The Good Life: Harvests, poppies and artichokes

While growth remained very slow throughout June, the allotment burst into life during July. Harvests were rather slow and small in the last few weeks but none the less exciting as we reaped the rewards of having a great variety of planting. The strawberry plants predictably benefited from the fine weather early in the year and generated a fine crop which even allowed us to make a few pots of jam. Likewise the gooseberries and redcurrants thrived yielding a tasty crop. The cauliflowers we planted were not so fortunate as they clearly were breakfast lunch and dinner for the local wood pigeon population. I decided to pull the plants and replace them with a number of different tomatoes we had grown from seed.

 A mixed harvest of berries and vegetables from the 26th June

The artichoke plants on the allotment which survived the harsh winter have thrived and continue to produce an abundance of fleshy globes. We appear to have quite a variety of artichokes which is largely the result of trial and error mixed with a certain amount of carelessness as to what was being planted. We like the steamed and left to cool, whereupon we can nibble at the ends of the leaves with a little mayonnaise and lemon juice before tackling the heart. They do create a bit of a mess and a large mound of leaves but they are quite tasty and fun to eat.

A selection of different artichokes growing on the allotment

One brief but very colourful period I look forward to during the year is the flowering of the poppy plants. The delicate and colourful blossom can disappear with a gust of wind. This unpredictable nature means they can be gone in a matter of hours or days and easily missed. They can grow to be relatively large in size and the distinctive matt olive foliage curls and wraps the narrow stems supporting the brightly coloured flower.

In the coming weeks we look forward to gathering plentiful and healthy harvests of beetroot, cabbage, carrots, fennel, potatoes, Swiss chard, peas and beans. A mixture of courgettes are also growing well as are the numerous diminutive cornichon plants. The most prolific plant in this category remains a mystery gourd, because subsequent to planting the informative label vanished. They are yellow and look nothing like courgettes, but they still could be a courgette and only time and tasting will tell! Some of Corinne's large tomatoes are also developing well on the vine under cover. There should be a magnificent crop of these giants in September. The tomato plants in the open are less advanced due to the unseasonal cool weather, but should produce ripened fruit by the end of the season.