The highs and lows of growing your own dinner 2015

Narc0lepsy

[QUOTE=Kantankrus_Mare;68359532Got_some_rhubarb_in_the_fridge_that_needs_using_so_probably_crumble_on_the_horizon.[/QUOTE]

With thanks to Dusty from flyladies group, here's a recipe for rhubarb muffins she shared http://www.melskitchencafe.com/rhubarb-muffins/

They sound yummy and I'm planning to try them.

Jazee

Morning all. Another one here hoping to have free lettuce leaves through the summer, already going really well.

Today appears to be dry. If it stays that way, I will be cutting grass and weeding. Need also to plant some more parsley, mint, basil, garlic chives and lettuce.

Happygreen

Good Sunday morning, all.

Rain here so far today, I'm glad I put the rows of Runners and peas out yesterday evening (1 each). No need to soak either, lol.
The weeds really have come on since the last rain....Dock's the worst, roots all the way to the middle of the earth! I might tidy up a bit in the greenhouse today.

Geodark

just did a bit of tidying in the greenhouse, transplanted some of my tomatoes and chili plants, and started off some more salad, spring onions, rocket and radish. also moved the blueberry's, lupins and lilly's into bigger tubs - been quite a productive day here!

Jazee

It stayed dry here but I didn't even set foot in the garden or outside the front door. A really lazy unexpected day, I didn't get dressed till 2.30, still just chilling now. DD and her BF however, enjoyed my homegrown lettuce at lunchtime.

Kantankrus_Mare

Narc0lepsy wrote: »

With thanks to Dusty from flyladies group, here's a recipe for rhubarb muffins she shared http://www.melskitchencafe.com/rhubarb-muffins/

They sound yummy and I'm planning to try them.

Thanks for the link to this recipe! Was almost put off because of the american cup measurements and the fact I didnt have any buttermilk but after a bit of googling, I found conversions and a tip for if no buttermilk to hand, (as not many of us do ) a tablespoon of lemon juice topped up to a cup with normal milk gives same results.

I found I didnt think I had enough for 24 as stated so spread the mixture between 12 muffin cases.

Had to bake for about 10 mins longer than stated till skewer came out clean.

Just had one in garden and they are lovely!!

Would definitely do again. They would also be nice warmed with a bit of custard.

My daughter liked them and she has never eaten rhubarb in her life so cant be bad.

Had a good afternoon at allotment. Got mange tout and courgettes in, picked the rest of the leeks and have leek and potato soup on the hob.

Daughter helped me and we made real inroads into the weed problem at the bottom of the plot. Amazing how much a couple of you can achieve.

Need to get some leek seeds on the go for next years leeks. Its one thing that I use lots of. Have enough left over for a leek risotto in the week.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

unrecordings

IIEE We dropped off the first page of threads. Sorry been a little busy with work, but I fixed that now... ...Purple Sprouting Broccoli still neither purple nor sprouting, so I might just harvest it for the leaves (which I imagine to be pretty similar to the 'spring greens' you can get). Potatoes doing well - they're just about to out grow the cat protection I put in place and i can start earthing up. Peas were struggling due to mice, so i had a bunch of seedlings on the windowsill to bolster the existing seedlings out there, then moved them all together to plug the gaps. Beans (Enorma, Metro Rouge and some unnamed French Beans) were replanted last weekend. I put an entanglement of copper wire around them and added wood ash around the roots - no slugs yet, but they're just lulling me into a false sense of security before demolishing the lot. Lovage is coming along, not quite ready to harvest yet, but nearly - plenty of Sorrel though. All my seed Oca have sprouted with leaves - last year two Oca plants were enough, now I have 11 - oh dear...

Happygreen

Yeah, the first potatoes are popping up! A few movements in the ever so late seed trays....It's been very cold again and some things don't germinate unless it's warmer.

zafiro1984

Rain rain today it's not quite started but we've been looking on 'Rain today' a live feed radar website and its going to be awful here in about half an hour.

In the last week I've been busy tidying up the plot and helping with the raised beds for the polytunnel, I'm really please with it's progress but a bit frustrated as I want it up now but life seems to always get in the way.

Progress report:-
Carrots and parsnips are germinating at last
Potatoes doing well
I planted 120 strawberry plants a couple of days ago, plus two beds of sweetcorn.
Onions and garlic ok
Shallots - dead (I forgot to water the seeds)
Runner and climbing F beans need re sowing as the ones in the greenhouse are too leggy to be planted out.
A lovely friend gave me some courgette plants, dwarf F beans, peppers, and lettuce. They were for the polytunnel but apart from the peppers I've taken a chance and put them outside. The peppers are in the greenhouse.
Tomatoes although small are doing ok in the greenhouse.
Blueberries, blackcurrants crab apples and apples in flower

This year I aim to be as self sufficient as possible in fruit and vegetables. I have found over the years that when I have vegetables growing it keeps me away from the supermarkets and those expensive 'impulse buys' as well as saving time in the long run not to mention I actually enjoy growing things.

Rain will force me to spend this afternoon in the greenhouse tidying up and sorting out. At least it will feel warm.

Scottish_Mike

My Borlottis have all germinated, a few sugarsnaps so far but none of the peas. I'm so behind now - we got distracted trying to sort out the garden and have neglected the allotment. Maincrops aren't in yet - going to plant them over the weekend if possible and hopefully get something from them.