Bug Off!

We seem to be having a few bug problems at the moment.  We have been potting in the garden recently rather than spending long afternoons gardening.  The heat of summer and our work patterns have been to blame.  This has lead to a free for all for bugs.  They have taken over the garden!  Black fly have invaded the broad beans, caterpillars have been spotted in our brassicas and green flies invaded the tomatoes.  


I am not so worried about the tomatoes, mostly because I have seen an increased amount of ladybirds.  Nature has taken care of that problem  for us.  What few greenfly are left will be sprayed with dilute washing up liquid.  I can't remember where I discovered this trick but last years were covered one week and fine the next so I know it works!  


The broad beans are slowly taking shape,  I'm waiting for the pods to fatten up before harvesting.  While waiting Al and I noticed that there where a few black looking bugs growing on the plant but dismissed it as nothing to worry about as we had seen a few ants enjoying a feast however during the time we've not been proactive gardeners the black bugs took advantage.  The next time we go down the black fly are everywhere and in some places thick with them.  Even on the bean pods there is a thick black line of bug. 


 For the record I do not like using pesticides.  I think nature has a way of working things out far better than man made chemicals can but the problem seemed to be getting worse.  I was starting to worry about the crop and if I would be able to harvest anything.  As much as I like leaving nature to it there is a limit!   So they have been sprayed with a general bug killer.  It seems to have worked, there appears that they have all died.   The few that remain have been spotted along with a few ants.


It is our first year of growing brassicas so it is the first year of any related problems.  I always thought that the stories about brassicas were a storm in a tea cup.   Now I'm the one freaking out over my brassicas.  I noticed a patch of yellow eggs  which were quickly brushed off.  In an ironic sort of way a catapillar came off too so it was a good job I found it when  I did.   The plan of action here is to brush off any eggs we find and spray with dilute washing up liquid and hope.

Friday Photo: Green Harvest

Ohh it's raining now

I have never cheered or wooped at the weather report before Monday.   After nearly 3 weeks with only so much as a sprinkle of rain (I speak in gardeners terms here)  we finally had a full day of rain forecast and it's kept raining.   Everything looks so green thanks to the rain and the butt is starting to slowly fill once more.   We lost access to the outdoor tap (long story) and I've been left watering everything with an Ikea bag full of milk bottles and watering can, so any rain is welcome.

I wish I had more things to update you about but work has got in the way for gardening.  All Al and I have managed is to pull a few weeds and horsetail out as we water.  Not exciting stuff nor anything to really make a good Friday photo.

Harvest wise we are almost ready to pick some of the peas and courgettes and in the first fruiting year the blackcurrant bush managed to produce about 40g of fruit.  I have no idea what to do with them so they are sitting ready in the freezer.  My grandparents love blackcurrant slices so they might go there :)

Pea, Feta & Mint Salad

Our peas are in the middle of harvest; they have ended up in soup, or freezer and my favourite way SALAD!

I make this a day in advance as it helps the flavour mingle about although it takes no time at all to make or prepare.  I personally do not cook the peas I think nothing is better than the flavour of a home grown pea and cooking them seems to take away flavour rather than add anything.  My favourite part is the combination of the tang and sweetness.  Oh and the fact that everything in the salad comes from the garden (I'm working on making my own feta, honestly!)

Pea, Feta & Mint Salad

50g feta cheese 

1 small red onion 

200g peas 

Handful of mint

1. Crumble up feta cheese into a bowl.  Try not to worry about the size of the crumbles, it just helps the cheese cling to the other ingredient better.

2. Thinly slice the red onion.  The idea is to have thin slivers of onion rather than little diced bits.  Add it to the bowl.

3. Chop up the mint stalk and all. Try to make sure it becomes bruised as it releases the mint flavour.  Add it to the bowl.

4. Mix everything together.  Don't worry about it making it look neat, the nature of the crumbled feta makes it nearly impossible.

5. Enjoy your salad.  Al and I have been munching with wholemeal cous cous and peri peri chicken.

Quillquiña

I love Mexican food, the eating and the cooking of it and I thought it was about time I started to grow my own ingredients.  As we don't have a greenhouse, putting chillies out of the question, I settled on growing a South American herb called quillquiña.  It has a sharp, earthy citrus taste and used a bit like coriander in salsas although two or three leaves seem to be enough.   I started them off indoors in the spring

and finally decided now summer is here it is about time I placed them into the herb patch.  They should grow to be around 3 feet tall.

And my herbs really need a good long drink.  Time to see if there is any easy Inca or Aztec rain dances in honour of my new Latino import.

Waiting Around in the Sunshine

After a wonderful week on holiday it was about time we returned to some gardening!  There were the typical amount of weeds that needed sorting and hoeing out but after that there is only a lot to admire. A huge weed patch had grown at the same place the sweet williams should have grown.  Rather than wait and the weeds grow too strong I hoed the whole area so they will have to wait for next year.

 We are still at the waiting stage there are a lot of things going on but very little to harvest.  We came home to find that the little gems had bolted so have only had tiny harvest of lettuce so far.  The strawberry plants have not produced anywhere near as much fruit as last year however they were moved out of containers this spring. The only ones I have tasted tasted odd, almost musty so they went into a glass of pimm's.  I'm hoping these ones will taste better:

The tomatoes have finally recovered from their trauma of being left in their pots a bit too long.

 At one stage I thought I would be blogging about how badly they have done and it looked like there would be no tomatoes to enjoy this year.  Now I can see the first signs of flowers and the plants remain a lush green.  Al pointed out a tiny greenfly in the photo but I don't think it's anything to worry about. I spray the tomatoes with dilute washing up liquid which seems to help because I never seem able to attract ladybirds.

All the beans and peas have started flower, I have to confess that most of the varieties we are growing this year were bought because the seeds were reasonable rather than majestic looking blooms.   I'm glad I can see flowers because I was beginning to panic I'd left them too late to be able to enjoy a lengthy harvest but it's clear now that this will not be the case.

Do you remember me posting about how we cheated and bought plants after the late frosts?  Well the first courgette plant is beginning to show a tiny courgette which will hopefully be ready to eat soon. I always have a knack for forgetting to pick the flowers for stuffing until they are too open to stuff.  My favourite time is when they are ready with the tomatoes so they can be made into a light sauce or ratatouille.  This year it will be even sweeter if the red onions are ready at the same time.  

Friday Photo: Potatoes