Last week we managed a special harvest when we picked our apricots fresh from the tree in the garden greenhouse. The fruit was warm from the sun and delicious.
The apricot only had a few flowers on one branch but they all produced a fruit. Last year the tree was loaded so maybe it needed a well earned rest.
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| 19 June |
Berry production has now kicked in so we are spending lots of time on the plot picking ripe berries which seem to actual ripen before our eyes as as we pick them.
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| 20 June |
If the apricots are the gold of our week's harvest, the berries are the jewels. I picked posies of lavender which add their lovely perfume to the gathering.
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| 22 June |
These early brassicas were bought as small plants from DT Brown. They were grown on in 5" (125mm) pots so that they built up a good root system and were strong plants before planting them in the plot. This was to try and mitigate any effects of club root although so far this bed seems to be club root free but we didn't want to take the risk.
The berries look very colourful when gathered together. From the top left we have, red gooseberries, redcurrants, purple Glencoe raspberries, jostaberries, blackcurrants, alpine strawberries and tayberries (that could be loganberries). To break up the shades of red scheme on the left a couple of courgettes have photo bombed the scene.
We have pots of basil and coriander growing in the garden greenhouse. Coriander can very quickly run to seed and so I decided to crop some along with some basil. This was frozen for use later.
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| 23 June |
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| 24 June |
Strawberries are also cropping well, although the berries are rather small and the plants are unlikely to produce for as long this year. I think that the plants are struggling due to the really dry conditions. Once they stop producing fruit I'll water them well and treat them to a feed.
I am often asked what we do with all our fruit. I think the expectation is that we make lots of fruity desserts. The truth may seem boring but we really enjoy eating our fruit fresh and unadulterated with maybe just a dollop of yoghurt. Any excess is stewed into a compote to accompany morning porridge or is frozen for later use. Some frozen fruit also makes it into pies, crumbles or other puddings later. To be honest even if we had the inclination we wouldn't have time to make complicated desserts at this time of year.
To finish off, if you enjoyed my video last week you may like the one below. This time I have concentrated on the cane and vine fruit grown on the plot. The video lasts about 14 minutes.
I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Copyright: Original post from Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/ author S Garrett
Posts
Wow, Sue! Congrats with your great apricot harvest. I liked the cabbages and berries. I especially liked the black currant those I wait for pick them up too.
ReplyDeleteYour video is interesting, you show us what has to be prune off the berry bushes.
The bulk of our blackcurrants are not really ready for picking yet, Nadezda they were a few early ones. I'm glad that you liked the video.
DeleteThere is nothing like an apricot fresh and warm off the tree! I enjoyed fresh apricots from my 2 previous gardens but can't grow them where I'm at now. All those berries - jewels indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe apricots were delicious, Michelle
DeleteNothing beats fresh picked fruit eaten while still warm from the sun.
ReplyDeleteI have found, sadly, this year my raspberries are tasting very watery, no good flavour at all. Probably down to the odd weather, rain at the wrong time, and almost no sun. Hope yours are all tasting as they should.
We had a bowl of raspberries for dinner last night, Deborah and they were delicious.
DeleteWonderful, lovely fruit!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lea
DeleteYour fruits are so lovely! It's been ages since I had a really good apricot, probably since I was little and my uncle had a big tree in his backyard. We eat our fruits much like you do, mostly plain. We got some peaches at the local farmer's market and we have been enjoying them with our blueberries and blackberries.
ReplyDeleteI've never tasted any apricots ias nice when we have bought them from the shop, Dave. Maybe they are ripened of the tree and don't develop the sweetness.
DeleteI love seeing all your berries. It must be a great deal of work, but so worth while. And new potatoes as well, so lovely. I've only tasted apricot preserves and always thought they tasted like sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThe main work involved growing the fruit, for Phuong is picking the berries and then pruning The rest of the time they tend to take care of themselves. Less work than growing vegetables really.
DeleteOh wow! What s beautiful harvest! I'm in awe of your productivity!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa or Robb.
DeleteYour fruit looks amazing all gathered together, Sue and I am slightly envious of those apricots. Our little tree had a fatal collision with a cabbage cage flying in a gale a few years back, and we have never replaced it... second polytunnel needed now as O soooo would like one under cover like that!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year we will have a few more apricots, Kathy but to be honest I was happy with the handful
DeleteOoooh....apricots!!Lucky you, I have two trees but no fruit to date, crossing fingers for next year! What an amazing harvest of soft fruit, and the veg and blooms....a girl has the urge to kneel! I salute you!!!xxx
ReplyDeleteI am hoping the rain hasn't spoiled the rest of the fruit, Dina or that it has over ripened whilst we were unable to get to the plot.
DeleteThat's handful of apricots Sue! A lot of berries too! I learn new things from your video even though I can't plant them here! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Malar.
DeleteHoly Guacamole! Now I need a greenhouse, hahaa. Hope your enjoyed all those delicious berries xx
ReplyDeleteWe are still enjoying our berries, Carrie
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