Sunny and 12 degrees....

What a change in the weather, today was glorious so after I'd been out to buy my seed potatoes and onion sets I got stuck into the new onion bed. Some stones and lots of roots removed and so far two bin loads of wood ash dug in. Tomorrow promises to be lovely as well so I'm aiming to get the onion bed completely dug over and to add some very well rotted manure. I'm hoping this will work OK as the soil really needs some additional hummus given it's a bit like - well- sand!  I know you are not supposed to plant onions into newly manure ground but I'm going to wait a couple of weeks AND keep my fingers crossed. My neighbours plant their onions in newly manured ground with good results so I'm going to give it a go.


While I was out digging hubbie popped all the seed potatoes into the trays so they can get on with their chitting thing. He even put little labels on the front so I know what's in the trays. I've stuck with Dolwens which have always performed well for me both in the growing and the storing.  I've also bought some Charlottes to try and am considering nipping back to the shop to buy some of a variety called Yona a multipurpose potato that is resistant to blight. The onions will have to sit there patiently for a couple of weeks. What a great feeling to be out in the sun getting something done in the garden.

Well, it's not raining anymore...

No rain but the snow has arrived and the temperature has tumbled. We've got at least another week of very cold weather then hopefully it's on the up. So frustrating not being able to work in the garden so I'm working on my family history instead. Soon I should be able to get out though and start digging! I've got masses of well rotted manure to dig in plus a few bin loads of ash to go on the garlic and onion bed. The snowdrops are pushing up but not with much enthusiasm maybe a few day of bright days will help.



I did venture up to the hut at the top of the garden and look out my seed trays. They're now all washed and in place waiting for me to sow some seeds. As soon as it's warm enough to open the shutters I'll get sowing, maybe next week. This week the seed potatoes and onion sets arrive in the shops so a wee bit of shopping will be on the cards. Hope it's gardening weather where you are!

Guess what!

It's still raining. Just thankful it has not come down as snow else I'd be buried under the white stuff. The poor hens look like drowned rats - but are liking the extra rations of sunflower kernels I'm giving them out of pity! Did venture out at lunchtime to see if there were any pickings to be had and once trimmed was left with this little lot - a wee cabbage, kale, perpetual spinach, tiny swedes and tiny turnips. Those were combined with some of our carrots and store bought leeks to produce 14 portions of veggie soup - 12 of which are now in the freezer. That really is it for the veggie patch until the new season. In the basement I've still got golden nugget and butternut squashes left and tray of (almost) past their sell by date potatoes.

Can someone turn the water off!

It has been raining here non stop for days.  We had one sunny day where I tried to do a bit of weeding but the ground is so sodden every single weed I pulled had about five pounds of soil attached to its roots.  The garden is looking so sad, the grass got away from us in the autumn so now it's looking downright awful and Mr Mole is having a field day. The picture below is to remind me to get on top of the grass before winter!



 

Really looking forward to some warm dry weather so I can get some outside work done.  The good news it I've managed to get all the indoor stuff on my list done! Hope the weather is better where you are...roll on springtime.

Greens for Christmas...

Well, not really as we're out at friends for Christmas dinner tonight and it's going to be lamb.  However, it's sunny here today and not too cold so I've been out to pick coriander, sorrel and rocket to make a pesto for a pasta lunch.



I was in a newly opened shop the other day where they are selling local produce and  whole foods, what they call a bio shop here in France.  They had the tiniest jar of nettle pesto selling for only 5.99 euros....that got me thinking about all the types of pesto you could make from the garden for a lot less that 5.99!

So, today's pesto is some old rocket (it's been flowering for about three weeks), coriander (just cut at the base - I'm hoping for another sprouting) and about 12 sorrel leaves. The whizz up includes the greens above and the ingredients you see below - bit of garlic, oil and sunflower seeds - 1/10th the price of pinenuts.  




Oops, forgot to mention the cheese - we use this generic hard cheese which works fine.  I've just tasted it and it's scrummy - this could turn into a whole range of pestos!

Pickings for the pot...

Think this might the last crop before Christmas except of course for the lettuce which I'm still picking daily.  Grabbed this little lot before whatever has been eating the carrots and swedes makes further inroads. Some nice turnips and small swedes, carrots, rocket, chervil, sprouting broccoli and a drum head cabbage. The drum head is a bit nibbled on the outer leaves but the rest looks fine. All of this is  headed for a giant pot of veggie soup.



The weather here is miserable we've had dark grey skies and a  constant drizzle for about a week. Needless to say the ground is totally sodden. But, three days of sunny dry weather forecast for next week so maybe a spot of weeding and muck spreading - can hardly wait!

Flowers in December...

Well, no way is this Fizz kale plant going to get eaten with what looks like a giant flower about to emerge. I have no idea why this one is so large while the others are all so much smaller but it sure looks like it's about to put on a show.

Picked the last of the pot marigold flowers yesterday and poured boiling water over the petals to make a tea to help sooth sore eyes. Noticed the borage still has some flowers showing must try eating those - friends say they taste like oysters!



Finally, I can't even begin to think about the work that needs to be done on this veggie plot.  Spent so much time in the garden over the rest of the year that the house has been neglected - so the garden needs to be neglected to catch up indoors!  I went to pick some carrots this morning but something had beaten me too it.  Lovely carrot leaves but only a top ring of carrot left.  Well, you've  got to share with nature.  If  they're going to feed the short tailed voles that will keep my long-eared owl roost happy!