Vivi's Kitchen Garden

Now that most beds have been planted or seeded it’s time to check each bed for losses from slugs and snails etc……and replace those plants with back-ups from the cold frame……here’s hoping I sowed enough back-ups……

It’s the summer solstice……one of the most important and happiest days of the year for me……..I’m still behind in the garden but make the most of this beautiful day to plant my precious Coco de Paimpol and some other beans…..and lap up every second of this lovely day. There is still much to do……but I’m now on a go-slow with it all. What will be, will be…..

Hurrah for another bed planted and seeded. This afternoon it was time to get some Fennel seed in and plant out my tiny celery……the celery have been particularly fiddly this year so I am grateful to have even a few to plant out.

After a lovely dose of rain the ex garlic bed finally got prepared for the next crops. The Flint Corn and Paprika Peppers are in……only two more beds to plant or seed now and I can have a lovely afternoon off just sitting on the deck watching it all grow……..soon……soon.

I’ve been harvesting small amounts of broad beans for a few weeks but now it’s time to do the big harvest so that I can clear the bed ready to plant the next crop. Before I start harvesting I select the plants I want to keep for seed saving for next year.

With a whole lot of rain due (finally!) it is high time to get the garlic out and make the bed ready for the next crops to go in. The drought this spring has done me no favours…….the garlic is as good as buried in concrete.

It’s time to plant the cucumbers and peppers…….but first I need to build a frame for the cucumbers to scramble up.

I’m still playing catch up in the garden…..today it’s time to get the squash in which will grow vertically up the teepees (I hope!) and get them under planted with another seeding of various salad leaves. I also take some time to reflect on how I have been managing my soil over the last few years.

Better late than never. I finally get a chance to plant my tomatoes and some of my squash (the ones which will grow horizontally across the ground). My garden doesn’t feel ‘right’ until there are tomatoes in it.

It’s the beginning of June…and the beginning of summer – yay, my favourite time of year! During a quick walk around the garden it becomes obvious that I am a bit behind this year……but never mind…..I have faith that things will catch up.