Allotments 4 All

Just wanted wanted to let you all know that today I harvested enough for our first homegrown family meal

First early Pentlands
Boltard beetroot
White lisbon spring onions
Little Gem lettuce

Everyone (OH and 2 boys) said yummy and made all the right appreciative noises but they just don't understand why I want to do a happy dance ;D ;D

I've never grown veggies before and look 4 whole plates full - YES ;D ;D

Makes the ongoing battle with the evil horsetail seem worthwhile ;)

it's the best feeling in the world, isnt it?
well, close anyways

still waiting for my early pots, but have already eaten lettuce and rocket this season, as well as a helping of broad beans and purple sprouting brocc (from last year's overwintering stock)

Well done, great feeling isn't it :)

Congratulations SMP! It is great to be tasting your own produce and it does make all that hard work so worthwhile. busy_lizzie

Big moment - really understand that happy dance feeling!
Well done smp, and from a standing start too! :o :o :D
You've done your family proud ;D

And the great thing is, it just keeps coming now!  And you never loose that smug feeling!  I get it!  As I pull onto the drive and open the doors and start unloading I want to say, 'hey, hey you there, you that eats that rubbish limp veg from Asda, just look, look what I grew, look what I did, look how lush and lovely and chemical free it is, just imagine how great it is going to taste!'  Of course I don't say that, otherwise the men in white coats would be called.  ;D

Congratulations SMP - fantastic!

Perhaps if you get a picture of your lovely homegrown produce and put it onto a t-shirt with a slogan "not rubbish limp veg!" or other words to that effect..

All I have harvested this year are: 2 overwintered lettuce, one small cos lettuce & 4 mushrooms, ooo forgot the romanesco type thing harvested feb/march and the purple sprouting broccoli that my son devoured from the sorry-looking plant in the garden. Oh, and parsley!

Yesits funny how even the lowly little radish tastes so much better when you have grown it your self.

I've had a few radish (very spicy) a couple of little gems and some broad beans so far  makes you feel healther knowing whats gone on them.

and now dessert ;D

Just need to work out how to get the main course and dessert synchronised and I will be smug smug smug ;D ;D ;D

Have also started giving away Little Gems to the neighbours, they are not yet at the point where they start to run away when they see me - yet ;)

Here are the first fruits from my rescued strawberries, they were already on the plot and so have no idea how old they are or what variety, but I am seriously impressed with the size and quantity ;D ;D

Need to work on my digi camera skills, but you get the idea..........

i had loads of broad beans today - hmmmmmmm
(this was the second harvest)

Was at the plot at 6am :o this morning - I didn't realise that such a time existed on a Sunday!!  but I was so hot and ratty that I gave up trying to sleep at about 4am.

It was a perfect time to be at the plot but by about 7am loads of other people were there too.  I attacked the horsetail but only made a dent in it. >:(

More harvest - twice as many strawbs as last week, but more have been slugged - vertical grooves are appearing on the fruits, despite being netted and pelleted - grrr.  Also more first early pots, but on cleaning them, I noticed that the eelworm had attacked the larger tubers - more grrr.  Pulled my first pak choi and picked my first peas and broadies.  The carrots are doing fantastically well, particulary the Amsterdam Forcing, but not impressed with the Early Nantes, so pulled a big bunch of young carrots ang only two were deformed :D

I am so jealous when I see all these people with strawberries as mine are no where near ready yet.  Such a great time of the year, my lettuces are ready to  pick and everything else is flourishing.  Isn't it brilliant when the produce starts.  The hard work and now the reward. Must remember this time when the dark days of winter are here.  :) busy_lizzie

Smp 1740, afraid I beat you I was on mine at 4.10 this morning, had so much to do and wanted to get started before the sun got to hot.
dug some potatoes, picked some peas cut cabbage, puled rhubarb, beetroot and radishes, and cut lettuce for todays dinner and tea then got on with planting some cabbage plants ( that the pigeons had not got hold of) pumpkins, marrows, lettuce and sowed some beetroot seed.

What a great day.

What am I doing wrong ???

my strawberries are nowhere near ready,
my earlies potatoes are the size of marbles yet,
my squash are only flowers,
and I have only sown my carrots, parsnips, and beetroot yesterday
(I'm following the packet insructions) ???

On the up side..............
I definitely have good fertile soil   ;D ...........the weeds are thriving :o

I think I'd better start a thread asking for help ;)

Scotch-mist, just had a look at your location.  Isn't the climate a bit more, erm, challenging there??

Misty, I think SMP is right.  I am in the North East and I am almost at the same stage as you.  I planted my beetroot early because that is quite hardy, so that is fine.  Haven't any flowers yet on my squash, though they are flourishing.  No parsnip seeds up yet as they have a long germination and you have still got plenty of time for carrots.  Have'nt look at the pots yet,but I know they are far from ready. Things will be starting to catch up now that we have better weather. Don't get stressed - think about your condition!  ;D busy_lizzie

And just think Scotch, when our strawbs are nothing more than a memory, you can sit down and enjoy yours with clotted cream!!!!

Quote from: Svea on June 07, 2006, 22:59:15
i had loads of broad beans today - hmmmmmmm
(this was the second harvest)

mine are a long way off - what do I need to do?
what type are yours?
when did you plant them

thank God (spell check.........D.A.N. ;D ) for this site ;)

SMP, believe it or not , the weather here is tropical ,
has been for this last few weeks,and is looking good for this next one too.

EJ, I've got two budding Titchmarsh's that are watching my strawberries
with wee beady eyes and dribbling mouths, what do you reckon my chances are of getting there first? ;D ;D ;D

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, I'm taking deep breaths, and thinking of starting a prayer group for my veg  ;D ;D ;D