We've got a nettle patch on the plot that I've been cultivating (to Tom's dismay) for nettle tea - one of my favourites! But, after reading how high in vitamins nettles are, today I decided to try nettle soup. Its delicious! And a crop that grows itself - what's not to like? Also, I don't …
This is Halloween…
... well not quite yet, but our one surviving pumpkin is ready! It's beautiful and orange, cured for 3 days in the sun and it's ready to go. It's been a long game watching it grow and mature as most of its brothers and sisters have yellowed and dropped off the plant but this one …
Blackberry Jam
I can't wait any more because we physically can't fit anything else into our freezer - it's time to make jam with all the stockpiled blackberries! I picked another 3 tubs today and then got a shock when I started pulling tubs out of the freezer..... and found 16 more of them! No wonder there …
A momentous weekend…
The first bed edges have gone in! A year after deciding we were going to pretty much stick with the existing location of the beds and edge them so that we can build up a good layer enriched with manure, the first edging has gone into place!!! After begging and borrowing pallets and scavenging wood …
More to garlic than meets the eye….
I've been watching the Red Duke garlic grow since we picked it up free in at the walled garden in Helmsley. It's not something I've ever tried to grow before (and I've never grown onions which I think are similar) so it's been interesting to watch. The first weird thing that happened was that after …
Courgette Comparison
This year we've grown three different types of courgette (defender, cocozelle and tondo from left to right in the photo). With varying degrees of success so far - mainly down to our lack of knowledge on the best way to care for them! Having grown a few last year which produced some fruit but all …
Buried Treasure
I'm the first to admit I was really sceptical about growing potatoes. They're one vegetable I've always considered too space consuming and too much effort considering their price in the shops. Tom was keen though so we've given them a try in half a bed this year - I've been dubious though because even though …
Bean Allotmenting 