This week's glimpse of summer really kicked things off! We were away for a couple of days at the end of the week and so, when we visited the plot on Saturday, the transformation was amazing. The blossom had literally burst onto the scene as my new header shows. One bee looked overwhelmed and couldn't decide where to go first. More photos will follow on Wednesday.
The lovely warm weather means that the bed allocated for potato planting was dry enough to till and we managed to plant five rows of our main potatoes.
We planted a row each of Cara, Nadine, Rooster, Kestrel and Osprey. We have seed potatoes left of each variety and a bag of Vivaldi still to plant once another bed is ready for them. Meanwhile the potatoes planted in the bags in the garden greenhouse are growing well.
The brassicas and broad beans are also growing well and the leeks are now doing their best to catch up.
On the plot the onions and shallots are shooting. We didn't plant any in modules this year as last year we found no difference in yield between the sets started early in the greenhouse and those planted straight into the ground.
The row of chives are also growing well.
In the garden greenhouse the apricot seems to have set lots of fruit but no doubt many fruitlets will be discarded.
The peach and nectarine are not showing any signs of having set fruit yet.
As well as planting we have continued to tidy some beds which meant removing any remaining crops. We still had some leeks left and so I dug all these.
They were basically growing in mud and so I laid them out for the clumps caked around the roots to dry off a little. They were then trimmed ready to be taken home.
I also found a couple of parsnips that had been missed when their bed was cleared.
The leeks and parsnip were frozen for use later.
Of course at this time of year we couldn't have a week when we didn't harvest some of our early rhubarb now could we?
I even found a few spring onions in one of the beds that I tidied.
I nearly forgot I also cut some coriander growing in a pot in the greenhouse to sprinkle on our vegetable biryani. I'll probably cut more and freeze it as it doesn't take long before it runs to seed.
I nearly forgot I also cut some coriander growing in a pot in the greenhouse to sprinkle on our vegetable biryani. I'll probably cut more and freeze it as it doesn't take long before it runs to seed.
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
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Well, you have "made hay while the sun shines", figuratively speaking, by getting all those spuds planted. The ground will have been nice and warm for them, but with the weather forecast looking as it does, they'll not be wanting to poke their heads up for a while!
ReplyDeleteWE made hay without any sun today, Mark and planted out the first lot of broad beans. Of course it turned windy just in time to give them a battering.
DeleteYou and your giant parsnips, I love it. It looks like you've gotten a great start to spring planting. I'm going to try growing a few potatoes in bags this year, I just wish it would stop raining so we can get started with tilling.
ReplyDeleteWe had a break in the rain but it's not likely to stay dry, Phuong so it's a case of making the most of things when we can.
DeleteOur bees are more like underwhelmed since not much is blooming here. It's interesting you plant your shallots in spring. I set mine out in fall and I may have to try a few in spring to compare yields.
ReplyDeleteWe usually plant some onion sets in September, Dave to harvest a bit earlier and then another lot in spring for storing over winter. Last year for one reason or another we never managed to get any September planting done but we still have some onion to use up, No doubt they will start to shoot soon.
DeleteIt is amazing what a few days of sun and warmth can do for the garden. I wish I could grow chives that look like that, they just don't seem to thrive here.
ReplyDeleteI’m thinking of harvesting a lot and freezing, Michelle as flower buds are starting to form. I don’t want to cut off the flowers as the bees love them
DeleteGreat start, and now you are underway again!
ReplyDeleteI found a potato at a local shop that I particularly enjoy, so am thinking about seeing if I can grow them, keeping the flavour and texture. No idea what it is though.
Can the shopkeeper tell you the variety, Deborah. The problem is that location, climate and soil can affect the flavour etc which is why it is so difficult to recommend varieties, we tried International Kidney aka Jersey Royal on our plot and it was very disappointing so I wish you luck,
DeleteA little sun is miraculous for sure, just look at that blossom, no wonder the bee was confused! How wonderful to have the potatoes in, I can't even weed my veggie patch as the peahen sits there, my poor potatoes are still chitting in the greenhouse, I may have to plant them in pots.Good to see your apricot setting fruitlets, no such luck here! Fancy getting a harvest at this time of the year!!! Not at all jealous...xxx
ReplyDeleteThe blossom smells of ripe pollen too, Dina which I guess is the so called pollen bomb. Our greengage hasn’t had as mush blossom for ages but will it turn to fruit? The apricots are swelling nicely though. That peahen is causing lots of grief!
DeleteWhat a glorious day in the garden with so much accomplished! The weather has finally turned here and I am starting to make some headway in the tasks that need to be done - hopefully I'll be planting my potatoes by the end of the week.
ReplyDeleteOur weather has turned again, Margaret. Nothing like as sunny and warm,
DeleteLovely update Sue thank you for sharing glad you were able to get some things done i de weeded my asparagus planter yesterday and planted some bulbs blessing to both you and Martyn
ReplyDeleteAsparagus is one thing that we have never tried growing, Linda,
DeleteOh last week's heat and sun gave everything the kickstart that was desperately needed. Mmmmmm - rhubarb crumble time already Sue :)
ReplyDeleteRhubarb crumble and lots more time, Anna
DeleteThat brief warm period did at least mean you could catch up a bit. Nice looking leeks you pulled out. They seem to be one vegetable that has flourished in the cold and wet
ReplyDeleteIt did indeed mean we caught up a little, Kathy but now it has started to rain again.
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