Fruit and Veg Talk

We've been busy in the garden lately so it's looking better, but the battle against the weeds is ongoing and it's not entirely obvious we're winning. It will take constant effort to keep them under control as they are growing apace at the moment.

I tasted my first home-grown broad beans this week. Just about a dozen small, juicy, tender ones, not big and floury like you get in the shops. 2 out of 3 pods were only half full, though, and not because I picked them too early, there were gaps with no beans forming. If anyone knows why that was - not enough water or maybe lack of nutrients in the soil - I'd like to know. I shall try and look it up sometime otherwise. Still, I haven't had any real success with broad beans for the last few years so I am extremely pleased with how well they are doing this year in comparison. They aren't even covered in blackfly even though I haven't pinched all the tips out yet, so perhaps planting garlic round the edges has helped.

The potatoes are doing well above the surface and I'm watering them occasionally so the tubers shouldn't be stunted by the lack of rain. So glad we've got rain forecast for this weekend, although being fussy I want enough rain to soak the garden as well as long dry spells so we can get outside and so I can walk home from work without getting soaked tomorrow - plus it would be a shame if it rains on the Spring Fair after we've had so much good weather. And daughter is doing her practice Silver DoE hike and she doesn't want to get drenched either. As I said I am fussy.

Back to the veg, hubby has now planted peas, runner beans and 4 tomato plants (he's not expecting any frost, so hope he's right, although we could probably cover them with a bit of fleece if necessary). They all look good so far. I'll try and add some photos soon as long as are internet keeps working, but that is another story.

Today I got 6 little gem plants from Farmfresh Express along with the rest of my groceries and they are now planted and covered with bell cloches or plastic bottle cloches - last year that seemed to keep the slugs and cats etc off. I did put some seed in modules but I forgot to water them. I must start a new batch this weekend along with a tub of the cut and come again types of lettuce. I also want to start some French beans in pots as there is space for them behind the broad beans.

I was pleased to find a Winter Savoury (Bohnenkraut) plant at our nursery for the first time ever. Iit is said to go well with beans but I prefer it in lentil soup. I usually get hubby to bring back several pots of the dried herb when he goes to Germany. I still mean to try to grow Summer Savoury myself as this is the more usual version of the herb, but not having done it before this will be a bit of an experiment.

Did I ever mention that I got some blueberry bushes for my birthday? Hubby made them a peat bed and they seem to be doing well and are in flower. Mind you they are meant to grow to 5 ft tall and possibly almost as wide, but hopefully not too quickly.