Monday 25 May 2015

Harvest Monday - soupy

We've had another bank holiday weekend, yippee. It's always a bit confusing though, and today doesn't really feel like Monday. I got in a few trips to the plot over the weekend and planted out some of my squashes and courgettes etc. I used up the horsemanure I was saving for my tomatoes because i'm going to be getting a load more on Wednesday, so decided to leave potting-on my toms til next weekend (the squashes really needed planting out so took priority).

The toms really need planting out too though, several have started producing flowers. But I've read before that it's good to let them get to that point before potting into their final places as it encourages more fruit (because they're running out of nutrients and think they will die soon so produce fruit sooner than if they were Molly-coddled).

Toms waiting for attention
With the harvests this week I've made a couple of soups, this one was cauliflower and leek, with my own added greens
There's fair bit of over wintered rocket still growing in the back garden. I think if I keep picking it, it'll just carry on cropping
Rocket, goats cheese and home made coleslaw, plus home grown gherkins
Rocket and egg sarnies
The tub of Swiss chard in the front yard is producing some really big leaves. Although North facing, It gets the sun first thing in the morning
These went into a kind of bolognese, with kidney beans and a tub of my own tomato, chilli and basil sauce from the freezer
I went out for dinner for a friend's 60th birthday on Saturday. Jan stayed in as she wasn't feeling too good still, and had veggie pie and greens (Purple sprouting broccoli leaves and shoots)
I've been clearing out the PSB plants to make way for the squashes etc so harvested a whole load more of the best leaves
And the last few shoots
And some chard and sage
Which went into the second soup of the week, onion, garlic, ground ginger and cumin with red lentils and all the greens. It was good!

And then tonight i made a big pan of veggie curry. Usually I make enough for two meals but tonight I thought I'd make a bigger batch for three meals, adding in lots of chard from the allotment which had started to bolt, and a can each of chickpeas and butter beans.

Yummy yummy! We'll have it again for lunch tomorrow and then maybe lunch the next day too or maybe the evening. We don't have enough mini naan breads for all those meals so I might do some rice one day. Theres's a lot needing to be done in the garden and the plot so any time that can be saved on cooking is very much appreciated.

Linking in with Harvest Monday at Daphne's dandelions

 

13 comments:

  1. Everything looks delicious! I haven't had a good curry in a while...must put that on the menu as soon as some of my greens start to size up. I hear you on the cooking - I do enjoy it but only when I'm not pressed for time.

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    1. Thank you Margaret. Yes I do like cooking too. It's iironic sometimes if I've spent all day on the plot growing lovely fresh veg but then can't be bothered to cook a proper meal with it!

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  2. Wow! I want to come on over to your house for soup night! They both look fantastic! Glad your garden is doing well. It is time here in Oregon to set out the tomatoes and winter squash too. Enjoy your bank holiday, Tomorrow we must all go back to work and reality :)

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    1. Thank you lexa! it's a busy time of year isn't it (well, actually from now on, it's busy all the way). Hope you had a good weekend :)

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  3. Your greens are doing you proud

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    1. Thanks sue, I'm thinking ahead to this time next year when I might have zero brassicas as the slugs have got all my seedlings :/ I think I'll resow for the third time and if that doesn't work, buy some plants.

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  4. I love all your meals. And that soup sounds so delicious. One of my favorite lunches is egg salad sandwiches which looks a lot like your egg sarnies. They are so good with a little bit of fresh greens on them.

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    1. Thanks Daphne, mmm yes I do like a nice egg sarnie. I just mash the egg a bit with a spoonful of vegan mayonnaise (which is kind of ironic, but it tastes a lot nicer than regular mayo).

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  5. We had a veggie curry yesterday too - with lots of cauliflower in it - as well as dhal and a beef dish. we are not vegetarians, but we do love our vegetables!

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    1. Hi mark, you put a lot of effort into your meals, it's very impressive! It's lucky you like your veggies with all the ones you grow :D

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  6. I had read somewhere the exact opposite - that transplanting tomatoes once they have flowered will reduce overall production. But I still do it all the time anyway. Sometimes there is too much information on the internet!

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    1. Ha ha that's funny Susie! Oh well, yep, my toms just get potted on whenever anyway, so I don't know if it's true. I seem to remember another thing saying that the optimum time to put toms in their final position is just when they're starting to produce their first flowers (but not actually in full flower). But I'm not organised enough to see if any of them make a difference! If they grow they grow :)

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  7. Hi, Really great effort. Everyone must read this article. Thanks for sharing.

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