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Post by bazfaz on May 29, 2010 9:12:11 GMT
...when you see the first signs of nature's bounty in your crops. The first courgette flower has opened this morning. We'll soon be in a glut situation.
Except...
I have chosen to pland a variety that has small courgettes (because I hate the monsters they sell here). By chance last night I dreamt that it took 12 courgettes to make a portion for the two of us.
On verra.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2010 10:46:12 GMT
Yes Baz it is!!! I harvested my first tomato last week and there's nothing quite like it!! I also have tomatillos coming out of my ears!! Haricots galore as well!! Lots of baby figs getting fatter by the day...etc.
So glad you're enjoying your first harvest (soon) in your new garden!!
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Post by bazfaz on May 29, 2010 11:24:30 GMT
Our first harvest has been broad beans (fava bean to you maybe, though a Greek-American who had lived in Gulfport called them horse beans). The very first picking we eat raw with gros sel, salami and goat cheese as a starter. The next picking was boiled for 4 minutes and served with butter. I love them with smoked lardons as a starter. And some will find heir way into the freezer.
There is no point in buying broad beans here as they are always picked too late and are too tough so you need to take off the skin round the bean.
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Post by bjd on May 29, 2010 11:42:18 GMT
At the market this morning they were selling very small zucchini (courgettes to you, Bazfaz), as well as round ones. But they cost twice as much as the others.
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Post by palesa on May 29, 2010 11:47:35 GMT
It is very exciting watching seeds become little plants and then into fresh veggies to harvest. I have the first of my tomatoes just about ready to harvest. I had some good beetroot and onions last year. I have neglected my veggie patch a bit in the last while, thank goodness for my gardener who has tried to keep things going, but I need to give it a little more attention.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2010 12:00:00 GMT
I hope you have as mammoth and gorgeous a basil bush as you did last year Palesa,that thing was phenomenal!!!
We do better in the spring time and fall with our vegetables here. The heat stresses out the plants and subsequently brings on all manner of pestilence and disease,save, the eggplant (aubergines) and okra which love the heat.
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Post by happytraveller on May 29, 2010 14:23:54 GMT
My back yard is not big enough to plant anything, except from a few potted herbs.  |
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Post by bjd on May 29, 2010 14:39:35 GMT
I only plant a few tomato plants, and some basil to go with them. I don't have much space either, or else too much shade in places.
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Post by bazfaz on May 29, 2010 14:47:29 GMT
The previous owners of our new abode came from Northern Ireland. What is it about the Irish and spuds? They seemed to grow a huge patch of potatoes as a result of which volunteers have sprung up everywhere.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2010 18:26:41 GMT
I am growing dill from seed in a little pot on my windowsill. I have a few lovely sprouts at the moment, but I'm sure that nothing will come of it.
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Post by imec on May 29, 2010 18:50:51 GMT
No "crops" yet, but have been enjoying the chives that spring up as soon as the snow disappears.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 29, 2010 20:09:22 GMT
Plants in pots are just as much of a thrill. Really, I never get over the miracle of shoots poking up out of the soil.
My most recent excitement was seeing the emerging spears of tuberose greenery. I'd thought that the marauding hens had dug them all up.
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Post by bazfaz on May 29, 2010 20:54:27 GMT
I have sowed three batches of dill so far. The first row is really burgeoning and I'll be picking soon. The second row is small. The third hasn't yet germinated.
I have to have a good show of dill as Polish Maria sent me the seeds - and she arrives in ten days time.
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Post by spindrift on May 31, 2010 10:17:58 GMT
Are you growing parsnips, Baz?
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Post by bazfaz on May 31, 2010 14:11:26 GMT
Are you growing parsnips, Baz? Yes! Mrs Faz loves parsnips (so do I but maaybe not with the passion she does). |
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Post by bjd on May 31, 2010 14:31:24 GMT
You manage to grow dill, Baz? I have never managed to get it to grow -- perhaps it's too hot and dry here in summer. I tried sowing seeds several times, but it just doesn't work. Neither does rhubarb.
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Post by palesa on May 31, 2010 14:39:36 GMT
I just took a walk around my veggie garden and am delighted to see the cabbages and cauliflowers starting to peek through the soil, onions are doing well, tomatoes will be ready any day now for plucking.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 31, 2010 16:27:08 GMT
I think dill likes cool conditions. Try tossing the seeds where the roots will be shaded, Bjd.
Palesa, I though it was winter where you live .... but you have tomatoes!
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Post by palesa on May 31, 2010 16:31:22 GMT
Winter has just started and my tomatoes are confused!  They were self seeding from my compost. |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2010 16:50:03 GMT
If my dill grows, I guess I'll have to start raising salmon in my bathtub.
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Post by bazfaz on May 31, 2010 17:30:18 GMT
We are eating dill from the garden tonight: grated raw beetroot with mustard seeds and dill. It is very good.
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Post by happytraveller on Jun 1, 2010 7:02:19 GMT
I just took a walk around my veggie garden and am delighted to see the cabbages and cauliflowers starting to peek through the soil, onions are doing well, tomatoes will be ready any day now for plucking. That's more exciting than Farmville, isn't it ?  |
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Post by palesa on Jun 1, 2010 7:37:26 GMT
I just took a walk around my veggie garden and am delighted to see the cabbages and cauliflowers starting to peek through the soil, onions are doing well, tomatoes will be ready any day now for plucking. That's more exciting than Farmville, isn't it ? Yes, BUT Farmville keeps me much busier, my crops don't take as long to grow ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2010 10:36:01 GMT
Palesa,it's doubtful that your tomatoes that volunteered in the compost will mature enough to bear fruit if it's wintertime there. Although,they may look healthy enough,the days light isn't long enough for them to bear fruit. Sorry to disappoint...
Tomato seeds are notorious for sprouting in the compost as they require a really,really high temperature to adequately break down, Some organic farmers don't even put them in their compost for this very reason (I being one of them).
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Post by palesa on Jun 1, 2010 13:38:27 GMT
Palesa,it's doubtful that your tomatoes that volunteered in the compost will mature enough to bear fruit if it's wintertime there. Although,they may look healthy enough,the days light isn't long enough for them to bear fruit. Sorry to disappoint... Tomato seeds are notorious for sprouting in the compost as they require a really,really high temperature to adequately break down, Some organic farmers don't even put them in their compost for this very reason (I being one of them). Casi, they already have fruit and are already starting to ripen (well quite advanced ripening), just a few more days and they should be ready for munching. The other tomato plant has lots of green fruit on that may not ripen. I must admit that some of my nicest tomatoes have come from my compost. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2010 20:52:37 GMT
You're lucky!! I always have dozens of volunteers in the Fall and they never fruit. Have fruit right now but...not for long ,as the dog days set in I'm afraid.  My tuberose has tripled in size though,I'm happy to report, and I am thrilled.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2010 23:53:03 GMT
A banner day in the potato patch today!! These from one plant!!! It is exciting!!  |
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Post by imec on Jun 19, 2010 15:57:04 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 19, 2010 16:20:19 GMT
Ohhh ~~ the darlings!
We've had days and days of rain. This allowed me to put down some semi-rotted leaf mulch over the bald quartzy patches in my poor little garden. The cool overcast days also made it perfect for applying some manure tea. What a difference. Things are springing up literally before my eyes. I thought I'd lost the robust strain of chives Charlie gave me, but suddenly they're thickly clumping and growing. Most amazingly, two plants of basil that I'd long since given up trying to keep watered, right at the edge of the driveway, are alive and thriving.
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They were self seeding from my compost.
