success at last

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.