It's been a long time coming, but finally things have warmed up,
days are longer and everything is starting to grow well. For the first time
ever we are still eating spring cabbage in June, Normally they are all gone by now but
this year they have just reached decent size hearts. At the same time our
summer cabbage are nearly as big having responded well to the rain and warmth
through May and June.
The above picture is of chick peas growing
on the plot last year. This year’s chick peas seeds (from a packet bought from
a supermarket) have done well producing sturdy plants which are now starting to
flower. We look forward to fresh chick peas again (but not the shelling of
them). One of our allotment neighbours tells us that they are very good charred
in hot sand and eaten whole. We'll probably try them on the BBQ.
Two weeks ago we had our first peas. Sweet
and succulent - that’s what growing your own is all about. These are from low
growing plants. The climbing peas are covered in pods and around 7 foot tall
now. Many of them will be frozen for peas to eat in winter as we get sick of
eating them during the glut at this time of year. Tonight some rather sweet finger
carrots which were sown in large plant pots in a greenhouse in January and are
now big enough to eat. We have had some lovely lettuce, spring onions and
radish which seem to taste better and are more tender than stuff grown in
summer.
Our winter cauli's have produced and been
eaten. We have planted more at various stages of growth with those sown in
February and kept cold over winter starting to head up now.
Tomatos and sweetcorn are in. Beans doing
well. Broad beans you can just watch growing. Just autumn and winter brassicas,
squashes and melons yet to plant. We are trying new "hot bed"
technology for our melons this year - more of that in our next blog.
June must be one of the best times of
year. Enjoy the exuberance and fresh colour of new growth and the honest
flavour and goodness of food produced by your own hand.
