Run O'Beans

28 July 2007 Breezy, sunny & cloudy 22c

Loads of runner beans, about 3lbs and a good handful of peas. Also big bunch of baby size beetroot, will make pea, beetroot and feta salad. Beet tops with runner beans for dinner.
Some baby turnips also for dinner, not many most got eaten by slugs.
Cabbages keep being eaten though a couple look as if they'll survive. Sweetcorn is really swelling now, though the broad beans have been rubbish, about 6 pods from 12 plants. The ones i planted last week are coming through so hopefully get a crop for autumn.
All my books say peas are quite hard and broad beans are easy, not here, it's the other way around.

The pumpkins have gone made they are taking over, one plant has branched of and gone up through the rosemary and lavender bush and there is fruit hanging in the midst of the bush. Keeps it off the ground though, I suppose. I didn't realise they were quite so vigorous, they' have their own bed next year.
Another 3lb plums. Realised not gages (not spherical enough and too early) but , some kind of plum, sweeter now, definitely improve with cooking I think. going to jam 5lb today.

That's shallot

22 July 2007 Sunny, warm 22c

I lifted the last of the shallots. These are now drying at home on a rack. The first lot are done and hanging in a net thing in the 'cloakroom'. Pretty pleased with them, about 100+ shallots from 99p worth of bulbs.
Brought home another 3lbs of Green gages, will make jam tomorrow and eat some of the nicest, they are very good, perfumed, sweet but with a hint of acidity.
The Sweet peas are flowering nicely will bring some back for the house soon.
Dug over a bed for the Spring cabbage to go into when it's ready. Bit warm for digging, but I've no choice I am several months behind where I'd like to be.
Runner beans will yield there first proper harvest in a few days, look forward to fresh sweet ones, rather than the rubbish in the supermarket.