De la bonne bouffe: Cats in clover part 2

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Cats in clover part 2

Our cats are both catnip crazy. For Christmas last year, each got a catnip fish from Culpepers (they sent small items like this to European countries by mail, very good value). Bagger licks his fish very messily, gets it nice and soggy then sucks up the resulting brew. RonRon rolls on her fish, or Bagger's after he's finshed with it. The fish started out neat white cotton items with a colourful floral print - now are both a dirty green from Bagger's attention.

Alas! Culpepers has gone into administration! We will have to grow our own catnip, or catmint, Nepeta Cataria (I have some seed, from Thomson & Morgan) but we may have to construct an island in the middle of the Aigronne to grow it where the cats can't get at it. Particularly worrying is the fabled old lady up the road with 30 cats - what if they get wind (literally) of the catnip? Here is T&M's catmint cat - an anti-Bagger to the life!

Don't let this cat meet ours or there could be an explosion

2 comments:

Susan said...: I remember visiting the nursery at Beth Chatto's and observing a large and comfortable black cat curled up on a pot of catnip. He must have decided that we were interesting though as he then accompanied us in a friendly manner to the restaurant.; 25 November 2011 at 11:36
Pollygarter said...: Sysan - when we grew catnip on our front doorstep in Leeds, it looked like a cat slept on it regularly! You must have looked like a soft touch if it followed you to the eatery.; 25 November 2011 at 13:39

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What's around in the potager

May
Tim's new windrow composting system is in service. The chickens are laying!

The hungry gap
Swedes rotted before they were big enough to use or to put into store. Brussels Sprouts gave enough for christmas dinner for two, and the Spring Cabbage and Beetroot Crapaudine vanished. We were left with
Chard Chard Chard and Chard
Kales - Collard Greens, Red Russian, Cavolo Nero / Black Tuscan
Purple Sprouting Broccoli - did OK
Leeks - anonymous variety, tasty and stood well till the last one was eaten.
Carrots - Autumn King, kept perfectly in the ground despite the wet
Parsnips - Guernsey, turned woody but useful to add flavour.

Over wintered veg are now showing signs that harvest time is not far off.
Onions - Red Baron are bolting (producing a flower spike) as predicted.
Shallot - Longor, for a change
Garlic - Grmidour, because we like it
The garnish of wallflowers and daffodils has provided some cheery colour.
Broad Beans Aquadulce a longue cosse (Longpod) - about 50% germination, have been flowering since mid April and now have the chickens to contend with.

The rustle of spring
At long last we have got the little pH meter out of its box and tested the soil. To our surprise it is slightly acid, which may explain some of the poor brassica crops. Despite the limestone and chalky rocks, we will have to add lime to the areas for next years's kale, already growing in our new seed house.
"Kamikazi" and "Batavia" Lettuce," stonehead" cabbage, red cabbage "Fuego" and cauliflower plants were all purchased in the market, and are growing nicely.

What's around in the verger

November

All is safely gathered in...

Most of that is processed, eaten or both...

The Catillac pears have been eaten, poached in perry (poiré).

Walnuts and filberts have drawn the attention of mice. So far we have trapped eight and Baron has caught one. That's house mice and field mice, but they seem to be taking different routes.

At the Foire aux Arbres at Tournon St Martin, we bought an Apricot tree, variety Polonais. This is heeled in next to the little apple and pear trees. We plan to replace the Tomcot (deceased) with it, and move the rootstock of the Tomcot into the hedge.

Awaiting permanent planting: fig - table grape vines Muscat de Hambourg and Italia - apple Patte de Loup - pear Le Curé

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Cats in clover part 2

2 comments:

Some useful gadgets and links