Anyone who has ever grown vegetables knows that although this may be true in a metaphysical sense it doesn't necessarily hold true for horticultural endeavours. This season has been a bit grim for all growers. A dry Spring followed by torrential rains and periods of scorching sun have done for many-a seasoned gardener's crops. We at the minion household have, however, faired reasonably well.
Last year we were grabbed by the whole idea of planting traditional varieties as opposed to the F1 Hybrid EU approved varieties which have been heavily inbred and are the ones available in most garden centres. In our search for more eco crops we discovered 'The Real Seed Company':
They specialise in vegetable seeds for kitchen gardens and include both heirloom varieties and modern strains but no genetically modified or hybrids so you can save your own seeds.
We chose our seeds from their catalogue last winter and, with the exception of our leeks, which were bought as plants and our potatoes, ALL our veg is from their seed. Perhaps our success had something to do with that...I can't be sure but we are definitely going to get our seed from them in the future (what we don't save this year that is). This year our shopping list looked like this:
Quite a nice mix we felt. Well, we said goodbye to the red peppers quite some time ago...no sun and too much cold rain (we will give them another go next year when we have our greenhouse). We can't comment on the Broccoli, Parsnips and Cabbage yet although they all appear to be growing very nicely. Other crops however are starting to make their way into the kitchen! Here is last night's veg..our 'Fat Carrots' which were short and delicious, and our 'Bijou' mangetout.
One thing we love about The Real Seed Company is the little stories that accompany some of the seeds. The 'Bijou' is a really old fashioned sugar pea that was very popular in the 1880s but is now almost completely extinct. It has now been reintroduced by TRSC from a handful of peas found in a cellar....from there it made it's way to the minion garden and onto our dinner plates last night...a little bit of horticultural history. The plants are enormous! In fact, if we grow them next year I'm going to grow them up 8ft wigwams. The other peas have done well but are showing a bit of mildew now. None of them made it into the house as they were too delicious. We ate them straight out of the pods. Minion 4 was particularly partial...
So that's about it from the minion garden. Our sweetcorn is 6 ft high now though so we're hoping for more delicious crops. I'm going to extend my flower growing on the patio. I got a lovely little patio rose which has inspired me to plan a container rose garden and we're going to try to sow some 'quick cropping' veg to make the most of the Indian Summer we're hoping to have....well, we can but dream!
We chose our seeds from their catalogue last winter and, with the exception of our leeks, which were bought as plants and our potatoes, ALL our veg is from their seed. Perhaps our success had something to do with that...I can't be sure but we are definitely going to get our seed from them in the future (what we don't save this year that is). This year our shopping list looked like this:
Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli
'Placenza' Savoy Winter Cabbage
D'Eysines Fat Carrot
'Verde di Italia' Courgettes
'Tender and True' Parsnips
Sturon Onion
'Bijou' Giant Sugar Pea (Mangetout)
Serpette Guilloteau Pea (Second Early)
'Kaibi Round' Red Pepper
Golden Bantam Improved Sweetcorn
'Verde Pueblo' Tomatillo
Quite a nice mix we felt. Well, we said goodbye to the red peppers quite some time ago...no sun and too much cold rain (we will give them another go next year when we have our greenhouse). We can't comment on the Broccoli, Parsnips and Cabbage yet although they all appear to be growing very nicely. Other crops however are starting to make their way into the kitchen! Here is last night's veg..our 'Fat Carrots' which were short and delicious, and our 'Bijou' mangetout.
 |
| Also in this picture are a weeks worth of eggs from our lovely chickens! |
One thing we love about The Real Seed Company is the little stories that accompany some of the seeds. The 'Bijou' is a really old fashioned sugar pea that was very popular in the 1880s but is now almost completely extinct. It has now been reintroduced by TRSC from a handful of peas found in a cellar....from there it made it's way to the minion garden and onto our dinner plates last night...a little bit of horticultural history. The plants are enormous! In fact, if we grow them next year I'm going to grow them up 8ft wigwams. The other peas have done well but are showing a bit of mildew now. None of them made it into the house as they were too delicious. We ate them straight out of the pods. Minion 4 was particularly partial...
 |
| Minion 4 scoffing! |
Elsewhere in the garden the courgettes are going bonkers. We are having to put courgettes in every meal we cook to get through the vast quantities the 3 plants we have are producing. The fruits of the 'Verde di Italia' are pale green and delicious. We also have some pretty potent little onions and tonights meal is a Bolognese that contains them both!
 |
| We're rather proud of our 'from seed' onions. Watch it though, they make your eyes water. |
 |
| Courgettes anyone? |
 |
| No inappropriate jokes please :-) |
So that's about it from the minion garden. Our sweetcorn is 6 ft high now though so we're hoping for more delicious crops. I'm going to extend my flower growing on the patio. I got a lovely little patio rose which has inspired me to plan a container rose garden and we're going to try to sow some 'quick cropping' veg to make the most of the Indian Summer we're hoping to have....well, we can but dream!
