I know some of you are already eating home-grown strawberries but mine grown in the greenhouse are only just ripening. When I open up the greenhouse first thing in the morning the smell of strawberries is really strong and they taste wonderful. I had a few shop bought ones last week that were sour. It just goes to prove that supermarkets grow for appearance rather than taste - how can a strawberry be sour!
The bottom two pictures are those growing in hanging baskets outside - they still have a way to go. I do have an unruly strawberry patch at the plot where I allow the plants to do their own thing - I don't cut the runners off and just let them roam where they will - as you can imagine they patch is quite large now and I will have to have a bit of a sort out once they have fruited.
Some of the peas are now ready for picking. These are growing in a trough - the ones in the ground are catching up fast though - I just hope they don't come to fruition whilst we are away on holiday next week.
Hurrah - I have my first tiny tomato on the Sungold plant outside in a container. This plant was a survivor from the February sowing - the rest got hit by frost.
These are the second batch of french beans ready to be planted out - alas, a greenhouse snail has already been having a go at them, one has been completely sliced off. Grrr.
There are a few flowers forming on the container squash - it doesn't look like they are fruit-bearing though - still plenty of time for that, she says hopefully.
The Cavolo Nero are ready to plant out but I haven't got any room left - so I have potted them on till I can find somewhere to put them - probably when something has been harvested.
And finally my pear tree has managed to hang on to seven pears. This may not sound much to you but it is the first time in all the years I have had this tree that pears have been formed and stayed put. Let's hope no disasters befall them.
I won't be posting next week as I shall be sunning myself on the Norfolk Riviera - ha ha - that'll be a first!
Some of the peas are now ready for picking. These are growing in a trough - the ones in the ground are catching up fast though - I just hope they don't come to fruition whilst we are away on holiday next week.
Hurrah - I have my first tiny tomato on the Sungold plant outside in a container. This plant was a survivor from the February sowing - the rest got hit by frost.
These are the second batch of french beans ready to be planted out - alas, a greenhouse snail has already been having a go at them, one has been completely sliced off. Grrr.
There are a few flowers forming on the container squash - it doesn't look like they are fruit-bearing though - still plenty of time for that, she says hopefully.
The Cavolo Nero are ready to plant out but I haven't got any room left - so I have potted them on till I can find somewhere to put them - probably when something has been harvested.
And finally my pear tree has managed to hang on to seven pears. This may not sound much to you but it is the first time in all the years I have had this tree that pears have been formed and stayed put. Let's hope no disasters befall them.
I won't be posting next week as I shall be sunning myself on the Norfolk Riviera - ha ha - that'll be a first!
Hope you have a good week
and may all your harvests be plentiful.
Check out what I've been up to at my other blog
Ramblings from Rosebank
Check out what I've been up to at my other blog
Ramblings from Rosebank
Everyone seems to be picking strawberries.. mine are still green.. but I am so looking forward to that first taste.
ReplyDeleteAnd another favourite of mine, freshly picked peas.. mine are now coming into flower.. trouble is when the pods hang there, I can't help but pick a couple every time I walk past.. :o)
the ones in the greenhouse are much further along than those outside - I planted them purposefully to get an early crop.
DeleteHope the weather stays nice for your hols. I dislike shop bought strawberries, they always taste too sharp to me, but ripe home grown ones are another thing altogether :)
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough it very rarely rains when we are in Norfolk - as long as we are able to get out and about all will be well.
DeleteLovely strawberries ... mine are still flowers so we have a long time to wait! Have a good holiday :)
ReplyDeleteThey are really sweet - I have been having them on my breakfast cereal - yum.
DeleteI have picked quite a few strawberries from the greenhouse, and I have lots of gren toms, cuecumbers and peppers. But my peas are only just flowering outside.
ReplyDeleteIt does annoy me when one pesky snail gets into the greenhouse and goes to town. Last year one made very short work of some seedlings.
Lovely blog.
Leanne xx
My peppers are stubbornly refusing to grow - I can't figure out why.
DeleteIsn't it great to see everything coming along nicely. Have a good holiday,Elaine.
ReplyDeleteIt is Catherine - I am really looking forward to a few days away - pity my neighbour who has all the watering to do for me.
DeleteYour strawberries are ahead of mine and your peas, I'm not far behind but its great for you to be having your first pickings. Everything is coming on so well in your garden.
ReplyDeleteHave a great holiday.
I don't grow vast quantities of anything but that makes what I do grow all the more special.
DeleteHello Elaine, I'm afraid the only thing I have harvested is cut and come again lettuce leaves! There will be lots of strawberries eventually, they all seem way behind, the blueberries are forming and growing larger, potatoes will soon be ready followed by the tomatoes. Still a way to go yet.
