AWOL

Well well, tut tut me, 3 months without a post!

I kept meaning to post but the longer I left it the more I had to write and the more I had to write the less time I had to do it blah blah etc... but I'm here now (typing while the girls throw pasta at each other!).

So, lovely weather we've been having! Means my gardening has been somewhat sporadic but I shall update you on what I have...

Broad beans are up through the soil and about 6 inches tall...they don't seem to be suffering as much with the slugs as last year, however this weather means I think the slugs are still in the soil with their fingers in their ears singing 'la la la, not spring, not coming out yet'!

Broad beans

The apple tree and the cherry tree have blossomed so hopefully they will produce fruit this year.

No sign of any raspberry blossom as yet but the red currant bushes are TEAMING with buds... Best start searching google for some recipes! Also flourishing is the rhubarb. Again. Just to remind you, last year the rhubarb grew to such epic proportions that I had to fence it off as it as fighting the peas (the rhubarb won, hands down!).

The giant rhubarb... patch... plant.... not sure what the correct term is! To give you an idea of scale, its currently up to my waist.

 Ironically I have the only one in the family who likes rhubarb so I spent an inordinate amount of time last year walking round with a bundle of rhubarb under my arm to palm off on unsuspecting acquaintances. This year I am trying to use it myself so a few weeks ago I made rhubarb and ginger jam (emphasis on the ginger) and it is LUSH. The girls like it too so I'll be making another batch shortly. Also planning to stew some to go on Greek yoghurt instead of buying flavoured yoghurt and I plan to experiment with rhubarb ice-cream if the weather ever improves.

I have also planted a few rows of carrots, radishes... and something else I can't quite remember but its raining too much to go and check now, plus I'm pretty sure none of it is actually growing - there are lots of plant on that area of the patch but nothing coming up in rows so assuming its all weeds, although I've not pulled anything up, just in case!

I plan to plant some parsnips when the weather improves enough - they did really well (okay, relatively well) last year so I may as well stick to what I know works!

Lastly the strawberries are looking healthy but no flowers as yet. The beloved pineberry had gone a bit flat and pathetic looking but seems to have perked up and has a few flowers on which has excited me no end. My concern though is that the instructions said to plant it near strawberries for cross pollination... however the strawberries aren't flowering yet so my excitement is marred by the fact that it may still not fruit.As long as I get one I'll be happy, I'm just so intrigued by the idea of a strawberry that tastes of pineapple!

The strawberries - along the top are the strawberries. The one at the bottom of the shot is the pineberry. Actually there are flowers on the top right plant too however I don't know if this is a runner form the strawberry or the pineberry, but hopefully it'll cross pollinate...

Well that's outside covered. The green house is looking rather healthy at the moment. Tomatoes are doing well (cherry for the Smallest Small to eat and normal for making into chutney/sauce etc) - again tomatoes aren't overly popular in this house so ironic that I'm pretty good at growing them!

The tomato plants and either 2 squash or two courgettes!

I also have either 3 squash plants and 2 courgettes or 3 courgettes and 2 squash... There was a labelling issue! However, all 5 are doing well so I'll wait and see what grows, its vegetable roulette!

3 squash/courgette plants, 2 rather pathetic looking cucumbers and a pepper plant

So that's the grow bags covered, on the shelves I have two trays of salad leaves, and purple sprouting:

Two pea plants (which are in desperate need of something to climb up but I've no worked out where they are going yet) and just over a dozen kohl rabi plants. All these will go outside when if the weather picks up:

 Lastly some rather leggy looking savoy cabbage which went a bit nuts while we were away:

I also have a rather impressive looking pepper plant which is 80cm tall and requires the support of not one, not two, but three canes! Its currently got 13 peppers growing on it but also has green fly which I can't seem to shift! 

The Biggest Small has become an Alfalfa addict so we have that on the go in the kitchen at all times too, and that is about it. I've loads more I want to plant but it just feels like throwing seeds away attempting to plant when the weather is still so changeable. 

Hopefully I'll have more to update with soon....