Lettuce and Beans

Just planted up some lettuce in the SFG - probably snail fodder but we'll see. I think they're cos-type lettuce as they're unlabelled as I picked them up at a local show. Plenty of them but they'll all ripen at once, so I might be passing them round to friends and neighbours.

The SFG is a bit sparse this year. The runner beans are slowly working their way up the poles and the mangetout are having a hard time getting going and were a bit dried out when I got them but haven't totally died back yet.

Given the whole garden a good drenching as it's been dry and everything including the veg is suffering, although the veg pots and beans do get watered every day. I've lost one cucumber, it never really got going having been planted but the other two are growing well, although it will be a while before any flowers appear.

Fresh Blueberries

The blueberries are having a hard time making it from the bush into the kitchen. They're just so yummy at the moment and ripening up nicely in small batches, so I can easily pick a handful every couple of days for breakfast ... as I said, if they make it that far.

Pickings And Plantings

Lots more courgettes picked - all slightly misshapen. Planted up the chilli pepper and a sweet red pepper in pots which fresh compost. Now started feeding the tomatoes as they're starting to set although still pretty small.

Everything seems so much further behind this year. A combination of the weather and planting out later - again because of the weather, it was so cold, wet and windy earlier in the year.

First Courgettes

Picked my first courgettes of the year. The plants are actually looking quite healthy at the moment as it's not been as dry this year and I'm keeping up with the feeding.

Blueberries For Breakfast

Picking blueberries for breakfast straight off the bush. Not as many fruits as last year but the ones that are there are big, fat juicy ones.

Beans Are In

Finally planted up the SFG having cleared out the cat cr*p. They basically ignored the carefully laid trellis and just did their business right on top of it. Already picked the first of the mangetouts before they even got in the ground. They certainly live up to their name of sugar peas - nothing beats picking them straight off the plant.

Have also planted up two rows of runner beans. Let's hope they're more successful than last year and don't get blown about too much - mmm, maybe the wind will blow the snails off! The wind hasn't let up for almost two weeks but at least we've now had some rain as although the veg is looking OK, the rest of the garden is pretty dry. Sprinkled some cat pellets all over the area in an attempt to discourage them. I think barbed wire, search lights and an armed guard patrolling the perimeter is the only solution.

What's In My Veg Box - This Week

A tiny artichoke, an aubergine, potatoes, carrots and a bunch of salad leaves - a mix of rocket, cos, chard, parsley. I've switched to a smaller box, which actually came in a carrier bag (paper) and finally, after a bit of confusion, think they've got the order sorted out, as boxes were turning up when I was away or not expecting one. Still have plenty of onions from previous deliveries but at least those keep.

Depending on how successful my crops are - will probably stop the order over the summer months (if we ever get a summer this year).

Fresh Lunch

Picking spinach leaves for lunch - fresh from the garden. The tomatoes have started to set but it will be a while before I'm picking them for lunch.