After a belter of a storm my seedlings are pushing through. Carrots (to fine to see here), swede and turnip through but no sign of those elusive parsnips. I've transplanted my 'April' cabbage seedlings. For once I've been ruthless and only transplanted planted the biggest and strongest so hopefully the outcome will be 12 decent plants.
I must thank 'North By North' for suggesting Gold Nugget squash. These are doing really well. Just got to hope they taste as good as they look. They grow a bit like a courgette and don't trail everywhere. This will definitely be on my seed list for next year!
Just been out and got this little lot while taking piccies. The chili peppers are Doux des Landes - a mild green chili nice grilled. Had to pick this basil as it's about to flower and the rhubarb went crazy after the thorough dowsing it got from the scary storm.
The herb patch has gone mad. The mint is covered with bees as is the marjoram and the lavender. My tiny sage cuttings from last year have now formed a hedge at the back and the borage is taking over. Think this will need a severe going over come late autumn.
Finally, the calabrese is starting to form little green heads. I'm snipping these off as soon as they are usable and popping them into a freezer bag. If I wait until I've got enough for a meal before picking half will have gone to seed so this is a little experiment to see if I can maximize the crop. I've found once the first head is chopped they soon sprout more heads and then you can pick fresh for eating. Happy gardening everyone.
We can commiserate about our failed tomato crop together. What a horrid thing that blight is. I will try the aspirin spray next year and also put an aspirin in each hole when I plant out the tomatoes. And then I'll need to rig up an all-round windbreak... Your tomato positioning sounds ideal. I hope they'll appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteLike the sound of the Golden Nugget - another thing to try next year.
Why don't you dry your bumper crop of herbs for the winter? I've just done a bunch of lavender, oregano and mint. I simply put them in a pillow case, either on the washing line or if rain threaten on a line in the conservatory, and leave for about three days and presto.
Great to see and read all this successful activity on your plot. It seems ages waiting for things to happen, but when it happens it all comes at once. Alas it is only for such time
ReplyDeleteThink I might give lavender a go as hubby wants to use it in bread and biscuits? I have the better deal he does the kitchen and I do the garden.
ReplyDeleteThanks - it's all crazy for a while then this sort of lull descends This year I'm determined to work in the garden overwinter I am such a fair weather gardener.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good deal you have there! I'd definitely request some lavender shortbread in that case. Apparently it makes a good syrup, too: http://www.gardenbetty.com/2013/06/lovely-lavender-syrup-for-your-lavender-lemonade/
ReplyDeleteHere's some hope on the tomato front: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/research/news/let-s-produce-really-tasty-outdoor-grown-tomatoes-in-wales-and-the-uk-15784
In the meantime I'll give Ferline a try, that's supposed to be the most blight-resistant tomato variety on the market just now. And Sarpo Mira potatoes.
Thanks for the links - hope for outdoor tomatoes yet! When you think about it from the Irish Potato Famine to a fully blight resistant potatoes will probably end up taking about 200 years!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the blight, same thing happened to us last year and it's miserable. Still, everything else looks great and your herb garden is beautiful. We grew several squash varieties recommended by 'North by North' this summer as an early crop to harvest and bring back to the UK when we moved - Bonbon, Crown Prince, Stripetti - all truly yummy and our staple veg in the absence of anything else at the moment. Enjoy the Golden Nugget!
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