I had my first home-grown strawberry this week, plump and fire-engine red, plucked straight from the plant and into my mouth. I've never grown strawberries before, but I can't imagine why because they are incredibly easy to look after, needing watering and nothing more really, and the joy of picking and eating is even greater than when illicit berries are being munched whilst at a Pick-Your-Own farm! Two weeks of near-constant sunshine and 27oC temperatures have taken my little grow-bag of plants from inch-high greenery to dozens of little berries in no time, and I plan to eat every one, individually, just as it reaches the perfect balance of size and colour. If I want a whole punnet doused with cream or balsamic vinegar and black pepper (yes really - try it!) I'll buy one, but my little plant will be pruned of its fruit gently, so that not a single berry is even slight pre-or post-perfection when it hits my tastebuds.
I'm looking forward to lots more home-grown pleasures like this over the next few months, since I am growing a host of edible crops outside my house this year despite having no soil beds at all (a front, paving slabbed, mini 'garden' is all that is available to me). Deep troughs and window baskets and grow-bags are the ideal solution, and my front yard is home to not only the five strawberry plants, but also two varieties of tomato (Gardener's Delight and Sungold), and has a veritable herb bonanza - lavender, rosemary, pineapple mint, golden oregano, regular mint, black peppermint (spot a theme?) lemon thyme, silver thyme and plain 'ole regular thyme and even pineapple sage (gorgeous with pork chops!). Most of these I grow for their aromatic rather than culinary appeal, and because herbs are the one plant type I seem to be able to keep alive (four chilli plants, for example, have come and died since last October) but I think I shall have to start inventing recipes to make the most of my more esoteric varieties.......any suggestions?
I'm looking forward to lots more home-grown pleasures like this over the next few months, since I am growing a host of edible crops outside my house this year despite having no soil beds at all (a front, paving slabbed, mini 'garden' is all that is available to me). Deep troughs and window baskets and grow-bags are the ideal solution, and my front yard is home to not only the five strawberry plants, but also two varieties of tomato (Gardener's Delight and Sungold), and has a veritable herb bonanza - lavender, rosemary, pineapple mint, golden oregano, regular mint, black peppermint (spot a theme?) lemon thyme, silver thyme and plain 'ole regular thyme and even pineapple sage (gorgeous with pork chops!). Most of these I grow for their aromatic rather than culinary appeal, and because herbs are the one plant type I seem to be able to keep alive (four chilli plants, for example, have come and died since last October) but I think I shall have to start inventing recipes to make the most of my more esoteric varieties.......any suggestions?
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2 comments:
Hi Fahara
Mmmmm, home-grown strawberries! I grew a few two years ago and they actualyl had a *taste*, as opposed to what you buy in the shops! ;-) Been a bit slack with planting edibles this year (have had courgettes and tomatoes in the past) as I always struggle to keep the bugs and slugs off them. Do you have a problem with this? ANd what do you do about it?? Had some very pretty but voracious gold beetles eating up my rosemary bush this year :-( And as for chillies - I have come to the conclusion that London is not the place for them. I had about half a dozen thriving potted chillies back home (mostly indoor) but every time I have tried to grow them here, they flourish for a bit and then fall prey to bloody aphids and die. I just think they pine for Mexico ;-)
Hey Jeanne, I tend not to have too many problems with bugs as the acres of concrete and the big pots put them off, plus I inspect the plants for any signs of life every night - I caught a nasty colony of slugs a few weeks back, before they even hatched! I agree that chillis just don't seem to survive here - which is so sad as you can't easily buy interesting varieties in the shops!
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