Why do we do it!

[Daisy]

Why on earth do we struggle against all sorts of problems to run our allotment! It's jolly hard work, and it can all be destroyed in an instant by the weather not playing fair with us or some evil little beasties eating everything. Every year I say "this is it, no more, I'm going to give it up"

Then this morning OH and friend went and dug up some potatoes, picked runner beans, cavalo nero and cabbages. Tonight I parboiled black potatoes (I can't remember the variety, and the under gardeners had lost the name), then incorporated them into a stir fry with cabbage leaves, runners, tomatoes, onions and garlic - all from the allotment or garden, and the pleasure of cooking with such lovely fresh ingredients has renewed my enthusiasm for DIY veggies!

I think I'm hooked for another year!

[Plantaholic]

I really miss the fresh veg. OH would bring me lovely produce, I would love some runner beans that are not stringy, he used to spend ages in his vegetable and fruit garden.

[Grauntie Mag]

I failed miserably with the runners again this year and it made me really fed up. I have grown them successfully all my life. If I get blight on my tomatoes again, that’s it. It is disheartening when the worst happens but at least the onions are good again and so I’ll probably soldier on. I have missed the fresh veg too Plant.

[Gemini]

See, it is all worth the effort Daisy

I want us to grow more veg and maybe next year we will!
My OH grows abundant crops of tomatoes, both regular sized and little cherry ones, and cucumbers. We had a lot of lovely raspberries this year and for the first time since we planted it, we have rhubarb. The apple tree produces cooking apples, with no effort from us!
I love eating and cooking with all our home grown stuff, even using fresh herbs from the herb garden feels good.
To produce the variety and quantity that you do Daisy, must make you feel really good!

[Daisy]

I failed miserably with the runners again this year and it made me really fed up. I have grown them successfully all my life. If I get blight on my tomatoes again, that’s it. It is disheartening when the worst happens but at least the onions are good again and so I’ll probably soldier on. I have missed the fresh veg too Plant.

Grauntie - our runners aren't as good as usual. Partly the dry weather, and also not going and picking them every day. The broad beans were a total write off and I never even planted French beans, which are my favourite. I nearly always end up with tomato blight, and as soon as I see it coming in I pick everything - green toms as well - and make chutney out of them. We haven't grown many courgettes and no sweetcorn this year. I have to admit I've done very little except plan and advise (ahem!) and our friend who's sharing it is only really interested in growing cabbages. I've tried to explain to him that he can't grow them in the same places next year, and preferably the following year too, and he's grown so many he'll be running out of space. I was surprised our onions did well, but they are about our most reliable crop.

Gem - well done, especially the rhubarb! I can't grow it at all! Yes, it does feel good to have such lovely fresh produce, but nature is not respecter of consumers, so we end up with gluts of things that have to be 'dealt with' on an industrial scale at a moment's notice!

[Gemini]

Daisy, no one leaves our house without a bag of tomatoes !

[Nanto2girls]

Same here Gem.

Hubby used to gorw a bit of fresh veg years ago. Nothing on your scale Daisy.
I buy frozen veg now,excepft for cabbage.
I can hear you all shouting it's not as nice as fresh veg.
Cooking frozen veg in the microwave, is nicer than boiling it, so i'll continue to buy frozen veg.

[Qwerty]

Well done Daisy and all you who grow stuff, me well I make no comment apart from if you have a spare basket of said veg I wouldn’t turn it away , I could come and do your cleaning and ironing in payment but I’m so far away from you all pity 😉

[Daisy]

Daisy, no one leaves our house without a bag of tomatoes !

Gem - have you ever tried giving friends courgettes which have ideas above their station and have grown into marrows! It's an excellent way to lose friends!

I'm amazed how many people don't even like tomatoes!

Nanto - however you eat veg it's good for you. In fact I shall be freezing runner beans tomorrow!

[Gemini]

Nothing wrong with frozen veg Nan2

[Grauntie Mag]

Gem - have you ever tried giving friends courgettes which have ideas above their station and have grown into marrows! It's an excellent way to lose friends!

I'm amazed how many people don't even like tomatoes.

How true Daisy! Even DD1 was not enthusiastic about my offer of tomatoes yesterday and I can usually rely on her.

[Daisy]

I know people are different, but Ifind it very hard indeed to understand why people don't like fresh, tasty, homegrown tomatoes. What could be nicer than a huge squashy beef tomato, sliced with a little salt, pepper and sprinkling of nice olive oil and a scattering of fresh basil leaves!

But then, I'm happy with a tomato sandwich!!

[Grauntie Mag]

Me too Daisy....and a watercress sandwich or mustard and cress. (Milly Molly Mandy style. 😆) Even fresh tomatoes on toast for breakfast.

[Daisy]

GM - fresh tomatoes on toast are good anytime! Even tinned tomatoes on toast are good.