The Kitchen Garden

In the kitchen garden I have planted my seed potatoes (Duke of York). Each day I search for signs of new baby leaves emerging. It looks very neat and tidy without any weeds but now we have had so much rain I'm sure the weeds will jump up to say “hello”.

I have planted 2 rows of broad beans plants that I have had growing in the greenhouse and tied them to little willow sticks that I have cut from our hedgerows last year. It has been very windy here so I don’t want them being bullied by big gusts of wind and thrashings of rain. It is possibly not the best time to have transplanted, but I thought they might do better with natural rain settling them in.

I have a few rows of garlic planted; some I have bought from the supermarket which I thought might be successful and also 3 elephant bulbs. I have never tried growing these before.

Garlic growing in the greenhouse

Freshly planted in bed

 The kale has started to go to seed but I will definitely grow it again. It’s been so good in stews, raw in salads and lovely in omelettes and quiches. The girls in the orchard love it also they rush up and snatch it before I have even let go of it.

Kale

Lovely Purple Sprouting Broccoli

The purple sprouting broccoli is in full growth alert with plenty to be picked on each plant. I have been boiling and steaming it. Boiling makes it loose it colour so I thought I would give a try at dying some sheep’s wool or interlining to see if the colour will catch. I do enjoy taking my trug and picking a basket full. I have also put a few batches in the freezer.

The rhubarb is growing well and we have had some tasty crumbles with it. It has such a lovely bright green leaf with eye-catching red stems. It looks so pretty with puddles of fresh rain collected in the robust leaves. I have had one plant where I have had to remove a flower head. Hopefully it will produce tasty stems.

Well we have lots of plans to be in the garden this weekend but think we will be dashing in-between April rain showers. These cloud burst make good stops for a nice cup of coffee while planning where the spade and fork will dig next. Will be in-touch soon. Have a super weekend. Take care and enjoy life.