Down on the Allotment

Matron grows vegetables and fruit in a Hampshire garden. I've been growing veggies since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Some traditional varieties and old favourites as well as new ideas. I share my garden with my allotment assistant Daisy the Labrador. On Twitter as @MatronsVeggies

Thursday, October 07, 2010

The Show Must go On!

Just a few more pictures from the RHS London Autumn Harvest Show this week. Many classes in the competition, such as a basket of fruit! Here is the winner!

Of course it was the Autumn show, so would not be complete without a display of pumpkin and squash. Here at the front is my favourite Cornell's Bush Delicata squash. Also known as the sweet potato squash. Amazing sweet, dry texture. A wonderful Winter keeper.

A plate of Harlequin tomatoes. I grew this variety a couple of years ago, did very well for me. So named as the upturned green calix reminds you of a jester's hat, or collar...or something..I can't remember!

Another class of entry was the trug! You might remember that on June 29th 2008 Matron published a special Trugblog. (I just can't figure out how to put a link into a previous post - what a luddite!) This is an impressive entry and would not have looked out of place among the others!
Just look at these runner beans! - amazing. Who wants to eat straight beans anyway?
Now for a quick snigger to finish the post. This less common fruit is a Medlar, these are probably not ripe yet, they must be 'bletted' first before eating. That is to leave them to ripen, ripen some more, then almost over ripen till they are soft. I've never eaten them, but have located a secret supply 'somewhere in England' so may get to taste soon. The French call these medlars 'un bout de chien' - the sanitised version translated means - dog's bottom! - Oh Yummy!

8 Comments:

At 7:55 PM, Blogger Peggy said...

Hi Matron, the fruit basket is mouth watering! What are medlars, fruit,veg or what?!The French always have a word for it and it describes them to a T.

 
At 8:49 PM, Blogger Cabbage Tree Farm said...

Impressive stuff! Thanks for sharing.

 
At 1:09 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Super looking veggies. I wouldn't mind receiving a basket of these instead of getting a basket of fruits as gifts especially on festive occasions. Great show!

 
At 6:45 AM, Anonymous Damo said...

It looks great, I think the trug class would be a good one for our local show.

 
At 7:46 AM, Blogger Matron said...

Peggy - medlars are technically related to roses, a distant cousin of the rosehip, but I understand they are more akin to apples or pears. ie. fruit.

 
At 8:41 AM, Blogger Jo said...

There's some impressive displays there. I'm sure you had a lovely couple of days.

 
At 10:22 AM, Blogger Kath said...

Don't they all look good?
Dog's bottom. Hmmm!

 
At 1:57 PM, Blogger Dim Sum Gardener said...

Matron, very interesting info about medlars being a distant cousin to the rosehip. Having recently spent hours processing rosehips to make jam, I do see the resemblance!

 

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