After the holidays

Following a meal consisting of our own broad beans and peas it is finally time for an update. The undergardener and I went on a nice long holiday and left our garden to its own devices (and to the generosity of the neighbours who watered it). Coming back to a garden after an absence of nearly four weeks in June is an interesting experience. The new variety of tomatoes – a cross between berries and tomatoes – have formed a jungle. I decided to tie them up hard, probably not good for the tomatoes, but they completely overshadowed the teeny-weeny leeks.

Also the cherry tomato which was not pinched out developed into a shrub. Tomatoes surprisingly do seem to like our poor soil, in contrast to the carrots. After last years micro crop and this years attack of the slugs I think I will give up on them.

A blitz through the garden and the situation is nearly under control. While having a good rummage, I found the first Pattie Pan hiding in the plant like a mini flying saucer landed in the vegetable bed.

Height of summer or beginning of autumn

The signs are ambiguous. There is a nip in the air in the mornings and the days are (way too) rapidly growing shorter. But when I was rummaging in the garden today I had to take off a layer in the baking sun. And it seems like my plants can’t make their mind up either. Looking at the sunflowers you would hurry to get your thick snugly sweaters out of their summer storage. The bumblebees have done their job and the seeds are nearly ready and will be fed to some very lucky birds in a couple of months.

On the other hand the runner beans, which I nearly got rid off several weeks ago, got a second wind and started producing another crop. There are plenty of flowers still on them, so I am hoping to keep picking until the end of September.

One of the advantages of the turning season is the ripening of the tomatoes. We no longer have green tomatoes, they are reddening at an incredible speed.  Last week we had them as sauce, in a stew and today I had a big tomato salad for lunch. And with us, the snails/slugs and a sneaky Jackdaw all sharing, there still are plenty left to go around. I wonder if there will be any left to make green tomato chutney when the season really is over.