Yesterday was a beautiful midsummer day. After a long country walk, I spent plenty of time keeping on top of things in the garden. Midsummer is a time of abundance – plenty of things are already being harvested, and everything seems so lush and green.
Leafy greens – kale, chard, spinach, lettuce, etc. have been doing very well this year. We had quite a bit of rain after a very, very dry spring, and everything just exploded! In fact, yesterday, I realised that preserving some of those crops was a key priority. I harvested armfuls of green veg and got plenty into the freezer.
I also made some pesto that we’ll be able to enjoy over the next week or so. And will be drying some kale too. (The pesto is a mixture of lettuce, chickweed, kale and cashews, with olive oil, garlic greens (also from the garden), salt and pepper. It is great with fresh pasta.)
Summer fruits are just beginning to ripen where we live. The raspberries in the polytunnel have already yielded a few handfuls of berries, and those in the forest garden are not far behind. The strawberries and currants are almost there too.
In the polytunnel, the courgettes and summer squash are in flower, and we’ll be harvesting the first of the courgettes soon. There are plenty of tomatoes forming, though ripe fruits are still a way off. The broad beans have been producing nicely, but they’ll come out soon to make way for other things. Mange tout and peas are still going strong. And we have plenty of radishes for summer salads.
In the forest garden, we have an abundance of leafy greens, herbs and other additional yields. At this time of year, there are also flowering plants galore. Comfrey, foxgloves, lavender, willow herb, borage, chickweed, dead nettle, and more…are all in bloom. And the pollinators are out in force.
Growing your own is definitely a great way to feel more connected to the seasons. At midsummer, you truly see the rewards of any effort you’ve put in.
But remember, it is not too late to get growing. The days may now we getting shorter, but even if you haven’t got started yet this year, you can still sow over the summer to get a yield later this year. If you would like some help to get started, please do get in touch.
EWSP Consultancy 