Nearly Winter, Bits and Bobs.

[alan refail]

Looks like some more snow heading to our western parts today.
Not to worry, we are well stoked up to cope. Haggis and neeps last night and soon a breakfast of haggis and neep cakes made from the leftovers, with a fresh fried egg on top

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Alan, good to read you are trying foods from around the world.

Hard frost here this morning, so no walking across the lawns today.

[Geoff]

But were your neeps Swedes or Turnips - had this debate inconclusively with a Glaswegian friend.

[alan refail]

Hi Geoff

The former of course! The Swedish Turnip or Rutabaga.

The snow stareted right on cue as the haggis and neep cakes hit the pan.An hour later it's still snowing and has put down more than we ever had all last winter (when it only snowed once here and that only a light dusting).

[PLUMPUDDING]

Just a very fine dusting of snow on Wednesday night, but very keen frosts. It was down to -5C in the greenhouse last night and I had to wait until lunchtime for the greenhouse door to defrost so I could get in. It reached a max of 2C.

Surprisingly the Pak choi seedlings, Chinese kale that I put in on Monday and some other salady stuff I sowed a couple of weeks ago are still alright. I should imagine the soil temperature is a bit higher than the air temperature, but the surface of the soil still had frost on it. There are also two Swiss chard plants which had rather crisp leaves when I first looked, but they seem alright now they've thawed out a bit.

Its part of my economy drive not to use any heat in the greenhouse until I start the tomatoes and peppers in the propagator in February, so it will be interesting to see what survives and how much cold they can stand.

[Elle's Garden]

Lovely pictures Clive. and I hope the pickling went well

Our heating is struggling tonight, but we are all ready for a full day out doors tomorrow beating on the shoot - sloe gin in th hip flask to keep warm

[Clive.]

The Shallots have, tonight, been drained and rinsed and drained and jar filled up with pickling vinegar.....I think that is what I did. It might seem basic stuff...but it is advanced for me.

..and a couple more photos from this morning....

Clive.

[glallotments]

Just a fine coating here today

[oldherbaceous]

White here this morning, but it looks quite funny now as the leaves are droppng on top of the snow, i haven't seen that before.

[Elle's Garden]

Dear OH, that does sound unusual - but then my children have seen more snow in their short lives than I did before they were born, and never at this time of year. We may get some in the next day or so or it may miss us again as usual.

[johnsgirl]

My 4 year old granddaughter had been asking her mum when the snow was coming for a few weeks so she was delighted to wake up on Friday to see the snow, she then started looking round the room, her mum asked her what she was looking for 'my presents' she replied. Bless her she thought it was Christmas!

[alan refail]

Down to -7C last night in the polytunnel - shot up to -5C by 8.45!

A bare mile from the sea - much worse inland: Capel Curig -11C, Builth Wells -17C

[oldherbaceous]

Now that is seriously cold, especially taking into account it's only November.

Minus 6C here this morning!

[PLUMPUDDING]

It hasn't been so cold for years here. My hand froze on to the door handle when I went out this morning and the temperature inside the top greenhouse was minus 12C. Last winter's record was minus 10C. I can't even get into the bottom greenhouse as the door is frozen.

Just amended the temperature to -12C I hadn't got my specs on when I looked first thing. At least it got above freezing in the day yesterday, but is still sub zero even with the sun on the garden today.

[glallotments]

It was -7.4 here at its lowest and has risen to the dizzy temperatire of -3