Tuesday 6 March 2012

Slim pickings



A bit of sunshine - time to take a walk round the garden and see what is happening.
We ate the last of our homegrown squash and beetroot last weekend and our stock of other vegetables is getting rather slim. Frost has given a fine tilth to the soil in the vegetable garden but it has done for the cabbage plants and the crops that remain are looking very bedraggled.

A few pathetic leeks,

and the parsnips are starting to re-sprout. Time to yank them out. 
More soup!

But it is good to see signs of fresh growth. We both love young, pink rhubarb and can never grow enough. I've put the forcer over one clump so that the stalks will be really tender.


Another welcome sight, a row of fresh chive leaves pushing up through the earth.



Wild primroses seed themselves freely all about the garden.

The citrus trees have been under glass now for months and are not looking happy. They have dropped a lot of leaves and the ones that remain are an unhealthy yellow. Some plant feed and TLC is badly needed - also warmth and sunshine!

Most winters this big camellia bush gets badly scorched by the weather, damaging both leaves and flowers. This year (whisper it) it has so far remained unscathed and I am promised a wonderful show of  scarlet flowers.
 

And in the flower beds things are also starting to happen!


I've added the two pictures below for Steve, who wanted to know what a rhubarb forcer is like. It's a tall pot with a lid inside which the rhubarb grows slender and tender searching up towards the light. The result is delicious!

10 comments:

  1. I truly admire people who can grow so much of their own food. Pretty pictures. Smiles to you, Susie(She Junks)

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    1. It is satisfying to grow as much of our own food as possible. Sometimes it's a battle as well and one that both bugs and badgers seem to be winning!

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  2. It seems Spring is showing her face all around you. Bonnie

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    1. It's certainly starting to look like spring, but it still feels like winter. Bitterly cold winds are making the outdoors not a very comfortable place to be.

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  3. it's always lovely to take a walk with you through the garden. chives already! yum.

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    1. Yes, it's good to make a quick dash into the garden with the kitchen scissors to snip a few chives!

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  4. I love the first findings in the spring! Signs of life are so encouraging! Your flowers are so pretty!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I agree, it is encouraging - roll on some warmer weather!

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  5. I left a comment yesterday asking what a forcer is. Strange that it's gone.

    The wild primroses are very sweet.

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    Replies
    1. Pictures of the forcer and resulting rhubarb added above for you Steve.

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