Sunday, July 31, 2011

Very Long Time Away--Garden Produce

I keep starting post and then I get distracted!!!

In fact this one was started several weeks ago (originally saved on July 19th) after I was inspired by the amount of produce we are managing to get from the various planters we are using in our non-existent garden.
Our back garden really is a yard as some of you may remember from those long ago Fun Monday posts when we put our homes and gardens on show.

We had another good crop of Loganberries from just one vine and I made around fifteen pots of jam. Now this might not seem like many to most of you; but much as I love it I don't want to eat too much jam, so Beccy took a few pots back to Dublin and I am saving some for Sam when I visit San Francisco in October.
All the potatoes are grown in a bag or plastic pots and if you haven't tasted new potatoes freshly dug and cooked then topped with a little butter and parsley you have missed a treat!
We have been eating runner and french beans for the last couple of weeks it's wonderful to have such fresh veg.
After a poor start (due to weather) we had a good crop of rhubarb and one of the things I used it for was Rhubarb Crumble Muffins. I found the recipe in one of the Sunday Mags and although I say it myself they were delicious.
After last year's disaster we used a plastic frame to cover the tomatoes and Embee created a watering system which seems to have worked perfectly. The first ones we picked were eaten by my grandson.
Below I am picking them quicker than we can eat them!
This is the first year we have grown beet; only one row but I have already given quite a few away ad Embee likes them hot as well with salads. I've still got to cook and bottle some for the winter.
Last year we produced enough onions to use throughout the winter. This year I asked for some red ones as well as white and they are currently drying out-well I have used a couple already!
The first carrots we picked were very poor standard they had been eaten by carrot fly (or some bug-you can tell I'm no gardener). However these later ones are a good size and no sign of being eaten. I love raw carrots.
Cabbage is another veg we are trying this year and I'm using one of these for dinner this evening. I can hear both my girls groaning they do not like beans,beets or cabbage. If they get to read this I'm sure there will be comments about boiled cabbage!
Not sure why but I didn't take any pictures of my Blueberry bushes (I have 4) and they also produced a good crop- have been having some on my muesli every morning for breakfast for past couple of months. They are coming to an end so must make the most of the ones currently ripening.

Hope you enjoyed this little trip around veggie plots.

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12 Comments:

At 31/7/11 15:46, Blogger Devon said...

I loved the trip through your garden! It is a beautiful feast! In California it has been so cool, I am still waiting for my tomatoes to ripen!

 
At 31/7/11 15:57, Blogger ChrisB said...

Hi Devon thanks for visiting I wasn't sure anyone would even realise I'd posted as it's been so long. I popped over to you and see you haven't done a post since jan so I feel better now.
I always think of California as being mild and warm!

 
At 31/7/11 16:15, Blogger Pamela said...

wow Chris... you would think you had acreage the way you grow veggies and fruit in your small space.

We had fresh potato from our neighbors garden this week. Fantastic. I hope to let my grandson taste them because he hates potato. BUT, he's never had garden fresh ones. So different.

 
At 31/7/11 16:31, Blogger ChrisB said...

Pamela Ben is the same about potatoes (well unless they are fries or roast) but even he admitted the ones from the garden were OK!

 
At 31/7/11 23:41, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amazing Chris, you must both be so proud. I'm thinking that the fresh Veg smell delicious too.
Katy x

 
At 31/7/11 23:58, Blogger Barbara said...

Welcome back Chris. Neither Bryan or I are gardeners. However my son'sfuture FIL is and often gives me fresh produce from his garden. I must investigate the growing of potatoes in a plqstic bag. I could probably manage that.

 
At 1/8/11 03:42, Blogger Sandy said...

I am delighted that you are back! and in awe of the amount of produce you get from your yard. A true testament to your skill as a gardener!

 
At 1/8/11 21:05, Blogger Sam said...

Why didn't I inherit your gardening genes?

 
At 1/8/11 21:10, Blogger Tea said...

How very impressive, Mrs. B! I cannot believe how much you are harvesting. Quite inspiring!

 
At 1/8/11 23:55, Blogger Beccy said...

Please don't tar me with the same brush as Sam. I love cabbage, have never tried beetroot and hate broadbeans.

 
At 2/8/11 00:18, Anonymous Karmyn R said...

What beautiful produce!! I'm jealous of the berries - mine died last year and they came back but are too little to have any fruit this year.

As for my garden - it is finally starting to give us food. It has taken a while since we've had such a cool summer.

 
At 2/8/11 00:24, Blogger ChrisB said...

Sam it's dad who does the growing not me I just weed, pick and cook. You have to give them plenty of water and feed the soil.

Beccy I really didn't know you had never tried beetroot. It's very good for you. The cabbage was delicious btw

Katy you can't beat that fresh taste.

Barbara give then a go!

Sandy Embee is really the gardener in the family.

Tea we are really delighted with the output this year.

 

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