Just like The Good Life?

A great month

2010-08-23T15:15:00.003+01:00

In the last month, my fruit and veg bill has plummeted. I've been tucking into the garden most days and it is every bit as satisfying as I hoped. My particular favourite is corn on the cob - grown in a spare bit of border. I couldn't plant enough of it though - most certainly need to consider moving to somewhere with more land, just for this crop alone!

Kale and sprouts that started off so slowly are finally growing wonderfully too. I think they might be my only foray into winter veg this year, but I've got grander plans for next year, now that I have a slight idea what I'm doing. I have got a couple of pumpkins as well, but I fear all the wet weather might turn the baby fruits to mush before they get big enough to hold their own. They're not looking in tip-top condition at the moment. Fingers crossed.

Gherkin help needed

2010-07-22T11:16:00.002+01:00

I planted gherkin seeds about 2 months ago, following the instructions exactly and they will not grow above the 5cm height that they have been at for the last month or more. They are in a lovely sunny pot, in great soil and kept moist.

What can I do to get them growing - my little shallots are done and pickled and currently maturing? It won't be a proper ploughman's lunch in my eyes without gherkins. Please help me if you can!

Jam heaven

2010-07-14T16:26:00.003+01:00

Feeling quite smug today as I now have 5 very large jars of homemade jam to see me through winter.

I say 'quite' smug because I did have a bit of a setting point issue with the strawberry flavour and 'sauce' is probably a more accurate description that 'jam'. Lesson learnt - more pectin needed for strawberries. Also, not all the strawberries were homegrown - a substantial top up was required from the local PYO. I'm sure I should get a few points for trying though.

It's another step on the ladder to tastier food and fewer supermarket purchases. I was particularly chuffed to buy UK sugar too - i'm tempted to look up how to grow my own, but perhaps I should walk before I can run!

What happened while I was away?

2010-06-22T11:56:00.003+01:00

I left the garden with my Mum for one week (while I sauntered off on holiday) and got back to find that my garden has seemingly been taken over by swedes! In one week they have at least doubled in size and overshadowed all the plants on either side of them. Some further thinning is definitely needed - and I need to start looking for friends who like swede. Being the only swede fan in the house, I know I just can't get through that many this year.

It's not just the swede though, I also have strawberries (evidently well-scrumped by my Mum though), blueberries, new potatoes, rocket, mega broad beans and goodness knows what else. Was it the 'watch-pot that never boiled' situation before I went away - or does my mum have super-magic green-finger powers? I know June is getting into peak season, but this turn-around was mega. I now have an abundance of goodies. Yum-yum.

Noone told me about blackfly...

2010-05-28T18:05:00.003+01:00

...but I certainly know about it now.

It's hit my broad beans - not the main ones in my veggie bed, but my succession plants, which are in pots. I saw it early, googled it to identify it and thought wiping it gently off would solve the problem. But it's back and worse. I destroyed the worst plant (upon internet advice) and I'm now experimenting with organic insect treatment. Everything to date has been organic, so I don't want to let the side down now - but have I got any chance? Really?

This has all opened my eyes to pests and I couldn't sleep last night (sad I know) worrying about all the pests I might get, or might not know I have got already. Gardening was supposed to be relaxing, so this really wasn't the plan. I have to let it go and take the hits if they happen - but I can't say it's not a little gutting after all the nurture that destroyed broad bean had!

My first disappointment (but I suspect not my last)

2010-05-16T18:35:00.003+01:00

Tomatoes. They seem simple enough to grow, provided you avoid blight. However despite using a recommended timetable, compost, positioning, and feeding, my nine plants are down to two (the moneymakers survived if you are interested - the marmande and the variety I always forget the name of, failed).

These are one of the few things I bought from plugs rather than planting from seed - and I used a reputable place. What happened? They shrivelled and died as though neglected, despite being watered and loved and being kept away from all frost.

I couldn't take the pain of failure and had to console myself by buying some more at the garden centre today - different varieties of course - about six varieties and two plants of each. It's either going to end in tears again, or in a mega tomato overload. I really hope it's the latter!

My first taste

2010-05-07T10:04:00.003+01:00

Yesterday was the highlight of my time gardening so far, - actually it was one of the highlights of the year. My hubbie and I picked one radish each. We didn't want to take the time to pick several and make a dish (yet). We just got quite excited, picked one and ate it immediately.

I hadn't been expecting them to blow my head off though!! I'd planted the 'Zlata' variety, with the description: Unusual and tasty yellow skinned. Ours were nearer off-white in colour, but Suttons are correct, they are unusual. Fiery, crunchy and with a lingering aftertaste. I can see their potential actually. I'm going to put them in a salad with mint and cucumber and they'll pep up any meaty dish. Not for the faint-hearted, but also thankfully not like those supermarket packets of red skinned, dried out, weak flavoured radishes. These had guts. Next week I think we'll be ready for more goodies, 1st early potatoes, pea shoots and maybe some spring onions too...I can't wait.

Back to work blues

2010-05-04T08:27:00.002+01:00

The garden has come on amazingly this weekend. The wonderful display of fruit and vegetables currently growing has finally inspired us to improve the rest of the garden too.

We inherited an overgrown mess when we moved in and it has taken us a while to clear out, landscape (well we actually had a lot of help with that part!) and generally find out what grows well and what doesn't. I'm ashamed to say we've killed a fair few plants in our time because of not buying the right kind for our greenhouse-of-a-south-facing garden.

So, this Bank Holiday weekend, we bought and planted some more shrubs, mowed the lawn and made a start on planting out bedding plants. My bedding plants from seed aren't quite there yet, but I'm pleased they have grown at all - it's another first!

It was glorious sat outside with a cup of tea yesterday afternoon, admiring the garden looking the best it has been since we moved here. My goodness I didn't want to come to work this morning! When can I go home?

Rain. My new friend.

2010-05-01T08:46:00.003+01:00

There was a time when the sight of the heavens opening would simply cause dismay. Last night the rain came and I found myself thinking "Oh good, the plants could do with some more water!"

And I swear that my second sowing of radish grew substantially overnight. And everything else too for that matter. I do get my watering can out each night, so is this extra growth really so?

I'm not saying that I want my entire bank holiday weekend as a wash out, but I'm certainly more welcoming of rain than I've ever been before. I just hope I can get out and thin some more of my onions at some point!

The seed is sown...and has germinated

2010-04-30T12:05:00.000+01:00

I really do blame The Good Life and River Cottage for this. My job ties me to a desk and all the loveliness and talk of self-fulfillment on these programmes has compounded with my personal discontent with the quality of supermarket produce...and look what happens!

It started with one veg box and a grow bag on my patio and the nice idea of growing a few carrots, potatoes and broad beans. I planted them up, waited for the first shoots to show - and got addicted!

There are now 2 big veg beds, grow bags and pots all over the place, trays all over my window sills and I have even strayed into my flower borders (just a few sweetcorn plugs - for now!). Thank goodness my husband has caught the bug too!

This all began back in early March and has now reached the point where I have seedlings and small plants everywhere. Most of it is a way off being eaten, but I think a few of my radish are just days from being picked. I CAN'T WAIT! If nothing else, this gardening thing should help me develop better patience.