Plenty onions!

We decided to check up on the allotment yesterday, see how our onions were coming along.  This year is the first year we have had an allotment.  Digging it over when we first acquired it, when there was frost on the ground was such hard work but very rewarding.  The plot hadn't been looked after for many years, so there was a lot of moss and stones and general rubbish to clear away.  A little later on in the spring we got up there and sowed our first seeds, bulbs and tubers, which was so exciting!

We are very lucky in that the location of our allotment is in a very scenic spot in Bedfordshire, overlooking some glorious sights.  It is also quite close to a church and is very peaceful, so you can dig or hoe for a bit, and then rest on your fork handle and listen to the wonderful sounds of nature going on around you.  No cars to be heard!  Just bird song and church bells.  Bliss.

In the vicinity, All Saint's Church, referred to as the 'Cathedral of the Chilterns'.

I do enjoy exploring surrounding plots and taking photos of stuff that folk have left laying around.

And also have a nosey at what other crops are being grown.  I did plan on growing rhubarb this year but never quite got round to it.  Rhubarb certainly seems to take well in the soil that we have, so next year it is something I will definitely grow - I love the stuff!

Here's another scenic snapshot.

Unfortunately the growing season coincided with our recent house move, so we haven't been as attentive over it as we would have liked to have been.  Plus the unpredictable weather this year has meant that most allotment owners haven't had much success with crops, us included.  But we have had a worthwhile crop of beetroot, carrots, potatoes & peas to keep us going.  Our runner beans are still thriving yet to be picked, and now we have harvested all of our white & red onions and our shallots.  Here they are drying out in the sun in the garden.  There are some beetroot, carrots & spuds in amongst that lot top right.  We steamed and ate the carrots and spuds last night - yum!!

Once they are nicely dried out I am going to pickle the smaller onions in a large Kilner jar in spiced vinegar.  They all feel a little bit soft to the squeeze, so I predict I should be able to pickle the small ones at the weekend, so long as the sun stays in the sky.  I have never pickled onions before so am quite excited!  The larger onions will be kept in a sack of some sort, or I have been told that a pair of tights works well, suspended from the rafters of our shed to keep the air circulating.  And I think I might pickle some of the shallots in a mustard sauce.

Sadly our spring onions didn't come to anything, but I am quite happy with our abundance of alliums.

Can I just mention that we wouldn't have been able to do so well with our harvesting if it hadn't have been for the help we were given by my partner's granddad.  He has an allotment not far from ours, has done for many decades, and tends to his land daily.  He is an expert in the field of growing veg, and has helped us out enormously while we have been busy relocating.  Thanks John, it has been very much appreciated. xx

We can't wait to clear the ground in preparation for another growing season next spring when we will have more time to get stuck in!  And we can't wait to enjoy our onions!