A little luxury we are indulging in just now is the first of the fruits of our labour from the vegetable patch. Every year we try to grow a little more and this year we now have some crops ready for harvesting. The sweetness and freshness of peas handpicked from the garden is difficult to beat. Those peas that aren’t snacked upon by a hungry 9-year-old are harvested just a few minutes before they go in the pot. They need hardly any cooking and they taste fantastic.
This year, like last, our black currants seem to be doing well. We usually enjoy some Eton Mess or a homemade fruit pie or two from those. Raspberries aren’t due till later in the year (we have autumn fruiting ones) and it remains to be seen whether we get any fruits from our quince tree (had that for a few years now and nothing yet) or our apple tree (which went in last year).
Our potatoes are now ready to crop and I won’t buy any boilers or salad potatoes now for a few months. There’s something special about homegrown potatoes: you can taste the flavour and they are grown organically too. We have more potatoes planted in containers, but I staggered the planting so I am hoping that we can increase the season.
A few things have done less well this year and I’m not sure why. Our beetroots don’t look too happy and are certainly less impressive than Monty Don’s plants were on Gardeners’ World the other week. I’ve struggled a bit with beans this year, which is a bit of a surprise because that usually goes well. It might not be too late to try planting some more.
I didn’t do too well with cucumber seedlings, but I have bought some young plants to make up for it. Hopefully we’ll have a crop soon. Tomatoes are doing well and I haven’t planted quite as many as last year, which I hope will be a blessing.
Do you enjoy growing and eating some home-grown veg? How are you getting on with your garden this year?
I think this is amazing and it’s something I really want to try! Im feeling inspired!
I have fond memories of eating every single pea straight from the pod from my grandparent’s garden!! I don’t think I was too popular. What a lovely time of year for you, enjoy the produce from all your hard work! 🙂
Oh that looks lovely! Snails have eaten almost everything we were growing this year – boo 🙁
Ohh nothing like home grown fruit and veg, we love it. I recall the first year the kids were involved and how excited they were. Mich x
I wish we had more space for our veg. We have 4 raised beds in the garden. But we are a couple of weeks behind you
The most I have grown is some strawberries and tomatoes, really should be more adventurous
We need to plan in space for a veg garden next summer x
Ive finally got an Allotment,so can’t wait to growm my own fruit/veg c
I’d love to have an allotment or grow veg. I don’t have a garden at present, but may move soon. Fingers crossed there’s a garden!
I love home-grown vegetables, and I’m envious of your blackcurrants; they’re my favourite, and quite hard to find to buy where I am. I hope this your yield this year is good too.