Kitchen Garden Forum

After such a poor start to the summer, with what looked like being a total failure this year!!! Things have really turned around in June, even the runner beans . . . the first planting was a disaster, seeds direct did not happen either!!! so a late planting in the green house . . . I put 28 new and superbly healthy bean plants in last weekend, they look like they are going too make it

Every thing else has really shot up, the only thing I'm worried about are my 'toms'. They are away but not looking quite so good as last year . . . new compost this year, go back to B&Q bags for next year?

. . . and the courgettes, I never realised how good courgettes were to eat . . . what flavour, (provided they are not over cooked) cant stop my Hazel eating them raw as she prepares the meal, lots of salads

. . . triffid farm my 'eye' . . .


CJS

Ours is not a good year this year. The courgettes are still not getting going, normally we are over run with these by now, the shallots are going soft and rotten, the carrots are not germinating, the peas are very slow to germinate (the cabbages and caulis are doing well) It has been either too cold or too wet.

I used B&Q compost this year and have found the germination very slow, my broad beans and dwarf beans were very hit and miss, I have never had such bad germination on beans. I have always used B&Q. But I also used Gordon Riggs compost and found germination with that very poor.

Lots of different ways to use them CJS, nice with a curry or salad with mint and yoghurt, courgette in a cake makes it beautifully moist, courgette helps to bulk and flavour rattatuille, I bottle some for a taste of summer in winter!
I like your pic. Have you tried the yellow ones, a slightly crisper texture but again very productive. Glad things have improved for you, a lovely sunny day here too.