6 July 2008 - Independence Day Weekend

The title of today's blog is ironic - we are anything but independent as we scurry about at home doing very important home improvements prior to our party next weekend. So time spent at the plot is limited, sadly, to some maintenance, much harvesting and a little weeding. However our disappointment was tempered by the foul weather. Almost like old times in the winter, though now it is lighter and warmer.

I am pretty sure that we planted the first earlies in the rain, and readers, behold the joy that is about half of them - Arran Pilots - dug up in the rain. They are many and varied, with a spattering of pink maincrops that strayed over their borders. Unfortunately, I insisted on them mostly being dug up rather than just left in the ground until we needed them. Big mistake according to Derek and Jan, as first earlies bruise and don't keep for long periods of time. DOH. So spent some time grovelling and thinking about how best to store them, as well some probable deserving recipients of our largesse. And after all we are having a party with potato salad, so it should be OK. But lesson well and truly learnt.

Some more thought had to be given to the best way of protecting the peas. They get caught up in the netting, poor loves. I think they have grown so high because they are in intense competition. They are almost the height of beans. We gather a few for later.

There has been a bit of rain this week, and after today, a whole boatload. It is amazing how much this perks everything (including the weeds) up. The cabbages relocated last weekend are still looking sorry for themselves but are definitely not dead. The courgettes and beans are steaming ahead, and indeed we pick our first few courgettes which we have for lunch, along with two beautiful carrots as hors d'oevre, our first fresh garlic, and a few raspberries. The garlic looks very different fresh because the cloves are not so easy to spot being as the skin is not dried out, and we added it to mashed potatoes and the courgette. Fab.We suddenly realise that we will soon be able to eat things on a reasonably regular basis.

Other unexpected joys were the definite progress of broccoli - we nearly snaffle a head but caution was urged until the seed packet had been checked - and the joyous bloom of the marigolds. The butternut squash has suddenly decided to take matters into its own hand too. It promises to be a very busy and tasty time here soon on the plot.