ReplyDeleteI can't keep up with the lettuce leaves - I've got a feeling they will all bolt before I get a chance to eat them all. Must sow some more soon.
Deletehow quickly things change Elaine now we have some better weather
ReplyDeleteI agree David - one minute we're moaning that nothing is happening - the next we're struggling to keep up - nice though.
DeleteBest year ever for strawberries here, Yum. A pear tree I planted about 6 years ago was covered in flowers this year, but I've just noticed that it only has about 12 pears on it. Still, I see that as a bonus anyway; I adore pears.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why pears take so long to bear fruit - it will be a miracle if I get any - we once had a neighbour with a pear tree that was absolutely heaving with fruit every year - wonder what the secret is.
DeleteNo strawberries for me yet but plenty of green fruit and I can't wait! A friend came over yesterday and mentioned that they've had tons of strawberries from their polytunnel over the past few weeks. The funny thing is that they don't taste very nice and must have that sour/non-flavour of supermarket fruit. It seems that strawberries grown outdoors are always better.
ReplyDeleteI can't eat too many strawberries as they upset my stomach and bring me out in a rash - typical, one fruit that I love and it hates me.
DeleteSnap on the strawberries but our peas are struggling.
ReplyDeleteShame about the peas Sue - hope they pick up for you.
DeleteI think we are going to direct sow some amongst them.
DeleteIt's all looking good. I've had a taste of the first strawberry but no tomatoes on my plants yet. They've got flowers though so it shouldn't be long. Have a wonderful holiday, I hope the weather stays fine for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - I'm looking forward to the break - no cooking for a week - hurrah
DeleteYou'll have strawberries ready for Wimbledon! Enjoy your holiday - hope the sun shines for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks - just as long as it doesn't rain every day I will be happy.
DeleteIt's all looking good and I'm sure that you're looking forward to all of them.
ReplyDeleteI've several strawberries that are beginning to go red. Flighty xx
I am particularly looking forward to the first of the early potatoes - there's nothing to beat them.
DeleteCan't beat home grown for flavour and I don't grow them, more's the pity. Enjoy Norfolk, I love it there, its so relaxing.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Thanks Patricia - can't wait - long walks by the sea, eating out in nice restaurants, not having to get up early - oh be still my beating heart.
DeleteNo strawberries yet, but we have started picking the mange tout peas, and very nice they are. Spinach too.
ReplyDeleteHave a great holiday!
Thanks Jessica.
DeleteYour plants look healthy and happy. Based on various blog posts, we might just all have a great year for veg growing!
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so Kelli
DeleteMarvelous looking plants all round. It's not the size of the Tomato that counts but the love and care taken to produce them. Enjoy your holiday.
ReplyDeleteThanks for such an encouraging comment Rooko. I will do my best.
DeleteMy pear tree had flowers but no sign of fruit, my plum tree set a handful of tiny fruits which have all disappeared so, yet again, it looks like cherries and apples for me. Loads of strawberries here, all grown outdoors; the first few have ripened but been munched by slugs. Will definitely be getting some straw down this weekend, especially as it's just been raining here. Wishing you a lovely holiday - no time off for me just yet but hoping to see the seaside soon!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the weather condition have to be just right for certain fruits - I don't have any plums again this year either and only one apple tree is bearing fruit out of half a dozen - it is very disappointing - but at least I will have soft fruit this year - I didn't even have raspberries last year. Ah - the ups and downs of gardening - these things are sent to try us.
DeleteSame here....I had to plant beans twice. Apples are great and all berries! Blooms on Tomatoes but none on squash yet...but plenty of greens too! how will I eat so many greens! LOL
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing better than eating a ripe strawberry, still warm from the sun. I think one of the reasons supermarket strawberries are disappointing is because they're picked slightly under-ripe and then chilled.
ReplyDeleteYou're ahead of us - our peas are almost there. Not long to wait now, especially if the sun keeps shining.
Same with our strawberries, I'm waiting patiently....not really! Supermarket ones are just horrible, or the ones I've bought anyway. Everything is looking very healthy in your garden/allotment. x
ReplyDeleteSo much growing and fruiting and it all looks so healthy. I have a very small patch of strawberries that are still giving me some fruit.
ReplyDeleteAll is looking swell! My Grandfather had pear trees! We couldnt wait for them to ripen and every Summer got wicked tummy aches from eating unripe pears. Children never learn when it comes to fruit growing on trees!
ReplyDeleteI love fresh strawberries! I haven't had any in forever. This post has inspired me to go hunt some down at the farmer's market today :)
ReplyDeleteMy strawberries ran their course and are all gone now. It's so nice to have fresh home-grown ones. Looking forward to tomato season now!
ReplyDelete