Mick brought home the first courgette of the year when he went to the allotment on Wednesday. I'm sure that now they've started producing we'll get a steady supply until the glut arrives in a few weeks' time. We're getting a few strawberries each time we visit but we really need to make a new bed and get some new plants, the ones we have are definitely past their best now. Another first was the asparagus kale. I've never grown this variety of kale before and I can guarantee that we won't be growing it again, yuck! It's supposed to taste of asparagus, hence it's name, but it definitely doesn't to me. We'll stick to curly kale and cavolo nero in future, though I'd like to give Russian kale a go at some point.
More potatoes have been harvested. My main varieties this year are Arran Pilot and Anya but I've grown a small amount of another three varieties to try too. These are Vales Emerald, a first early. I did enjoy them but I still prefer my two main choices.
The other two varieties of potatoes I'm trying this year are Bonnie and Sherine so we'll have to see how they do in the taste test.
It all looks good, even if the asparagus kale wasn't to your taste. Depending on what's available next year I may give first earlies a miss and grow more Charlottes, which are my favourites. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side, my mum and dad enjoyed the asparagus kale so it won't go to waste. I think the best idea is growing more of what you like. There's something to be said for trying new things but once you know what you enjoy it's good to stick with it.
DeleteThose potatoes look fantastic! Too bad you didn't like the asparagus kale - I had never heard of that variety. On the plus side, that means there will be more room to try other new things.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like I will be having yet another bad courgette (zucchini) year - it's one of those "easy" veg that I just can't seem to get right.
We do enjoy our spuds. That's a good way of looking at it, I can try something else new to me next year. I don't think I've ever failed with courgettes, my nemesis are brassicas.
DeleteWe've picked our first courgettes too and are bracing ourselves.
ReplyDeleteIt won't be long until we're inundated.
DeleteI have also never heard of Asparagus Kale. If it doesn't taste of Asparagus, what does it taste of? Evidently something horrible! Re the potatoes, I'm with Flighty: Charlotte is the best.
ReplyDeleteI really couldn't compare it to anything really, but even the smell put me off. Needless to say, I won't be growing it again. I've grown Charlotte a couple of times but I still prefer Arran Pilot and Anya.
DeleteI think you're right, Jo, growing what you like is the way to go. I've finally let myself do this and stopped bothering with runner beans because I just don't like them. I like Cavolo Nero, though, so given your review of Asparagus Kale I might not go off-piste with my brassicas either!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy trying different things but I suppose it should be done alongside the things you know you like, that way you won't be left without if something doesn't work out. I love cavolo nero but it always gets such an infestation of white fly so I gave up growing it. I think I shall try it again though now that I'm on a different allotment site.
DeleteOh Jo ... sorry to read you were not impressed by the asparagus kale. I have read of others who have been, and find it is the most wonderful of vegetables! The leaves have a more delicate flavour than cabbage or other kales, but we all have our likes and dislikes, and I'm glad to hear your mum and dad like it.
ReplyDeleteSeeing 'Flighty' mention Charlotte potatoes - they are one of my dads favourites.
Isn't it rewarding though when harvest begins to happen ....
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
All the best Jan
I'd read of others who love asparagus kale too, I had high hopes. I found it so disagreeable that I left it on my plate, I can usually force most things down even if I'm not keen. It's a great time of year, everything starting to bear fruit.
DeleteYour allotment sounds like it is producing well, even if you didn't like the kale. That's about the same amount of spuds we took from the small veg bed up the back. I've just looked at your last 2 posts and it so reminded me of our visit to Harlow Carr in 2011 and Roundhay Park last year. I've even got some photos of RP that are nearly identical to yours. I first visited there in 1991 on our first ever visit to UK. Thanks for the tours, I do appreciate. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThings are just starting to produce now, it makes all the hard work earlier in the year worthwhile. I've got lots of containers of potatoes on the go, it's handy to harvest one pot at a time so that we've just got the amount we require. I love both Harlow Carr and Roundhay Park, two wonderful places to visit. Unfortunately, Archie isn't allowed in Harlow Carr but he loves coming to Roundhay Park with us, so much space for him to have a good run.
DeleteYou seem to have a far better choice when it comes to potatoes, let me know if you track the Rattie down, if you don't maybe I could send you a couple to get you going.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much choice when it comes to potatoes. I came across a garden centre this year which sells a huge variety and you're able to buy them by the tuber, great if you want just a few of a lot of different varieties to try. That's very generous of you, thank you. I shall look out for them again next year but they seem to be one variety which most garden centres don't stock for some reason.
