Wednesday 18 July 2018

How Does Your Garden Grow?

We have had several showers throughout the past couple of days and a couple of heavy downpours.  The garden is once again looking a vibrant green and thoughts are now turning to harvesting the few things that we have managed to grow this year.  We planted a new variety (to us) of carrot which is purple, there was obviously not enough depth in the double tyre as they are deformed.  However the taste was divine, sweet and a delight if a little disconcerting due to the colour.





We enjoyed some with our meal last night, definitely a variety we would try again. PURPLE SUN.

The beetroot looks to be doing well, I will harvest a little when I have more time to establish how well it is growing.  We are at the cardiac rehabilitation today so time is limited.



The mint is prolific so a good job it is contained.  I use it on a daily basis adding it to the new potatoes.  I intend to harvest a big part of it to dry it out for Winter use.  We had two varieties this year, a peppermint one which I had intended to use in tea but this has been a rare occurrence.



Parsley and chives are also regularly used so again I will be bringing some in to dry.  I did think I might freeze some in icecube trays to add to stews/casseroles.



It will be interesting to establish which method gives the more intense flavour.  We are now on our second growth of rhubarb but not enough to freeze for later use.  We do need to plant some more as we do like rhubarb as an addition to jam and for use as the base of a pie/crumble for a Winter dessert.



Not a lot growing in my garden but a start has been made.  The materials have been ordered that are required to restore an old outbuilding into an indoor garden.  They will take 2 weeks to be delivered from the mainland, so exciting times ahead.

What have you got growing in your garden?

As always I thank you for your comments and interest.  In answer to some questions regarding the rugs that I have been making, yes I do add a liner to avoid slipping.





See you soon.

29 comments:

  1. Everything looks so green and lush, we’re still desperate for rain as all we had was a shower the other night. Interesting colour for a carrot, sounded delicious xx

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  2. Glad to see someone else has a pot of mint. I planted some in my pot and it has really taken off this year. Liked your idea of adding mint to tea. I heard somewhere that mint will repel varmints so that's why I originally planted it, now I just love the green because it's just to hot for most of my flowers to thrive.

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  3. Can there be anything nicer than new potatoes with mint fresh from the garden? They make my mouth water just thinking about them.
    I am so excited to see your indoor garden.
    Hugs-x-

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  4. Success in the garden, I love those carrots. I must try to grow rhubarb again.

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  5. I need to put a liner under my kitchen rug I crocheted. We keep tripping as it slips. Good idea!
    As for the garden - it's a mess of weeds this year. I think I will have to actually buy green onion to replant for the first time in 15 years or so. I have moved it twice and it was plenty, but hardly anything came up this year.

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  6. Passando para matar as saudades e me deparei com muita coisas lindas!! Parabéns !! A sua horta me encantou esta muito linda.
    Beijos
    Ângela

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  7. Once had a friend use tires for her garden. She stacked them waist high as I recall. Those carrots are a wonderful color! Who cares if they are a bit twisted if the flavor is there! (My garden was eaten by deer. 😖The potted flowers are okay; the perennials in the garden are not.) Have a happy week!

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  8. we did not plant a garden this year, we have a few volunteers coming up, some tomatoes and basil. Your garden looks marvelous!!

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  9. Your garden looks delicious! Your parsley is so healthy and prolific! We have oregano that I'm drying. It's getting ready to flower, which I allow since I like the little purple blooms. The chocolate mint (in a pot as well) is great in iced tea, though I personally can't taste the chocolate. My new rosemary is growing with supplemental watering. We need rain. Glad to hear you got some! ♥

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  10. Everything looks great. I'm intrigued by purple carrots and so are my kids. We haven't tried them but every time my kids see them in the store, they beg me to buy them. They're more expensive than regular orange ones, but sometime I'll splurge. :)

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  11. I’m sure ai read somewhere that cartots were originally this colour and were then “doctored” to produce the bright orange colour we have now. Thanks for posting the rug backing-I’ll try to source it for my rag rugs.

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  12. I've never seen purple carrots. It would be interesting to grow some and have a taste. It's wonderful you're reaping a healthy bounty from your homegrown garden. Enjoy!
    xx Beca

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  13. All of your garden goodies look delicious Lorraine. I have never seen an actual purple carrot, only on blogs. I’m curious as to the taste. I think an indoor growing place for you would be wonderful in your climate. I’m on my second growth of rhubarb now too. I need to get out and harvest it and get it into the freezer. It looks as though it’s getting ready to bolt and I don’t want that to happen. I hope you’re having a most lovely day my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  14. It all looks lovely and green. The purple carrots were a surprise, I never knew they could be that colour. X

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  15. Your garden is sooo green!!!
    Please come and help me with mine!!!
    And thank you for the rug things!!
    I have been looking for something like that forever.
    Have a lovely afternoon, my friend.

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  16. I've never seen such pretty green parsley. Seems like everything you put in the ground grows and does good. Our cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes have been good this summer, but it's been a bad year for beans.

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  17. I think your garden endeavors were very successful! Me, I will stick with orange carrots.. lol. I can't wait to see what you do with your building project. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  18. Everything looks fresh and inviting.
    I love the contrast of the painted red tyres with
    the green of the produce.
    I need to try some purple carrots.
    Look forward to seeing the progress of your indoor
    garden x

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  19. An indoor garden sounds like fun. I look forward to hearing about it as you move forward.

    Beans are just beginning now ( bush beans) with the pole beans reaching up a good 8 feet. I wish they'd stop growing and bloom!
    My edible podded peas are not doing well this year. Too much shade where they're planted. Shade is a problem for our garden because of all the trees around our lot ( on neighbours' lots, not ours).

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  20. My youngest son grew some purple carrots and we enjoyed their flavor...and interesting color, too! I am looking forward to seeing your building project progress :-) xx

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  21. It's great to see all the green and it's always exciting digging up the produce and eating it. It looks like you've had a good year.

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  22. Your garden looks wonderful. My garden? By this time in July, gardens in the deep South have mostly succumbed to the heat and diseases from the humidity and heat. I do have two brave tomato plants struggling along and some pole beans but even they do not look pretty anymore.

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  23. Your garden is great. I love trying different varieties of favorite vegetables.

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  24. Well, it looks like your garden is thriving as well and what a unique carrot that is! Nothing like home grown goodness!

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  25. Your garden photos are marvelous . . . so fresh and tasty:) You left a comment on my blog with this line in it: Summer the time of year when the the taste of summer is preserved in readiness for the Winter. That's poetry to my ears :) I love the way you worded that :)

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  26. I haven't grown a thing this year and I'm regretting it now as there really is no better taste than home grown. I think it would have been hard work this year though with so little rain about, even the grass is no longer growing.

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  27. wow che bellissimo giardino! mai vista una carota viola :)

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  28. You have some lovely garden produce the purple carrots look interesting, I think I would like those also beetroot which I like too:)

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