Garden update and Cherry Festa

Just a little update on our latest garden produce with a few pics showing how the veggies are coming on. We had a little rain last week and a cool breeze with sunny periods, but boy, did that rain make the veggies grow like crazy! (I first drafted this blog about 2 weeks ago and forgot to post so now the heat is really on hitting 33 today and heating for 36 degrees by the week-end) Although we water regularly, almost every day now, we were amazed at the growth spurt, particularly the beetroot, parsnips, courgettes and strawberries.

The tomatoes are doing well, still green but hopefully will soon start turning red and ready soon to start picking.

I planted 10 cauliflower plants four weeks ago and they are already shooting up, which after our bumper crop reaped last winter, I decided to plant less and hope that again they would do me proud! We are still munching our way through the cauliflowers along with the parsnips and leeks which went into the freezer.

Even though this is my first ever attempt at growing potatoes, I know full well they are not ready to harvest yet, but my curiosity got the better side of me when I saw a potato protruding through the soil and so I just had to get out the garden fork and dig up a boiling for sunday lunch!!! And, I have to say, they were delicious, but I do have to be patient and wait for them to grow bigger - even though I'm not sure the taste can be improved !!!!!!!!!!

My attempt last year to grow green runner beans died a death at the last hurdle, having plenty of leafage and beautiful red flowers they failed to produce the beans as the sun was just too hot for them, killing them all off. I later attempted to grow dwarf black french beans and had some success with those so have again planted this bean and have just had two boilings so far.

My favourite delights at this time of the year are the cherries and the first strawberries! Every year our village has a Cherry Festival where the locals have a stand to have the opportunity to sell their cherries, arts and crafts and home-made jam, honey, lemon curd, etc., We also have lots of local dancing groups who perform and a band playing until the wee hours in the morning followed by a DJ and dance party for the more younger people of the local villages!!!!!!!!!!

The last dance is fun when the unsuspecting locals (me) are encouraged (dragged) up for a dance. Not a good move when wearing flip-flips and the beat is fast and dancing backwards. At least I managed to keep upright and didn't make myself look a "complete fool" !!!!!!