reaping the rewards!

Sorry it’s been a while but things have taken some huge leaps and now we are seeing the fruits and vegetables of our labour and it’s very exciting!

I pulled out the peas as they were finished. Next time I’ll have to tie the up to prevent them from falling over. Instead of putting them into round containers I’ll get a long trought and that will make harvesting a little easier!

The runner beans are TALL!! They have gorgeous red flowers on them. They seem to be doing well and have plenty of support for them.

Runner Beans - Sky High!

Slowly picking off the broad beans, again maybe a long trought will help next year. They are rather delish!

Pulled out a few potatoes aswell! Sauteed them with the boiled peas and all incredibly tasty.

Harvesting Tatties!

The Courgette plant is showing signs off the small flowers yet to form. I planted three more so will reap the benefits of them later on. having thoughts I may have loads of courgettes and not knowing what to do with them all!!

Courgette Plant

I have been fighting with snails as they have been going at the strawberries. So took a trip down to the DIY store and bought self adhesive copper tape. Stuck this all the way round both raised beds and looks like it is working. Thumbs up! i have been getting strawberries, but no bumper crop …. maybe in the next couple of years!!

Cut some salad leaves yesterday for Paolos’ lunch wrap. Hope he enjoys!!

LEAFY SALADS

The oregano has purple – pinkie flowers to my surprise! Hadn’t expected that at all!

Newest additions to the garden are Lavender: munstead and hydcote in pots. They are attracting the bees as well, which is a good feeling!

Not sure if I have mentioned that the chicory has got purple – liliac flowers.

The sweetcorn is coming on amazingly. The height of is phenomenal!! And the fruits are starting to form as there is a husk on one of them!!!!

SWEETCORN - SWEEEEEEET!

It’s been a while …

Hello everyone.

It’s been a busy fortnight in the garden. Paolo and I had a BBQ for our 1st wedding anniversary which went well. The sun finally decided to come out in the later afternoon and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

On the veg patch I have taken out the rocket as the plants were producing long stalks and not many leaves, wasn’t sure what else to do with them. I cut the runners off the strawberries and now the first fruits are beginning to form. I’ll be heading to the garden centre to buy some netting to prevent little thieves taking the fruits of my labour lol!

Also on the veg patch the scarlet emperor runners are producing red flowers, the white lady broad beans are producing the first beans, I picked my peas and will use them in tomorrows dinner. The courgettes in the raised better has established and before long hopefully we will have some flowers and fruit.

The courgettes that I sowed a fortnight ago have all became seedlings and look very strong. Only one aubergine seedling has become established. Don’t know if the other two are going to show. The lettuce leaves are showing good signs. And also the basil seeds too! I am surprised to see the chicory produces purple flowers too.

I was given a established tomato plant at the BBQ, so really need to give that a bit of TLC. Nervous As I want to get a good crop and show Sandro that I managed to keep the thing alive!

Runners Away!

Yesterday I went round the Veg patch tidying it up.  The rocket plants were all stalks and not many leaves to munch on so gave them all the chop.  I then cut the runners off my strawberry plants to let them get more established in their first year.  The runners take a lot of energy from the main plant, which you don’t want if you want a few more harvests.  I’ll get more plants from the runners next year …. totally free!!

On Friday evening after my posting, the seeds mentioned were all sowed and watered so all fingers crossed.  I’m going to bring the aubergines and courgettes seeds inside to germinate.

A little experiment …

After failed attempts have decided to sow some more aubergines and courgettes seeds along with basil!  We’ll see how I get on!!

Have transfered the ‘Scarlet Emperor’ Runners into a tub and hopefully we’ll have a bumper crop.

In addition to the other seeds I will sow carrot and some more lettuce as the first batch was yummy!

Gonna make up a Radish salad for the BBQ tomorrow using the homegrown Radishes!

Vacation – woot woot!

Off for a few days up North, hoping to get a few snapshots ....

Had a raking session on the plot today.  Sadly the aubergine plant has shriveled up and denied existence.  However the celeriac seedlings are battling it out and surviving.  The Caterpillars/ snails have ambushed the red pepper plant  ... may we see any more leaves.  Keep finding snails in the mint pot and keep chucking them out ... this time into the brown bin!  The potato plants are starting to flower .... hip hip hooray!  The Sweetcorn are looking grand, slowly growing.  More pods are appearing on the pea shoots!

It was a bit of a potting session today as I planted rock plants, chocolate cosmos and lily bulbs into all terracotta pots ... brings the Med into the garden I say!

Ok that's all just now but I will try and post on friday!

See Ya!!

PHOTOS FROM A FLOWERING PLOT!

As you can see everything is almost growing to plan.  Unfortunately the aubergine plant hasn’t enjoyed the drop in temperature and is looking at the end of the line (no picture).  The caterpillars have had a feast on the chilli plant.  Some of the herbs I sowed had a bit too much rain.

However the radishes are ready to harvest and it won’t be long until we get a crop of fresh peas.  The potato plants are thriving and just waiting on flowers to appear for a soon to be harvest.  I’m having a dilemma with the brocoli as they are looking a weird.

Will sow some carrots and store them high so the carrot-fly can’t reach them!  Also will try to persevere with the aubergine plant and sow another couple inside.

The hanging baskets are looking blooming fantastic.  Still have to pot up the alpine plants, lily bulbs and cosmos.  The garden is coming along, but it does take time and a lot of patience!

WOOOO HOOOO!!!

Have just been out to the garden to check up on the progress of the crop ….

The rainfall has helped wonders as the radishes, rocket, potatoes, beans and peas have shot up and noticebly the sweetcorn too!

On the pea shoots there are lovely white flowers and low and behold the first pea pod is on it’s way filling up with fresh home grown peas … yummies!!

Radishes look like they need to start being pulled up and used – this weekends salad!

I will upload photos in fridays’ post!

The June Beginnings ….

Earlier this evening I was having a snoop around in the garden and many flowers are forming on the vegetables.

The Rocket has lovely little flowers almost like a Vanilla flower and the great thing is you can add them to your salads and eat them!  Not sure what they taste like but I will let you know …. hoping to a tasty salad at the weekend!

Also the peas and the broad beans “white lady” have flowers which is always a good sign of things to come.  Looking fruitful are the strawberry plants and their little white flowers.

However one on my courgette plants did not the transfer over to the raised beds …. sad face!  I re-planted the aubergine seedling and also the celeriac into tubs beside the raised beds.

Still awaiting on the tatties as they have yet to flower.  But the hanging baskets and lavender pots at the front door are starting to show flower – YEAH!!

Photos are yet to be uploaded but will be coming soon!

A peak at the Broad Beans!

It’s exciting watching everything grow.  The peas, sweet peas and broad beans are coming along in leaps and bounds.  Yesterday I re-tied the sweet peas to give them a bit more support around the canes.  The Peas and broad beans will get the same treatment.  The runner beans are beginning to flower.  As on the packet, if not more attractive in reality!

Broad Beans!

The tatties are coming!

They are shooting up!  But have no clue when to start pulling them up to see what the crop is like!  Anyone offer some advice!!??

Potatoes galore!