Better Days

I slept well last night, for the first time in weeks, so feeling wonderfully calm I headed up to the allotment this morning. Too much sorting out bureaucratic paperwork has kept me away for a few days and I was in dire need of some earth contact. On arrival the first sight that jumped out at me was this – luscious red poppies on John’s plot. See how high the shed is behind them? Hence my concern about the shed-roof working party last weekend. It’s a long way to fall!

Up on the bank there are beautiful Sweet William in flower, nestling comfortably with the purple knapweed (which I MUST keep an eye on and not allow to spread too much) and one of my Hollyhocks, started from seed by allotment friend Rosie. I have four of these enormous plants lining the sundeck like sentries and I cannot wait for them to flower and see what colours they produce.

You’ve probably gathered by my constant praise, that I absolutely adore the Californian poppies, and today they looked especially velvet-lush, complete with delighted hoverfly.

I took a bit of time for myself and spent about an hour doing slow hand-weeding, a job I always enjoy. Then I started collecting bits and bobs to eat this week.

Broad Beans – ready at last. YAY!

I always remember my dad telling me about beans “the more you pick, the more you get”. This is also the case with nasturtium flowers. This plant is once again covered in flowers despite being picked clean by my friend Ms Marmitelover for her Underground Restaurant last weekend. I also provided her with the sorrel for the soup, which I tasted earlier on this week when I delivered some of my tomato and pepper plants to her. Her soup, made with organic and biodynamic sorrel was, of course, absolutely delicious.

Radishes, too many of which had been sacrificed to the slugs.

No matter though, here are two new rows coming along. From seed to plate takes just a few weeks so I sow a little row here and there whenever I have some space.

The crop I have always grown, from as far back as I can remember, and always had a huge success with are climbing beans, but this year I have had no joy at all. Despite 3 or 4 separate sowings, the precious Cherokee Trail of Tears and the Borlotti beans have been consistently decimated. I know when I’m beat so will instead use the space to plant some more tomatoes, and save the last few CToT seeds until next year when I’ll pray for better luck.

But the rest of the beans and peas look very goodAnd I spotted the first pea pod!

The blackbirds have been eating my strawberries. I know because I’ve caught them several times!I don’t mind sharing some with them, but they’re getting rather greedy. In an attempt to eat some of my own strawberries I’ve taken to picking them even if slightly under-ripe. I’d rather trim off the tiny unripe green bit and eat the rest than lose the lot! They are sweet and delicious.

I was about to leave when Ruth caught my attention and presented me with this fabulous lettuce, some of which I ate for lunch with some radishes and broad beans.....

These are better days and there is plenty more crop to come – aaahhhhhhh, I love growing veg. It makes me so happy.


Love your veggies
Love Life
XXX