The Veggie Plot Update

With summer well underway here in the UK and temperatures soaring, I thought it was time to give you a little update on our new veggie plot.

(It's not quite tropical for us up here, in the North East of Scotland...but still it's very nice, thank you) 

The plot is coming along nicely, especially when I look back at the first photo's that I took in back in February.

We're not quite self-sufficient in fresh produce yet, but we're getting there.

The raised beds are doing well...housing onions, garlic, fennel, carrots, and brassicas (cabbage, sprouts, broccoli) .

The only failure so far has been our cauliflower...or lack of.

The seedlings didn't stand a chance with the early temperatures. 

We've made a note that we shouldn't sew them so early next year.

The tatties (or potatoes) are doing really well with six different varieties. 

They are flowering now so we won't have long to wait to lift them and see just what we have.

The fennel has also been a huge success. 

We have far too many and will have to be inventive in how to use them all.

I'm happy to report that our cabbage, sprouts and broccoli are another success.

Here's the parsnips still in their toilet roll holders... hopefully they aren't being restricted and we have prime specimens underneath the soil.

The peas and runner beans are also starting to flower. 

I can't wait for the snap of the pea pod being opened and the juicy sweet jewels held within.

Once these flowers die off we can start to lift our potatoes...well hopefully we'll have a reasonable crop. We have staggered the planting, so that we have a steady supply to harvest.
I sound so confident that there's something lying there, don't I?

We have quite a few beetroots so if you have any tips on how to use them I'd appreciate it.
I'm not sure other than to slice into a salad or to pickle them.
I was rather delighted to find that the broccoli are sprouting too and there's a couple of sprouts appeared within the cabbages!
Obviously, someone's organisational skills at the seedling stage went slightly awry.

We also have herbs, lettuce, artichoke, blueberries and strawberries.
Growing blueberries is completely new to us and we're hoping that they actually can survive up here with these temperatures. We have three small bushes that are located in the Tardis (small plastic greenhouse) and one has flowered, so I'm hoping the berries will follow.
Here's our first strawberries.
I feel we should have a strawberry ceremony...perhaps including ice-cream, meringue or maybe I'll just pop one straight in my mouth!

We should be well set ready for the start of Wimbledon if these beauties are anything to go by.
How do you prefer to eat your strawberries?
Have a great week...if you're in the middle of these record temperatures then stay cool and know that it will pass... plus there are some that would love a few more degrees up on the thermometer.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.

Veggie update....

I haven't much get up and go today....I think it just got up and left {yep, still suffering from this cold} so I've just had a wonder around in the sunshine to check whats happening with my veggies.
I have to report there's good and bad, or as my school report often said "there's a lot of potential, we just need to bring it out"!!!

As you can see the broccoli is coming on fine....we may even be able to pick some to accompany our Sunday Roast Dinner tomorrow. How special is that....no carbon footprint here ; )

I became impatient wondering about the carrots too. {When did I get to be this impatient I wonder?}

So I picked one out to have a peek.....

Hmm....curly carrots!

I may have to space them out to prevent this, so we may have carrots tomorrow too....

Now then...on to the beans. Now here lies a sorry tale. I really thought these were doomed but on closer inspection look what I found....

They're having a real fight on their hands, what with slugs, snails and ants

I'm also not sure that they are in the best position...steep learning curve with this new garden.

Am I right in thinking that this is a baby ladybird and that's a good thing to have lurking amongst the leaves. There were quite a few of them.....

I am puzzled over my potatoes too. I never used to be, because I knew that you wait until they flower then you should have tatties beneath. Simple...

But I've used the plastic containers this time and I'm not sure if they are doing a good job yet. The first two containers I planted haven't really flowered but the foliage has grown so much they are hanging down touching the ground.

Maybe someone out there can answer my question...."do they need to flower first"?

The third container planted a few weeks later has a few flowers as you can see....so I'm hopeful of at least maybe one meal ;{

And lastly my tomtarters....I got very nervous and picked these first two babies because I was a little nervous that the possums or birds would be in there before me.

