I love this time of year; everything is happening and alive. Things are changing colour or from flower to fruit and there’s nothing like watching that happen to something you’ve spent time nurturing. I have a few fruit trees which are easy because other than a quick drink in a particularly dry spell I just leave them to their own devices. It’s only the birds and bugs I now have to find a way to deter from my booty.

The above left picture shows my Heinz tomato seeds after about two weeks inside on a sunny windowsill. The right picture (I’m not sure if they’re that visible) are the happy seven plants that went in last week. They’re in a south facing veg patch which has a brick wall behind to reflect some of the heat; I’ve found this is the best patch for tomatoes. There’s a few more plants coming along indoors which were on a less sunny window sill so I’ll hopefully be planting them out soon. read more

Growing my own fruit and veg is something I immensely enjoy. I have to admit I have rather a ‘chuck it in and let it get on with itself’ attitude but it’s served me very well in the past. I don’t let myself get bogged down in specific seed insertion depths, lopping off this and tying up that. I figure that if something wants to grow then it will and I only help it along with a bit of watering, weeding and the occasional addition of manure.

When Heinz got in touch and asked if I would be interested in receiving a kit to get me growing my own tomatoes I couldn’t refuse! Spring blossom on my fruit trees, the first unfurl of my rhubarb and the wonderful smell of tomato leaves are my favourite things in the garden. As well as the sound of birds, the seed caught on the edge of the first courgette leaf and the unavoidable acquisition of a suntan. Basically, I wholeheartedly encourage you to get growing!

I’ve planted twelve seeds inside on a nice sunny windowsill and will be planting a few outside under cloches later this week. I’ve never grown tomatoes from seed before so I am looking forward to seeing the results. The warm, sunny weather we have had recently will have set them off to a good start so I can’t wait until they’re ready to pick.
Thank you to Heinz for the goodies and seeds. Disclaimer: there is an incentive to post about the Heniz GYO project as I will receive a hamper if I post three times this year. read more

Oh how the garden doth not grow. If you partake in any form of gardening and live in the UK you’ll know how I feel. I took these pictures about a week ago so they’re slightly old now but it’s not much improved from then due to the persistent, relentless, miserable rain. Normally rain doesn’t bother me because it means my vegetables are happy but June and July have been the worst I’ve ever gardened in. Still, it’s not all bad…

My apple tree had a pretty feeble blossom this year and I wasn’t sure it was going to fruit but there are quite a few of these little apples adorning the tree so I’m hopeful for a few apple pies. My herbs are doing well but the sage is trying to take over the whole herb patch so I think I’ll need to be a little more ferocious with the cutters than I have been. The rosemary seems to have grown almost a foot so it must be a thirsty plant. I’m not sure you can see it too well but I think that little dark fluffy thing is a potential quince. Let’s hope so anyway, even if I had just one I’d be very, very happy. My golden gages are doing exceptionally well, I planted the tree last Autumn. I thought the frosts and early blossom would have left me gagging for gages but I have a pretty healthy amount considering the size of the tree. I didn’t realise they were russeted but I think that makes them even more charming. With the lack of warm weather I’m not sure when they’ll be ripe for picking. My rhubarb seems to be happily sucking up all the rain and has grown massively considering it’s in the shadier part of the garden. It’s overshadowing my other rhubarb plant though so come Autumn I’ll have to move it. My broad beans are happily growing although there are a few with unwanted blackfly. I love growing broad beans just for the flowers let alone the magnificent and plentiful pods that come afterwards. My tomatoes seem pretty miserable. Normally very thirsty when the weather’s hot they seem depressed at the lack of sunlight. Here’s hoping they’ll perk up and deliver some delicious fruit. My courgette patch is the largest it has ever been with 12 plants gone in and growing well. They do seem almost as upset as the tomatoes so I’m not hopeful of getting any fruit. It’s a shame because these were all heritage varieties; baby blue, flying saucer shapes and knobbly yellow ones. Fingers crossed. I ate the above peas straight off the plant and out of the pod. People say that the peas you grow yourself will be the sweetest. I’ve always thought it’s probably true but would you really notice? It turns out that yes, it is so noticeable it almost smacks you in the face. Not only are they like little drops of nectar but they are so fresh it’s hard to explain. Until you’ve had a pea as fresh as that, you haven’t had a pea. My peas are what I’m most proud of; the reason being that this is the first time I have ever grown them and they are doing magnificently. Well, as far as I’m concerned one pod is a triumph but I’m inundated with them and am waiting for the peas to form.

If you’re thinking about growing your own I have a few tips for you: read more

Vegetable seeds started to go in to the soil and under the cloches back in March and now, in May, all sorts of things are happening. Since the first year I started gardening I grow what I know and always something new. This year I’m growing: beans (broad and purple), peas, courgettes (patty-pan, cousa courgette and bent Summer squash), tomatoes and maybe something else I’m yet to decide on. Peas are the newcomers in the patch this year.

Beans have always worked for me, especially broad beans. Purple beans were a bit hit and miss last year but I’m trying again this year. I plant the beans under cloches a row every two or three weeks from March until now. 

This year is the first year I am growing peas; they seem to be doing well so far. Although tying string around every pea or bean stem is monotonous, I actually quite enjoy it. The peas and beans are successfully avoiding slug and cat attack so far. 

I thought my rhubarb was gone forever; nothing seemed to be happening in the corner where I’d planted it. Finally and with much enthusiasm it has come up and looks fantastic. I think I’ll wait a little longer before I pick any. read more

Growing your own has become rather fashionable of recent years. It is now so easy to find interesting varieties, help and advice from all sorts of places. If you’ve considered growing your own but haven’t tried it yet I warn you now, it’s addictive. There’s not a market stand I can go by without having a nose around and come back with something new to try and grow.  This post doesn’t have much to say, the pictures speak for themselves. 

Courgettes. I’m growing a yellow crookneck variety, an orange patty pan variety and a baby blue round variety.

Beetroot. I cheated and bought plug plants as I was too late to grow from seed. 

Carrots. This is the first year I’ve grown carrots and parsnips. I’ve got all sorts of colours of carrot to come up, hopefully anyway.

Apples. The tree has been in the garden for years but this is the first year we’ve had proper fruit.

Tomatoes. I’ve got 7 different varieties this year; yellow, red, plum and beef. I always buy the plants when they’re young as I’ve not had much success growing from seed. Nothing like a fresh tomato. read more