It's a real joy to be able to step out your door and pick something for tea. I remember a friend telling me last year that she had eaten a whole meal comprising only of produce from her garden; eggs, potatoes, chives, lettuce, cucumber, beans, tomatoes. (She asked to be forgiven for the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, butter and sauvignon blanc!) I was jealous at the time but this year its our turn. It is so yummy, stuff the budget; we're eating for free!!
Actually it probably cost me £40 to set up with seeds, a few bags of compost and a splurge on two new trowels which the children have commandeered and lost in the garden! But it's money well spent as we'll be eating fruit and veg till the late Autumn, I really shouldn't have to buy anything except citrus fruits and bananas.
Here's some of our sucesses so far.
Oh yes, I can relate. I think this is the 5th year for our garden. All the hard work really pays off.
ReplyDeleteThis year when I was digging out pathways for the first time, the thought of picking sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, all the zucchini for stir-frys and, of course, zucchini breads, kept me highly motivated to keep going with it.
My flaming cats have eaten my two cucumber plants. Don't ask me why! I keep hoping they'll bite into the chilis that are next to it. That might give them something to think about! We got our first carrots yesterday - they are only babies as really they are the ones we are thinning out but we never managed to grow even one in France. We've also thinned out the beetroots so we had some in a salad yesterday. Yummy. Well done on the bounty in your garden!
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ReplyDeleteSorry LATE night last night, v poor spelling in previous comment!! Try again:....
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Brenda: Cor! Zucchini bread sounds lush! Don't forget to blog how to make that one please.
Previously (Very) Lost in France:
Naughty cats! My cats take after my husband who wouldn't eat a vegetable if you paid him...potatoes don't count apparently!
Today I too am thinning the beets and carrots.... probably while the football's on!
Wow! We have virgin beds we are slowly turning into raised beds but we're a ways off from planting anything. The aim is to have them ready by autumn so they can overwinter. This post has inspired me!
ReplyDeleteMichelloui: That's exactly what I did last year. Luckily a farmer dropped me off 2 ton of rotten cow poo. Interesting, smell especially on a warm wet day, but now the soil is really fertile.
ReplyDeleteYou could still get some courgette plants in, bought from a garden centre, and reap the benefit this summer and plants like pumpkins would supress the weeds in your beds....
I love watching the growth each day.
wow...looks like you're doing a fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteReally impressed with your cucumbers, I think in 6 years of trying I've only ever managed to get about 8 cucumbers - the outside ones were always terribly bitter, even when peeled, and the greenhouse ones just never thrived long enough to produce much.
Feeling envious as we usually grow pretty much all our veg, but this year I've had to let the allotment and garden loose, just too much else to focus on :(
Still, your blog has inspired me for next year! Maybe this autumn I'll get to work on it again.
This looks wonderful! I love my garden and its time I share its features with fellow bloggers as well. For me its a "spiritual place" being close to the earth does wonders for ones mind and consciousness. You must be so happy congrats!
ReplyDeleteZucchinis are really hard to grow around here as the delicious yellow flowers attract a host of 4-legged eaters!
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks divine and yummy - wow! I'm so impressed :-D
Looks heavenly and delicious. I'm green with envy!
ReplyDeleteOK I'm coming over for dinner - NOW ! Yum ! I bought the most magical chilli plant the other day and have been eyeing up the frisky blighters - I'll take a photo for my next blog post. Loving the music xxx
ReplyDeleteBig Mamma Frog: It is inspirational isn't it. Next year I can look at my own blog to check out progress... cool! We ate the cucumber in the picture even though it was only 5" long. De-li-cious!
ReplyDeletenatural selection: OO yes, share share, I'm intrigued to see your place ... nosey parker me!
Technodoll: OMG am imagining prehistoric creatures creeping out of the depths to consume your courgettes, oo-err missus!
'Cross the Pond: Green with envy, geddit? You ol' kidder you....
Belgarvia wife: Yer LATE, your dinner's in the cat! We had pasta with pea shoots, chicken stock (not mine, the girls are still intact) and courgettes....Oh and huge strawberries. Yum-eee.