These days I tend to fall into the bed at the end of the day exhausted. I have been working hard. The spring has not been kind to me, but together we fall in to rhythm that seems to work well for both of us. Spring rains heavily leaving me pretty much locked out of the garden while I wait for the soil to dry out enough to work without damaging the soil structure. This normally takes about a week – but as we get closer to the summer it seems to drain quicker and now, depending on the size of the deluge, it only takes about 4 – 5 days compared to the previous downpours in early spring which could take 7 – 10 days.
Finally after a hit and miss start to the season, there are fresh peas to be had in my garden. They are so sweet and delicious and I have missed them very much!I think it is safe to say this beetroot is ready. But how will I eat it? raw in a salad? Pickled? Roasted or thinly sliced and baked into chips? hmmm too many choices. I like to grow the cylindra variety so it doesn’t get so fat that is won’t fit into a pickle jar!I still have autumn carrots that desperately need eating, and I should probably pop in a new row to ensure I have a constant supply. It’s on the list.I still get a wee skip in my step as I see more and more asparagus spears make their presence known, I seriously thought they were a gonna.
Once the soil is dry enough, I race out enthusiastically and work myself into a frenzy turning over soil to get a nice fluffy tilth from a heavy rain compacted earth. I tend my seedlings out in the hardening off area and repot if necessary so they don’t become root bound in the waiting. I mow the knee high grass and trim the edges. And I rue the fact I have such a large garden and despair that I’ll ever get it weeded and prepared before the start of summer. With one eye on the weather forecast and another on the work ahead, I probably push myself a little too hard.
These are another delightful sight as the weather has treated these perennials cruelly this year. But yet they soldier on and are still as delicious as ever!The strawberries are starting to become the proper shape, unlike the mishapen ones from a still chilly few weeks ago, but it still isn’t quite warm enough yet as, while they taste good, aren’t quite as sweet as those lovely sun baked ones you get in early summer.While I could technically take this rhubarb stalk and make a small crumble, I don’t think I will – this plant has been through enough and needs time to recover. So I’ll just love it horticulturally and not with culinary love this season.This could be storm damage as a result of last nights wind, or it could be the onion is ready as bent over stalks are a sure sign. That onion looks like it might be done…
And then the next lot of rain comes as a bit of a relief and drag my fatigued MSsy body back inside to sit out the next soaking and drying cycle. By the time it is dry again I am restored, relaxed and ready to go again. So I have come to appreciate the rhythm of nature, instead of fighting it, I’m working well with it. And we must be doing something right because I’m starting to get things to eat. Not a great abundance at this point but a harvest nonetheless.
These are almost ready – but not quite. I know this for sure because I tried one! Sometimes it would be good if you could somehow taste test before buying plants. While these look amazing, the flavour is okish… but not in the super delish category.Soon my pretties! I’ve had so many blueberries before. I must have found their sweet spot!It won’t be edible for a while, but it is always great to see peppers in flower.A sign of yummy things to come. The tomatoes are beginning to flower. Hooray.
Come again soon – I am so close to having everything planted out, that I’d like to do a big picture reveal and show you the garden in its entirety.
You pictures are rad. I am not often a sucker for pictures, but yours are cool, and making me miss warmer weather already! Our autumn is just beginning; and I LOVE autumn! That beet looks really good. I find that people grow both beets and chard, but compost the beet greens. I can not seem to get a straight answer on whether or not beet greens are any better or worse than chard. I keep eating them because they are there anyway, sort of like turnip greens. (I don’t particularly like turnips though, and the turnip greens varieties do seem to make better greens.) Your rhubarb is great too. I still grow the same rhubarb that I got from my great grandfather when I was just a little tyke. It does not seem to be as popular here as it is there. Your asparagus also looks rad. I do not grow that, but we do get yucca flower spikes. They are not as good of course, but they grow on their own.
I like the young tender beet greens in a salad – they do taste different from the chard – we call it silverbeet. I think if I had to chose I’d go with beets, but I grow both. : o)
i love your articles you write, thank-you for writing them
Thanks Rose. That is so sweet of you to say. : o)
Your garden produce looks lovely and so abundant, I so do miss my garden come to think of it. Enjoy all that lovely fresh food.
Thanks so much, I’m really looking forward to an abundant harvest this season. : o)
You pictures are rad. I am not often a sucker for pictures, but yours are cool, and making me miss warmer weather already! Our autumn is just beginning; and I LOVE autumn! That beet looks really good. I find that people grow both beets and chard, but compost the beet greens. I can not seem to get a straight answer on whether or not beet greens are any better or worse than chard. I keep eating them because they are there anyway, sort of like turnip greens. (I don’t particularly like turnips though, and the turnip greens varieties do seem to make better greens.) Your rhubarb is great too. I still grow the same rhubarb that I got from my great grandfather when I was just a little tyke. It does not seem to be as popular here as it is there. Your asparagus also looks rad. I do not grow that, but we do get yucca flower spikes. They are not as good of course, but they grow on their own.
I like the young tender beet greens in a salad – they do taste different from the chard – we call it silverbeet. I think if I had to chose I’d go with beets, but I grow both. : o)
I only grew chard because it is a vegetable that happens to look pretty too. It is not my favorite vegetable.
What a beautiful, poetic blog. Loved it.
Thank you Angela. That really means a lot. : o)
Oh how I envy you your asparagus. Wish that we had the room. Maybe one day 😀 x
I love the pic of the peas.
They were delish! : o)
Tasty things growing in your garden🙂 making beet chips from your beets sounds divine.
I think that is what I’ll do with my latest beetroot harvest – I had a lovely dish at a restaurant recently with chorizo and beetroot chips. : o)
Oh my goodness everyone must love that:)