Peas and sparrowgrass

[altivo]

Picked the first snow peas today. In a couple of weeks we'll have too many, but right now they are lovely. Had some raw in the salad with dinner.

Picked the last asparagus too. Last week's rain brought out a flush of new sprouts. Now we need to leave it alone so it can grow full sized stems and build its strength for next year.

Made a pie with peaches (canned) and rhubarb (fresh from the garden.) Haven't tried it yet, but I expect it to be yummy.

While we were still sitting at the dining table after dinner, we heard an strange bird call like a laugh outdoors. It sounded several times. I thought "pileated woodpecker" but also "can't be." But I went and checked the recorded sound right away and it just possibly could be. We'll be listening again now, with more care.

Nice weather for a change. Tess got to play outside, as did the sheep. Gary had an outdoor performance with his friends up in Wisconsin, so it was conveniently good.

We've both been noticing a tendency of the GPS units to have trouble locking onto satellites this week. Also, our digital cell phones are acting odd. I'd say it was solar storms except we don't seem to have any at the moment. Not even a sunspot or two. Puzzling.

Comments

[hgryphon.livejournal.com]

Picket those veggies! Down with vegetable rights! ;)

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

My housemate has been complaining that he just cannot get his peas to grow at all! Do you have any tips for him next year?

Sneaky views of my garden here >> http://rustyfox.livejournal.com/244133.html?style=mine

((Please note that by UK standards, this is quite a lot of land for a mere householder)) ;)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Vegetables have a right to grow. I have a right to eat 'em.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That looks lovely. Very inspiring, actually. I've got a lot of open space yet to plant this year.

I left Rusty some comments on the peas. They start slow and then take off like rockets after about six weeks. Compost is good, but the soil has to drain rather than become standing mud. They like cool weather but need sunlight.

I was afraid you might be trapped between high walls and not have enough sun, but the photos look very nice. In fact, nice enough to sit out there among the plants and enjoy the air. Rusty has done a great job working it up into something both attractive and productive.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

I agree..the transformation is amazing. He's worked very hard at it. Will have to see what we get out of it.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

That's a nice garden (agreed, pretty big, too), and it looks chock full of nummies!

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Mmm..onions, potatoes, tomatoes, radish, lettuce..there are even a few pumpkins in pots.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

I think I've pinpointed the problem. It's at both ends.

TX



RX

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

My mother's on a rhubarb rampage at the moment. Whereas I'm... currently craving garden peas. Mmmm. And fresh onions sound wicked.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Rhubarb always grows abundantly in the soils around Wakefield.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

No zucchini? What is it you call them over there? Courgette? Vegetable marrow? They are tremendously productive even in a small space. (And naughty too, with those green phallic things suddenly appearing under the leaves...)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, just about that reliable. You've got it.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

No courgettes, no. Rusty is not overly keen on them. He might replace peas with something else next year though. Maybe some carrots.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Encourage him to stick with the peas. They're worth it. Also they are so much better when you can have them absolutely fresh from the garden.

Carrots are cheap to buy, and they require fine soil preparation to a great depth in order to produce very well.

A couple of courgette plants will fit in a square meter and be tremendously productive if you don't get those borers that perforate the stems. I can provide several delicious recipes for use in pasta sauces, bread (both sweet and savory), and even a magnificent quiche that looks like a wall of green bricks when sliced. ;D

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Please do..my home made bread goes down well when i make it. By all means send me a few.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'll pull together a selection, give me a day or so.

[alaskawolf.livejournal.com]

i want some pie :) glad to hear the weather was better

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Alas, pie doesn't go through the mail very well.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Recipes sent to your gmail. Enjoy. Let me know if you have questions.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*peeks over the table top* :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Too late. Pie's long gone now. ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

But I found my mittens *shows you be-mittened paws*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh well, for that I'll make another pie. But it will take a while. How's tomorrow?

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Sounds good :) *sits at the table to wait*

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*hides amongst the snowpeas*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Now the flowers are all stuck to you from the rain. Guess we'll have to change your name to Peaseblossom, like that fairy in Midsummer Night's Dream.