Seeds Vs Plants?

I have to admit I was lured by 'off the peg' veggies today. After a visit to Histon & Impington Farmers Market, I decided that I'd be a bit of a cheat and buy some tomato plants. I enjoyed having different varieties last year and wanted to experiment with more again this summer. I didn't want to buy 4 or 5 different packets of seeds so I bought the plants at 80p each. I know its an expensive say of doing it but never mind.

In my own defense, I have set out some spinach seeds, basil seeds and sown some more peas and snap peas straight into the ground outside. Only thing I need to get now are some yellow and green courgette seeds..... off to garden centre!

Last of the Parsnips

Today I pulled up the last of my parsnips. After seeing the tops die back over the winter to show nothing on the surface, I noticed last week that I was seeing new shoots above the topsoil. I figured this meant that it was time to pull them up and have one last parsnip feast. It's weird how some of them were really large but others were diddy, almost like a baby carrot. I wonder if they were starting to go to seed? ....Well, they are out now!

An update on late summer crop from 2009!

Guess I was too busy to actually post anything, but thought I could just add a few shots of the successful crops we had late Summer 2009.Overgrown Courgettes after being babysat while we were on holiday!
The Cucumbers were a success and we will be doing these again this year.
Lettuce nested among the marigolds!
Pumpkins supported by tights to stop them snapping under the weight!
And then being cooked ready for Pumkin Pie...

Tom thought these giant courgettes were funny!

Springing up all over again

Well we are now officially into Spring 2010 and its that time again to think about planting for our veggie garden. We have been very lazy until now and have done very little in the garden. I knew we had a few sorry looking leeks still growing and perhaps some parsnips. I decided to dig for the parsnips today and was delighted to find three beds full of sumptuous parsnips. They have survived the winter and all the snow we have had, and so tonight we will eat roast parsnips.


I have been busy searching for other parsnip recipe ideas too as we have about another 18 parsnips still in the ground which will need using up in the next couple of weeks. Can you make Parsnip Curry I wonder?

Chris turned over the compost and helped me top up the raised beds today to get the soil ready for outside planting.

I have now also done my first seedling planting today. It was s glorious sunny day and the greenhouse was 30 degrees and lovely and warm. This inspired me to plant my first veggies of the season, the wonderful peas and mange tout.


Last summer we tried to grow cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, but they were attacked so badly by caterpillars, we never actually ate any of them. So, I have decided not to bother this year. We loved the peas and mange tout so much I will be double the amount I grow this year. Bring on the peas please Louise!