Ah yes, today I had a nice surprise on the plot but I'll come to that in a little while. The last two days have been windy and rainy, what a great start to the British Summer.
But here's some nice meals from this week's harvests, so despite the poor weather, you can still get a reasonable crop.
I've been picking rocket from the garden still, from the overwintered plants that are a couple of years old now
I've been potting on my toms and popping in one of my basils at the base of each. This is meant to help deter beasties from eating the tomatoes plus also saves space.
I pinched-out some of the basil tips to encourage them to bush out
And used them plus chard too with pasta
The rhubarb leaves were getting in my way so I decided to pick some and make the waitrose rhubarb cake Recipe again. A good thing to do on a rainy Sunday. Here's a few of the sticks, a nice bright colour.
As part of the recipe you leave them chopped up in sugar for a little while to draw out the liquid, That liquid is delicious, mmm
It looks a bit soggy in this photo but actually today it was moist but not soggy.
I made a sort of kidney bean hot pot aswell yesterday using my own mashed potatoes from the freezer (the last tub) and some chard from the plot.
Tonight I was a bit unsure what to cook, we were running low on things, so I used up some more chard
And some of my sweetcorn from the freezer
..with some fried onion, garlic and a tin of baked beans....it was surprisingly nice!
At the end of last week my garlics were looking a bit sickly even though it seemed a bit early for them to be getting ready to die back normally.
So I decided to lift a few to see what was hAppening. Unfortunately some had a white rot, which I meant to look up more info on. I lifted all of them and left the rotty ones in the shed at the plot to dry off separately, which I'll then use up soon. The rest I brought home to dry in the lean-to. Quite a few are just one giant clove but some seem to be bulbed-up.
At least I got some garlics anyway, the last time I grew any quantity was several years ago when most of them went manky, which put me off growing them for a while.
And last but definitely not least, I popped to the plot in my lunch break, (before the rain and wind) and found a couple of ripe strawberries! Whoop!
They were sooo good. I resisted the temptation to just eat them there and then and brought them home to share with Jan. These were from the bed with stones as a mulch so that probably speeded things up, as the stones will get quite warm :D There's more coming too.
Linking in with Harvest Monday on Daphne's Dandelions
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Mmm ... everyone seems to be getting strawberries now, hope mine aren't too far behind. I had a terrible time with garlic last year, never did figure out what it was although they were definitely rotty. I assume the good ones are still edible even if they are "one giant clove"??
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie, I was surprised with the strawberries. Definitely the earliest I've had them and the bed right next to that one is no where near ripe so I reckon it was the stones. Hope yours are on their way.
DeleteYep the giant cloves will be edible though I wonder if they'll save til the autumn for planting out again. The last time I saved some, they went rotty too, so I might not bother and just cook with them instead. It's a shame when something doesn't work especially when it's been in the ground a long time. Are you trying again with garlic? I need to have a catch-up on your excellent blog.
And more strawberries - everywhere I look, people are harvesting strawberries. And here I thought I was early when I saw those first flowers a couple of weeks ago!
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad about your garlic - at least you were able to save quite a bit still. And thanks for the reminder on the basil - I should be pinching off my tips. I always forget and then they go tall and lanky.
Thanks Margaret, I wasn't expecting any strawbs so early. Some of my plants elsewhere are only just coming into flower, this is definitely an early bed.
DeleteI need to pinch out more basil too, maybe there'll be enough for a pesto, hmmm.
Ooh, strawberries, lucky you. I shall have to get the net out to put over mine soon I think. I love the look of that rhubarb cake, I really must sort out the rhubarb this year, it's so feeble. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteThanks CJ, I don't bother to net mine, I have seen a black bird eating some redcurrants and raspberries before but there are so many I don't mind. Slugs n snails though, that's a different kettle of fish.
DeleteThe rhubarb cake is yummy, i like it better the day after it's been baked. And the day after that (had two slices tonight, hehe).
What willpower actually getting the strawberries home.
ReplyDeleteI was def tempted sue! But it was nicer to share, and gave jan a treat too. I'm looking forward to lots of fruit soon, I stopped buying apples when they went out of season so am missing my afternoon healthy snack, and stewed fruit on the brekkie.
DeleteI'm shocked those strawberries made it to your house. Yum. And that soup look so good. We are getitng a cold spell here and I need soup.
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks Daphne, I got another three today that are still on the side, to go with breakfast tomorrow (already had rhubarb cake for pudding, followed by choc!)
DeleteMm I love soup, even in summer. It feels like autumn these past couple of days,so windy and cold, though we're due a heat wave, which will also have its own challenges!
That cakes looks delicious I will be trying that one this week Daphne is right about the strawberries I'd have eaten them before I even thought of taking a picture. You have great self control.Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHi Ian, nice to hear from you. The cake's good, quite a simple recipe too, just make sure you get the butter out the fridge several hours before you need it, otherwise it's hard to mix in ( I learned from experience the first time I made it recently!) I did end up cooking it a little extra on a lower heat too, as the rhubarb is so wet it can be tricky for the cake mix to cook fully where it's surrounding the fruit. Hope you enjoy it.
DeleteI know, it was tough to resist but nice to share. I don't actually have that good self control, as evidenced by the two pieces of rhubarb cake tonight followed by choccie!
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ReplyDeleteSnap on the strawberries, I harvested my first two on Monday, but did not get to share with Harvest Monday. I need to take a peek at my rhubarb which is tucked ina corner and gets lost - your rhubarb cake looks lovely I want a slice.
ReplyDeleteWe just finished the cake today Shaheen, it lasted pretty well! Hope you've been enjoying more strawbs, they should start picking up the pace now.
Deletehow very restrained of you to share the Strawberries! I have had a similar experience to yours with the Garlic. I never managed to get a worthwhile crop. I think my garden doesn't get enough direct sunlight.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes it was touch and go on whether the strawbs would make it home.
DeleteI still haven't looked up the White mould on the garlic yet but it's funny the onions don't get it (famous last words).