2015 Growing Season

Definitely slow here. My autumn sown broad beans should be ready for picking in another few days - way behind last year, when I picked the first ones on 21st May.
Even after the very late, cold spring of 2013 I picked the first ones on 22nd June, so certainly on the slow side this year.

The Arran Pilot spuds are putting on plenty of top growth after a slow start. Checking back, I lifted the first ones on 1st June last year, they're still probably about a week or so from being ready, so again, later than last year.

 

Just done a sowing of peas and french beans, peas i've got now will be over by the time of the show in August.

 

The cucumbers in the greenhouse are starting to come on strong. I was a few cucumbers short for making a small batch of garlic dill pickles, but I just can't wait to taste one, so I decided to go ahead and make a batch.

 

cor - they look promising ,
Jenny

 

First aubergines of the year, & a couple more small cucumbers - I should get 3 or 4 more by the end of the week so I shall probably pickle them too ; in the past Ive used vinegar but I want to try brine - fermentation this year when I get a moment.

I could have left the aubergines for another week or so but they were at the bottom of the plant so were in danger of getting damaged.. and I wanted something for dinner..

 

Looking good Nick

 

Lifted the first couple of roots of my Arran Pilot new potatoes today. They've come on quite well after a slow start, although I've had to give them plenty of water as it's been so dry here.

For me, there is absolutely nothing to beat the taste of those first, succulent freshly dug new potatoes every year.

 

I've also been digging Arran Pilot. Plenty of tubers but was a bit disappointed with the taste, they are very "floury" . Our veg has really took off in the last couple of weeks, thanks to a bit of warmer weather and the warmer nights! Got a bumper crop of broad beans. plenty for the freezer, although black fly have descended with a vengeance in the last couple of days. Have picked some strawberries, but probably won't have a many as usual. Also had some nice lettuce-"Webbs Wonderful", always grow that -I dare say the cool weather actually helped there. Gooseberries nearly ripe and onions planted from sets last autumn are beginning to bend over. Very pleased with them! Will be lifting autumn planted garlic and shallots for ripening at the weekend. Planted 2 varieties of shallots, Yellow Moon and Longour. The Yellow Moon are pretty good, but I guess 50% of the Longour at least have gone to seed. Everything else looks fine at the moment -touch wood! The best thing for me today though was finding Pea "Shiraz" in flower. Its the first time I have grown it, but it won't be the last whatever they taste like, I love them flowers on it!

 

Fed the potatoes today, need some rain though, barrel is empty again

Picked some Alpine Strawberries too

 

Everything edible is unbelievable late here.

Raspberries which we are usually picking very early June for our early variety are just starting to colour and plump properly.
Rhubarb which by this time has been cropped a few times has only just come into its own and I'm just about to pick for eating and bottling or jam.
Blueberries also late and sitting doing not too much with tons of small unripe berries.
Squash doing well but courgettes looking healthy but at a standstill.

Not just me either so not a completely rubbish gardener , a few roadside sellers locally still have fleecy coverings over their strawberries etc., they've usually been selling a varieties of soft fruits for weeks by now.

Hopefully the heatwave we are promised will bring them on well.

p.s. @Zigs I love the taste of those ever-bearing strawberries.
@OxfordNick those aubergines look smashing, I've given up trying as too many failures.

GG

 

Yep, if it's been out in the wind it's late this year

 

The Desirees for tomorrow's tea:

 

You're all doing great!!

This year I have done zilch, zero, not a thing :( This is the first year in about 6 or 7 that I've done nothing!
My strawberry plant is coming along ok, 2x rasp bushes are hmmm ok-ish, 1 blueberry bush has nothing on, the other blueberry bush is overflowing with berries (yey!), and my kiwi bush appears to have something fruiting!!
The bag I grew potatoes in last year has sprouted a potato plant unexpectedly!

 

Raspberries are fruiting well and starting to ripen,I've a sneaky feeling my Celeriac is going to bolt but I think it's going to be a good year for Sweetcorn