of apples! I only can buy apples as we can't plant it under my country climate!

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  10. Priscilla @ Homegrown Delight2 October 2011 at 22:15

    Beautiful apples! I'm thinking warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream for this changing weather. Your harvest looks great and the potatoes look nice. You should see my potatoes, I planted them all wrong. I'm also making vegetable soup tomorrow night, I don't want my harvest to go bad. Have a terrific week and happy autumn!

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  11. Jo3 October 2011 at 04:58

    Your apples look delicious, nice and crisp. I bet your soup was delicious too with all those lovely vegetables added.

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  12. Malay-Kadazan girl3 October 2011 at 05:46

    Now I am interested to try growing apple in pot like you do. How long did you have to wait for it to fruit?Your apple harvest look so juicy and crunchy. Nice harvest! Congratulation on your potato harvest!

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