what are you harvesting?

[grahamhobbs]

MMM, I got the Petit Gris de Rennes from Thomas Etty, they deal in heirloom varieties. Although I'm not impressed with the quality of their seeds, germination rates tend to be low, perhaps they keep their seed for too long. Googling I see that there are several other places in England that also sell them.

[Millymollymandy]

Well I'll see how mine do from my own seed and if they come good I'll send you some.

However as I've read that Petit Gris is traditionally grafted onto other rootstock, and last year I bought a ready grown plant, I have no idea what to expect!

If I get no better than silly little ones which is what I get from the Charentais then I'll buy ready grown plants from the garden centre next year to get a head start - it's well worth it financially as those kind of melons here cost $$$ but I love them.

[grahamhobbs]

Thanks MMM, that is interesting about grafting the Petit Gris, it seems like a weak plant and a vigourous rootstock could well do it some good. Although can't imagine how you would actually do the graft - I'm only used to grafting more woody material.

[possum]

Oddly enough, despite it being mid winter - parsley, it is evergreen here,

[Millymollymandy]

Thanks MMM, that is interesting about grafting the Petit Gris, it seems like a weak plant and a vigourous rootstock could well do it some good. Although can't imagine how you would actually do the graft - I'm only used to grafting more woody material.

There's a website about it, but in French
http://www.petitgris.com/production.htm

Apparently it's for more vigour and more resistance against Fusarium oxysporum, although my bought plant did have some kind of disease on the outside of the melon but it didn't affect the fruit inside. I don't know why they keep referring to the fruit as small as I had some jolly good size ones the same as the Charentais ones in the shops - and mine are out in the open not in huge glasshouses!

Unfortunately they don't tell you how they graft other than it's done when they are young.

[red]

becoming overwhelmed with courgettes (picking 8 or 9 a day), and tomatoes. gherkins are doing really well do - have pickled loads

beetroot now being pulled and have lots of spinach. garlic was a fail.

the french beans are coming in thick and fast now, as are the cabbages. only picking little smaller heads of calabrese and the caulis are over.
picking from the final succession of peas

[lilyrose]

Yesterday I harvested weeds, weeds, weeds, weeds, weeds and yet more weeds.

[Shirl]

if only we could eat the weeds!!!!!

[possum]

it is the middle of winter so only swiss chard, dill and parseley here.

[Millymollymandy]

if only we could eat the weeds!!!!!

But you can! Half the weeds in my veg patch are edible like chickweed, Fat Hen and um always forget the name - a fleshy leaved one which spreads ........ however my veg are a lot tastier so I just hoe the buggers and compost them!

[grahamhobbs]

MMM, found this showing how melons are grafted, on to pumpkin rootstock.

http://www.agnet.org/library/eb/480/

Worth a try next year I think with the Petiti Gris

[Millymollymandy]

Good grief, that's really all quite amazing all the fiddly little grafting techniques! I've never grafted anything as I think that's way beyond my competence or knowledge. I'll keep a hold of that thread for reference though. Might be fun to try next year and see if we get melons the size of pumpkins lol!

[Green Aura]

a fleshy leaved one which spreads

- purslane perhaps?

I'm feeling really left out of this thread. Usually I'd be in here telling of my triumphs and failures - but I have no veg garden this year at all Even the polytunnel has got away from us this year - the nasturtiums are having a riot though.

Ah, there you go - this year we are mostly eating........nasturtiums (and sprouted seeds from the kitchen windowsill) and a few herbs.

But next year watch this space!

[possum]

well I hope you will be pickling the seeds later on, you cant waste those poor mans capers - delicious!

[Millymollymandy]

a fleshy leaved one which spreads

- purslane perhaps?

Yes that's it!! I need to add to that thread about REALLY old people cos the one thing I can never rememer is plant names, it's always 'that plant with the pink flowers which begins with B I think' to which my husband replies along the lines of 'Cosmos?' 'Oh yes that's the one'. Mind you he's just as bad, tends to call everything an Aquilegia. And after years of forgetting what the Eleagnus was called we have finally sussed how to remember.... she's called Ellie Agnes now.