Not a total disaster.

After spending a busy working morning on my plot, I realised that this very wet season hasn't been a total write off when I added up what had been successful this season. Carrots and parsnips, squashes and courgette family too had been a waste of time BUT I harvested all my broad beans as they were showing signs of rot so thought I'd get what I could out of them. Surprisingly, most of the pods had usable beans even if some of the pod was black, ended up with a good amount.  Runner beans had now reached the top of the canes even if they haven't filled out as much as usual so quite optimistic with them as plenty of blossom, just hope they pollinate with a bee shortage this year.
The raspberries are bearing a huge crop ripening nicely and all currant bushes are simarly laden. This will make up for the disappointment of the strawberries rotting before ripe, not helped by their extra large leaves shielding light and air. I removed a lot of these a couple of weeks ago when I realised what the problem was but too late as the ground was saturated already and with no sun to dry, they'd had it.
Potato blight hit us a month earlier than usual but a blight resistant variety is performing well and hasn't been affected yet so hopeful with them. They are Sarpo Mira and JBA potatoes say they are as blight resistant as one can get so we believe them.
All in all, although a lot of our group have been very disappointed with the way the season has gone, there are still good reasons why we should persevere with our love of grow your own, win some lose some?

Tango'd!!!

Well you know when you've been Tango'd!       Oh boy have I this year,  it must be a bad year when even the broad beans given up the ghost!   I usually get some chocolate spotting on them but this year it has decimated the crop and in fact they looked like they'd had potato blight.  This picture shows a mild case - I'm too ashamed to show you what mine actually looked like!

   Kept giving them an extra day but today decided that was it............pulled them all up and only had enough beans to make a couple of servings.    I still have beans in the freezer from last years crop.   I'm afraid the undergardener (who loves broad beans) will be disappointed  this year.  

However, as per usual, courgettes are doing well and trying a new varity this year for us Stiato D'Italia.   Nice stripey courgettes should look good in a stir fry.  Must remember to look out my courgette recipies again...........

Picked my first crop of beetroot too today, bit small but thought I'd better get them before the voles or slugs do. 

 Missed the Robins today, in fact there didn't seem to be much life in evidence on the plots - just a few hardy souls and several big fat green catapillars.   Shame my friend the Robin wasn't around he could have had a free lunch! 

Almost come to the end of the rhubarb season and have found some new recipies for using rhubarb so I'll probably put then on the cookery page later this week,   I love rhubarb pies and crumbles but with 7 mature plants I have had to find other things to do with it.   Changed two of the plants this year for Champagne Rhubarb ( used to be Pink Champagne)  had the first cutting and, after being told it was the 'bees knees' as far as taste was concerned,  wasn't too impressed with it, nice but nothing special.   Maybe it will get tastier as it matures.   Hope the weather is good on saturday - planning to turn the compost bin.  Had some good stuff last year but have been offered a pair of Newcastle bins, the undergardener has offered to make them for me bless his cotton socks!   Wonder if I'll find a family of voles like I did last year?  Had to relocate them but they didn't seem too impressed with my choice of field accomodation.  I don't mind sharing my plot with the wildlife but sometimes they just get greedy!

 As I'm writing this the sun is shining outside and the temp is soaring.............well we can all hope can't we?