Lettuce

 

The few seeds I scattered several weeks ago have grown into free food! Sown so close together, I can only use these as separate leaves but since that’s what I wanted anyway, it’s all good! Used this way, lettuce becomes a ‘cut and come again’ crop, which suits me brilliantly, as I should have delicious, home-grown lettuce all through the summer months.

Now, what shall I have with it?

Things I found on my walk along Aldeburgh Beach…

1- a stone with a round space

2 – sea peas

3 -   blackberries

4 – some sort of prickly catkin type seed

5 – rose hips

6 - wild fennel

Thanks for the rain…

The lettuce has begun to sprout…

 

 

The courgettes have flourished…

 

Even the parsnips are coming up – unheard of after only having been sown two weeks ago!

 

The raspberries are swelling nicely…

Which all makes for a fruitful harvest: courgette flowers, nasturtiums, raspberries. chard and spinach. Perfect for stuffed courgette flowers on top of a green salad.

Broad Beans – nearly ready!

I think I got a little overexcited! I saw the broad beans were fattening up nicely so decided to begin the harvest.. Luckily I opened the first one picked to have a look how they were: erm…tiny"!

Maybe with a bit off feeding in the next week they’ll be ready fairly soonish: I’m not sure I can wait that long!

Summer veg. planting

 

I’ve just received my new vegetable plants, all ready to go in.

Now all I need is an unrainy day to plant them all out! Well, and to weed the veg patches first and add the compost. I’ve decided this year to add lots of compost to the courgette bed as they didn’t do brilliantly least year.

From front to back I’ve got Beetroot, Courgette, Celery, Sweetcorn and Leeks.

I’ve also realised that the beetroot need splitting as they grow in order to get decent sized globes – last year I hadn’t realised that each ‘plant’ was actually a cluster until it was too late! Oh well, you live and learn.

Come on sun – I dare you!

Pea Shoots: ready to use in less than 14 days!

 

In only 14 days, these shop bought dried peas have germinated and grown. With a little sun and water, they are now the perfect size to use as salad leaves, or as a garnish on top of other things. In fact, the first meal is going to bee an addition to a salmon dish. I cant believe how simple these are to grow – and am fairly sure that on a sunny windowsill, you could do it all year round. Imagine that, fresh pea shoots in the middle of winter. Not seasonal, I know, but when you’re only growing them for the shoots, rather than the fruit, it really doesn’t matter.

Why not try them over my Scallops with Chorizo and pea puree, hot-smoked trout or mackerel pate, or on top of a risotto to add a new texture and fresh flavour. Delicious!

Pea shoots – grow and cook!

Having been an avid watcher of The Edible Garden over the last few week, I couldn’t wait to try growing your own dried peas! I bought a box of Bachelors ‘Bigga’ Dried marrowfat peas at just 39p from the local supermarket, and prepared my bed. I’d just bought a set of boxes from Wiggly Wigglers and couldn’t wait to find a use for them, so this idea seemed perfect. I lined it with a bag, and cut a few slits in the bottom for drainage, then packed with compost. Next, I spread the peas along the surface and pushed each one down abut a centimetre and watered in.

Now they’re sitting pretty on the kitchen windowsill and all I have to do is cross my fingers and hope they grow!