The Summer Garden and a Simple Meal

Past the midpoint of the year and whizzing by. Much to enjoy in the garden though with beautiful flowers and delicious summer vegetables.

My early crop of peas are over and I need to resow as soon as possible. That sweet tenderness is a special treat I want to repeat.

Beans are taking over now. Some lovely broad beans to use yet and my yellow French ones are producing well. I have four plants in the polytunnel with golden pods ready for picking. The variety name is “Voltage”.

I like to use these while they’re small and tender. Big beans of any kind become stringy and full of seeds if they’re allowed to mature. Most vegetables are best picked at an early stage for maximum flavour and eating qualities. They keep producing if they’re picked and will go on for a while.

Kohl rabi are swelling and almost big enough to use. These are similar to turnips but with leaf stems growing out of the sides. I think they’re much nicer with a sweeter flavour and a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Good grated raw, or cooked. I add them in chunks to one-pan meals.

My celery is growing well and looks healthy. Again, these are in one of the polytunnels protected from pests, wind, rain and mud-splash. They’re a modern variety which don’t need “blanching”. Blanching is a method of keeping the stems covered to make them white and tender. Gardeners used to go to a lot of trouble to do this but green celery has taken over. I hope they’ll be as good as the old celery I remember.

A beautiful self-seeded poppy has grown in the corner of one of the tunnels. It’s technically a weed in there but it’s so lovely that I will let it flower and feast my eyes.

Polytunnels are a wonderful invention. Although plastic isn’t to be used irresponsibly the horticultural polythene on these lasts for many years and does an excellent job. I have food all year round in mine and they protect the plants from many pests, diseases and weather. I wouldn’t be without them now.

Outdoors, “new” potatoes are giving many tasty meals, so good with the fresh peas or broad beans. The yield isn’t big in our light soil but it’s more than adequate for us.

I’ve planted squashes, “Turk’s turban” and “Uchiki kuri”. I’ve put one of each in the top of a compost bin. I hope the warmth and moist conditions will encourage them to grow and trail down over the bin sides. Three others are in a bed. My favourite “Buttercup” squash didn’t germinate this year for some reason. It will be good to try these alternatives though.

Allan has covered the sprouts with closely fitting fine mesh because the cabbage white butterflies are on their annual mission to lay eggs on any kind of brassica. This is essential to prevent caterpillars from destroying the plants.

Around the garden there are flowers and wildlife to see. I found a fascinating thing on the back of a water lily leaf. I think it’s the shed skin of an emerging dragonfly as it burst out into the adult form. I wish I’d spotted it in the process.

I caught a cheeky squirrel with my camera as it ran along the fence, a butterfly at rest on the marjoram and a fluffy feather resting on leaves.

We have a tunnel in the garden covered by winter jasmine, honeysuckle, apples and clematis. It’s a shady walkway and on sunny days I love the way dappled light falls on the path below.

There was a slight lull for a week or so but more flowers are appearing.

The apples and pears are developing and looking full of promise.

There are lots of weeds in the garden but some are so lovely that I don’t mind. In my lily border Hawkbit with yellow daisy flowers had surrounded the lilies but looked absolutely beautiful so I left them alone.

Indoors, I’ve been thinking about the problem of ultra-processed food which has sadly become the staple diet of so many people. Research is proving that it’s causing a great deal of illness and obesity. I have always felt strongly that good food doesn’t need to be complicated and I focus on simplicity and good nutrition with my cooking.

Of course, like most people, I’m sometimes too tired to go to a lot of trouble and turn to easy meals like beans on toast. However, there are many nourishing meals with good ingredients which take minutes to prepare and cook. They don’t need to be expensive either.

One of our favourites is my fish mash. I have mentioned this before but I think it’s worth repeating when so many people seem to be struggling with their food. It’s tasty, satisfying and cheap. I boil potatoes and mash them (I steam cabbage over the boiling potatoes or frozen peas), drain a can of salmon, mackerel or sardines then mix them well into the mash. I heat a little oil in the frying pan, tip in the fish mash and brown it it on both sides. Served with vegetables and chutney or sauce it’s really delicious. Especially good as a winter meal.

Tinned fish is relatively cheap compared to fresh but it’s nutritious. This meal can be poshed up by adding chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice to the mash but it’s very tasty without these if they’re not available.

Finally, here’s a painting I did a few years ago when I’d brought some beauties into the house for a vase. Hydrangea flowers in various shades of pink, blue and purple with Artemesia stems. Drawn from my photograph and painted with gouache.

I’m glad to see rain at last as the garden’s so dry but I hope we can enjoy many more lovely sunny days throughout the coming weeks. Look out for beautiful moths on the long warm evenings. Here’s a photo of the Cinnabar moth.

With you again in two weeks time. Bye for now.