Fruit and veg update.

I'm amazed to see there are flowers on the mangetout plants. They look very like sweetpea flowers, but all white. I've never grown peas before and I really hope to get a crop from them.

They're still in the greenhouse. I think it's probably warm enough now to put them outside, but this way they get a good start and remain free from slug damage. I have seven plants, and have absolutely no idea how many peas they may be expected to produce.The more the merrier, I love mangetout.

The fruit in the front garden is coming along well also. The gooseberries are beginning to form, but take a look at the spikes on the bush on the right! Beware thieving intruders...

My Aunty was the Gooseberry Queen years ago. She had loads of bushes, and we had to top and tail all the fruit for her to make pies, which she then shared round everyone. Or they were turned into very potent wine.

I'm growing rhubarb in large tubs and I'm going to have a go at doing something with it at the weekend. I know rhubarb is over in most places. Not here. I also split it this year and put some in the garden as a trial. It seems to be very happy there as well, so next year should be even better.

In the garden where I grew up there was strawberry rhubarb. My Mother got it from her Mother's garden, and it was lovely. Sadly she didn't take any when we moved. We used to pick it and thrash each other with the leaves. Or eat it raw, with a saucer of sugar for dipping. So healthy.

The John Grieve apple tree also looks like we'll be very lucky again this year. I can't see anything on the others yet, but pollination has obviously taken place, so fingers crossed.

The crabapple didn't produce very much blossom, I'm not sure why, so I can't imagine it will fruit this year either.

And the ?currants. I have black and red. I think this is the blackcurrant, but the labels that came with them (which I carefully left on) turn out not to have been written in indelible ink. Useful. When they do ripen a bit I'll re-label them. But I can't remember the strain. There are also raspberries, blackberries and tayberries out there.

Also in the greenhouse, I've been growing basil. I thought this was a bit of a no-brainer to grow, but it's only been partly successful. Two of the three pots have some growth in them, and it definitely improved when the weather got warmer. However, it's not what I expected and there won't be any home made pesto sauce this year.

I know lots of people grow it inside on windowsills, but the cats would eat it. Or at least maul it. The greenhouse is a lot warmer than my kitchen windowsill in any case. 

It's all about patience now, and hoping for some more sunshine. We're having the very heavy showers at the moment. Good for watering the garden, but it's flattening all the delicate flowers. As it does every year...

Comments

[SmitoniusAndSonata]

Gooseberries are among my favourite things ! Here , when you see them , which is hardly ever , they come 8 or so in a green punnet and cost about five pounds .
Think of me , pining , next time you eat a gooseberry pie !!

[Sue]

Is your middle name Titchmarsh? Sounds like a bumper crop to come....a few weeks ago I cooked some goosegogs that had been in my freezer for at least 5/6 years. Still another 2 bags to use up before this years crop needs some space! ( I don't really " do" puddings is the problem!) Any interesting recipes for gooseberries welcomed.

[Anne Donald]

When we were children, we used to have sugar in a brown paper bag to dip our rhubarb in!! You have a wonderfully productive garden. We only have a small courtyard garden now, so just have herbs in pots. I do have basil on the kitchen windowsill (not having cats) - it's just one from the supermarket, but it grows well, and I love the smell!!

[kathleen]

Gooseberries and rhubarb make me think CRUMBLES! I had not heard of strawberry rhubarb before. I have rarely seen gooseberries on sale here,although I am lucky to have the most super shop for fruit and veg, the French must not be keen on them. I can't say I will send you sunshine,it's pouring down here too.

[Liz]

Ah, goosegogs. Haven't had any for years but they're lovely in a fruit fool.

[Rattling On]

Those prices are very much like strawberries in Moscow. Locals eat wild ones which are dirt cheap!

[Rattling On]

Sue, I ony grow what I like to use. And I LOVE making jam, which is probably where most of the fruit will go. I don't eat it often though as I don't have a very sweet tooth!