I've blown up the photo in the hope to impress because let me tell you they're titchy.

Oops I shouldn't have told you that....Dah!

Well that's all the walking I'm capable of today...I'm off to sit on a comfy lounger in the sun with my book

 ~ to recuperate.

Enjoy your day : D

Spring has Sprung DownUnder

I'm trying to keep busy this morning to distract myself...not always a hard job to do, but today is particularly challenging. Why? Because I did book Muffin in for her 'little Op' as the vet receptionist described today's procedure. So without breakfast nor her walk I dropped her off at the surgery. She's certainly switched on when she wants to be and she knew immediately that something was afoot.

So how to keep busy.....? I wanted to be on hand so thought I'd wonder around the garden checking out all the new spring additions would be a pleasant way to while away some of the time.

I wasn't disappointed....Azalea's seem to be a favourite of the previous owners and I must say they are looking spectacular in all their glory just now.

Unfortunately I don't know which variety they are...

 But they all seem to be enjoying the beautiful sunshine

I'm also so pleased to have a wisteria here because I did plant one back in Scotland and then left to go abroad, so I never even got to see it flower. I think this one here will be white but I'm looking forward to the display once the curtain rises.

 I brought this pot of Jasmine from our last place and it looks like its settling in nicely.

I love the way it twists and raps around the support...I'd better not stand still for too long

Even the fern's are putting on a show....with new shoots unfurling in the centre.

 What hairy shoots....

Then look what I spotted at the top of this climber....I thought it was going to be an ordinary climbing rose bush but then I spotted the flowers right at the top....wow I think this one is going to be a stunner!

I had to take a chair and precariously balance with my camera on full zoom to reach this shot.

Good job I didn't have a little drop of something to calm my nerves this morning - I was wobbling enough without!

But look there's lots more to come from further down the plant. Lucky me =D

For anyone out there whose more interested in veggies than flowers here's a little segment for you....

If you read my post about something eating my broccoli well let me tell you the cayenne pepper trick worked. They're really coming on now.

So thanks to Rhyleysgranny http://teandwheatenbread.blogspot.com/ for her help in saving my broccoli.

Now I must show you these little babies! I haven't used them before but I think they're rather ingenious.

They are so practical for planting your veggies and I'm hoping the little wee beasties don't get to know what's inside.....

There's even Velcro flaps that allow you to go in through the bottom. Plus drainage holes for any excess water to escape. How clever. Maybe they've been around for a while (and I know I have too) but I've never seen them before.

Take a peek inside......

Yep, my tatties (that's potatoes to anyone who hasn't been to Scotland) and they're doing really well so far.

Plus I used a bag for finger carrots. I'm really looking forward to harvest time ; D

Although the sun is out and the temperature is warming up nicely we still haven't reached the official start of Spring here in Melbourne....that will be next week on 1st September.

Which is good because the salad will need a little longer to come to full fruition.

Happy Days....

Phewph...only two hours to go before I collect Madam Mufftypup....now what can I do next?????

HOT OFF THE PRESS.....Breaking news......Update.....

Madam Mufftypup has returned home safe and sound minus some feminine bits and two teeth. Still looks cute though even with wibblywobbly legs!

Who ate all the Broccoli?

I'm so pleased with my broccoli... well I was until I checked the new shoots yesterday...

I'd forgotten what a battlefield the veggie plot can become...

And it looks like I'm not winning....

So there won't be broccoli soup here anytime soon. But I have been busy in the kitchen today. The temperature has dropped and its definitely soup making weather. So I've made Pumpkin soup instead.

Can you believe that I actually had difficulty sourcing some fresh pumpkin this morning. Perhaps everyone else has the same idea? It is rather a chilly damp day, so soup is just perfect.

Here's a previous post that shows the recipe I use.....its the family favourite. http://neesienatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/pumkin-soup.html