DeleteYou can't beat any type of new potatoes fresh out of the ground, boiled with a little salt and pepper. Could eat a bowl of them on their own :) xxx
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, they're very moreish, especially the first ones of the year. I usually boil them with mint and then drizzle butter over them, Yum.
DeleteShame about the kale, but how great about everything else! xx
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame about the kale, I was really looking forward to trying it, what a disappointment. Never mind, there's plenty more yummy things yet to harvest.
DeleteThey call courgettes 'egg plants' here, Jo. I planted one in a pot and its not doing very well -- I should have put it in the veggie garden, but didn't have room. Yours looks very healthy and tasty. P. x
ReplyDeleteCourgettes are zucchini, it's aubergines which are egg plants. I never have any problems with my courgettes but aubergines are another story, it took me three years of trying before I got a plant to set fruit.
DeleteIt's been a good year for strawberries for us.. also now onto the raspberries which are also going mad this year. I've been harvesting courgettes too.. love home grown ones.. although we may just grow only the one plant next year instead of 2! Our favourite potatoes are Arran Pilot, we grow them every year and they never fail us. :o)
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few courgette plants, there's always too many for us so we end up giving lots away, I just can't seem to cut down. We love Arran Pilot and they're my mum and dad's favourites too but I can't do without my Anya's, they're my very favourite.
DeleteA shame about the kale Jo but you gave it a go. It could have gone the other way and have been delicious. I grew the asparagus pea a few years ago. It tasted like cardboard or what I think might taste like cardboard. We've just come back from holiday to find that our courgettes have morphed into marrows in our absence. Luckily I have a friend who loves stuffed marrow so they have found a home.
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose we'd ever know if we liked anything unless we try it so it was worth giving it a go. My courgettes are just starting to produce but it's a case of keeping an eye on them now as they do grow so quickly. I love stuffed marrows too so they don't go to waste.
DeleteI grew asparagus peas last year as they were supposed to taste of asparagus but they were foul too!
ReplyDeleteI can sense a theme going on here. I've never bothered with asparagus peas as I've only ever read one good review of them, perhaps they're an acquired taste.
DeleteI know greens are good for you, but I don't think I would have thought about growing a special sort of kale, so that's interesting to hear about your experience. I suppose you either love or hate certain types of vegetable. We missed out on growing some courgettes this year which I do like to use in different ways in soups or side dishes. We've enjoyed some peas and new potatoes, but the main crops we're waiting for are some more of the beans, tomatoes and potatoes.
ReplyDeleteWe love greens so when we saw this asparagus kale for sale we jumped at it. I know to stick to the varieties we like in future. We haven't harvested any beans yet but it's the potatoes and tomatoes that I look forward to the most, I'm hoping for some carrots this year too.
DeleteHey Jo,
ReplyDeleteI have a glut of courgettes, so lots of roasted veggies and hiding them in pasta sauces here. We been very lucky with our strawberries, although Olly gets to them before me. He tells me that they are tasty.
Leanne xx
My courgettes are only just starting but I'm sure there'll be a glut before too long. I'm really disappointed with my strawberries, I look forward to them every year but I knew they wouldn't be up to much this time. It's time to make a new bed.
DeleteWhat a shame about the asparagus kale! I am a fan of curly kale too and always grow it, it never fails does it...
ReplyDeleteYour taters look good! I hope your others do as well. Once the courgettes start coming there is no end to them....I picked my first few this week, the small ones are so tasty!xxx
I know, I had high hopes for the asparagus kale but I won't bother growing it again. I'm really enjoying the potatoes and so are my mum and dad, I've got plenty to share. I'm always inundated with courgettes as my mum and dad don't like them so I end up offloading them on other friends and family.
DeleteHad a few gluts so far this year, courgettes being the latest, they tend to get thrown in the roasting tray - a record 8 veggies in the bake this week. The broccoli soup last month was nice. I've grown Sherine and Bonnie in the past will be interesting to see what you think of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm on holiday at the moment so I'm sure I'll be returning home to a few marrows now the courgettes have got going. I shall be harvesting Bonnie and Sherine when I get back too, looking forward to seeing what I think.
DeleteReading about your taste experience on the kale I know that I will stick to the curly variety, it tastes nice and is easy to grow:)
ReplyDeleteWe like curly kale too but our favourite is cavolo nero. I stopped growing it as it attracts whitefly and it was such a pain to clean.
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