Shelling beans

.. con mi nieto Santi

Garlic - the good, the bad and the ugly

Mixed results from the garlic.  Stupidly I can't remember what type they were but the bigger ones have split a bit, but the small ear ones look pretty good. I'm not sure the split ones can be kept too long so currently looking for recipes for garlic jam!

Sweet peas - can't stop 'em!

Sweet peas come thick and fast every time you turn your back. That winter root trainer plan worked a treat!

Tomatoes big and green

Tomatoes are looking good this year.  Quite a few different sizes and still green but I'm sure they'll be ripening soon enough

Padron peppers starting to show

I reckon we might get enough for maybe 2 (small) tapas this year

Garlic curing

Nice and dark but the shed does get a bit hot

Curing garlic

Harvest in and starting to cure in the shed.  Not too bad but a few of the bigger (nicer) bulbs have started to split a bit.

Photos to follow

Courgettes

Planted 10 seeds, transferred 5 cuttings, 1 given to the slugs so I'm left with 4 plants which are now starting to flower and fruit.

I predict an avalanche of courgettes in a few weeks time!

Broad beans coming along nicely

These from those started in the house and planted as cuttings.  The ones started straight in the ground are not so far behind

Strawberries - harvest begins

Elisa's plot being prepared - some of the harvest - straight to breakfast

Runner bean canes

Took the chance to put up some runner bean canes while I had someone to help pick the canes, cut the string and hold the canes while I tied them.

Strawberry bed number 3

Recruited some help over Easter and planted the new strawberry plants in the first raised bed.  All of these were taken as runners from the other beds. Eventual plan in to dig up one of the older beds.

Elisa decides to name each plant so we can see which one does the best.

More broad beans

Planted a couple of rows of broad bean seeds directly into the soil.  See how they get on compared to the seedlings I planted earlier.

Mas Padron

Spotted some Padron pepper seeds in a garden centre in Wrexham so thought I would have another go.

Determined to get more than a few off this year.  Only 10 seeds in the packet though!

Potato planting

Planted 2 types of potato -  Pentland Javelin (couldn't resist the name) are First Earlies which will be ready in June, and Nicola, Second Earlies, which I had before and seemed to resist the underground slug invasion.  They'll be ready in July.

Can't wait!

The furthest 2 rows are Pentland and the nearest 3 rows are Nicola.  I assume they will look a bit different when they grow but maybe not.

First post of 2017

Noticed that the number of blog posts has gone down each year.  So determined Tomane a bit more of an effort this year and kick it all off with this slightly pointless post.

What's happening.

Garlic coming along nicely - I'll add a picture when it stops raining.

Sweet peas look great in their 'over-winter' root trainers.

Potatoes - chatting new (Pentland Javelin) and first early (Nicola)

Artichokes - 3 plants that I split from the main one now look very well and I'm sure I'll get a good crop this year.

Rhubarb - starting to show, not sure whether to bother with the 'forcing' thing this year.

Strawberries - loads of potted on babies form the runners last year.

Seeds - need to stay off the beans and courgettes soon.

Greenhouse needs cleaning 'cos it's a bit green . . .