Broccoli Update

Calabrese that was planted early has produced well and been harvested - some in late June, some July. The purple sprouting Broc. didn't do so well - went to seed, I think. We have later sowings of broc and cabbage that got planted out last week.

I was trying for a minimal dig method, having read all about beneficial worms in the book 'The earth moved' by Amy Stewart. I had the beds covered in black plastic for a long time so the weeds and grass were all gone. So I just made a hole, and put the plants in. This resulted in a fairly low lying bed, so the plants got a bit waterlogged in the downpours, but they seem to be mostly surviving. I have 6 each of the broc, and about 15 cabbages - if even half survive, we'll have plenty.

Also rescued some leeks from languishing in pots, made big holes, put the leeks in and then filled them with water. about 10 leeks - it will be interesting to see how they fare. They possibly should have been planted out earlier.

First Courgette

First Courgette harvested and eaten. A long skinny green one, the first to reach edible size without rotting this year. We had it sliced thickly and fried with scallops in a creamy sauce. Yum! Probably should have photograpghed it, but too late now...

First Tomato

First ripe tomato spotted - unfortunately it was a bit rotten, but it has proven that the tomatoes can ripen even without much sun. I was bit uncertain about this. There are plenty of flowers, and a good few green tomotoes - they are all quite small, even the ones in the green house. I don't know if this is down to the weather or to the varieties that I planted.

It's amazing the difference in the plants between the greenhouse tomatoes - lush, tender and the ones outdoors - wizened, spiky, tough, it will be interesting to see if there is a flavour difference too. I'm expecting much tougher skins on the outdoors ones, at least.

We have a frog!

So, it's been a really dreadful summer so far for any kind of gardener.

But, I have finally found the upside of the bad weather. Last week, while strimming the edges between showers, I saw a fairly sizeable frog. And we have sighted it again on numberous occasions, living in the 'wilderness' beside the oil tank.

Last winter, we planted willow around the tank, which we hoped would eventially camoflage it. So between that and the futon which is gently decomposing there, it's impossible to maintain, and now we have a very good reason to keep it as wild as possible. If the weather improves , we'll have to dig a pond of course, but for now, there's no danger of froggy drying out. And we had been intending to dig a pond anyhow...

The decomposing futon is home to a myriad of worms and sligs, so he's thriving on the good diet too....