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JG
17-06-2008, 03:17 PM
Having spent the Spring struggling to get peas, beans and parsnips to germinate, and also nurturing sweetcorn, red cabbage, beetroot, spaghetti squash, leeks and spinach, anticipating eating it all in Autumn, I might have the opportunity to go overseas from Sept for up to 3 months.
Although I've grown these things before, I can't remember how long I dare leave them before harvesting. I've only just finished last year's leeks, so I know they'll be OK, and I think that parships, spinach and red cabbage will stand all winter, or at least until I get back in December, but could someone remind me when I would be harvesting spag squash, sweetcorn, carrots, and my plums and greengages.
Also, I know I'm asking a lot, but could I pick my Bramley apples, normally harvested in October, as early as the beginning of September? OH says that supermarket apples are picked way before time and stored, but won't cooking apples still be too hard in September?
It's a great opportunity, but I really resent this interrupting my new gardening freedom, having given up work teo years ago and growing more stuff each year. And I'll miss all the Autumn colour I've tried to build into my garden, being one of those people who dread the shortening days (the overseas experience is in the Falklands, so the lenghtening days over there will be a bonus.

lily
18-06-2008, 11:02 PM
I think supermarkets keep stored under-ripe fruit in a chilled environment, so not too sure this would work on a domestic scale. Could a kind neighbour or friend help with the fruit- possibly pick some for you and have some themselves?
With luck sweetcorn could be harvested before you go.