What are you harvesting today?

I'm a bit envious. I dug my last few leeks at the weekend; they are a favourite vegetable in my family.

Welcome unmadebed - if you want to there's a place to say hello and tell us what you're interested in here - entirely optional though, you're very welcome to just dive in !

Ooh, I thought for a minute there that someone had harvested the first crop of this season. I'm hoping to get in first with something from my polytunnel - not that it's a competition of course
Welcome unmadebed, what else do you grow?

Hi Ploshkin! I have an allotment but it's a bit of a mess as I wasn't terribly well over the winter and finding a dry day at the moment is a touch difficult. I have recently had a greenhouse put up so will be a lot more organised this year, we grow lots of tomatoes, peppers, green and runner beans, kale, etc. I really wanted a half plot but there was only an immense full plot available when it was offered, so I have covered half of it with Mypex and will expand a little at a time. Also grow a little soft fruit and have a polytunnel sitting on the garage floor waiting for the right time. (Don't ask) I also have a spare tunnel which I will probably either use to cover fruit or maybe brassicas. I want to have a go at Okra this year, although nobody seems to have much success.

Ooh, it's all changed! I've managed to insert a tiny picture!! This is just to show you that I've been harvesting cut and come again lettuce (from the seed swap!) and have had some help...
The hens are fenced in to their own side of the garden, but this one (Ginger) does sometimes escape. Luckily I got to the lettuce before she had eaten much!

unmadebed wrote:I really wanted a half plot but there was only an immense full plot available when it was offered, so I have covered half of it with Mypex and will expand a little at a time.

A sensible approach. Mine is a smallish plot (3.5 poles), but had been long neglected when I took it on. I cleared about 4 12' x 4' beds beds at the middle, and put some black polythene above and below them. It wasn't enough to cover the whole plot, but I was able to slide it out progressively to the end of the plot over the next couple of years, bringing a bit more into cultivation. If I had more space, I'd put in more permanent planting, mostly fruit.

[I don't know when / why the image uploading thing changed Dandelion; it wasn't anything I did, it's a bit garish but it seems to work OK.]

My first harvest of this year's produce today. Rhubarb from the garden and spinach from the polytunnel. I put a new rhubarb crown in a different place last year and at last I've got a decent crop - I think the previous one must have been diseased because I rarely got more than one crumbles worth from it.

I had to cut a dozen emerging asparagus shoots just before we came away, so that they wouldn't  be overgrown when I got back. We had them for dinner last night, and they were vile! Really bitter. Has anyone else ever had that? Other years it has been delicious.

A bit of research on the Internet didn't yield much information, although I read a chance remark from someone that cold weather slowing the growth can produce bitterness. Out of everything I've read, that seems the most likely.

Oh, freebird, what a disappointment. Can't help with asparagus tips though (see what I did there )
My rhubarb didn't quite stop growing all winter but I left it to gather strength before picking any. Have had one lot, about a month or so ago, and it's gone rather mad- wants to be a Gunnera I suspect.

Sorry, any help with asparagus either. I wouldn't even contemplate trying to grow it here. Harvested the final carrots from last year yesterday and they were still ok. I'm picking some incredibly sweet shoots from some tall kale plants at the moment.

I haven't grown asparagus either - I haven't really got enough room for such a permanent bed (though I do love asparagus, so maybe I should plan for one; dig something up.) I wonder if Chilli has grown it and could give advice
?

Someone called ?

I have a bit of asparagus. In fact we had our first "harvest" - if you can call three spears a harvest - yesterday. It wasn't bad, but the base of the spears was a bit tough and there was a hint of bitterness. I don't know, but would guess that cold weather and slow growing are the cause.

My asparagus bed is at the end of its life. It has been exceptional, but the spears are dwindling in number and thickness. I know it is said that you need a fresh bed every ten years or thereabouts. What I don't know is whether that is because of degradation of the plants themselves, or because the soil is depleted of what they need ? I presume it's best to replant in a fresh location anyway.

It is a good variety too, a commercial type that I don't know the name of. Now, I have heard on a forum somewhere, and from my allotment neighbour, that it is possible to lift and divide old asparagus to rejuvenate it. I'd like to try that, but could do with an idea of when to do it - I know it's a long shot as most of you are not growing asparagus, but anyone have any ideas ?

My first strawberries from the polytunnel! (apart from one that was ahead of the rest that I ate the other day). I have them growing in self watering hanging baskets.

Ooh, well done Ploshkin. Good flavour?

I'm still harvesting asparagus - it's positively jumping out the ground now. But haven't got around to eating it yet, so don't know if it's going to be bitter again. I suspect not as the weather is warmer now.

They're a variety called Mara de Bois which are often recommended for baskets and they have a really good flavour. They will crop right through the summer. I've got 3 more baskets - the originals from the greenhouse, that are still outside and I noticed today that they are flowering so I will hang them up in the greenhouse for some extras. The self watering baskets are great, they are Stewart ones and I have had my originals for at least 18 years and they spend the winter outside. I bought 4 more for the tunnel and was pleased to see that the quality hasn't changed.

Asparagus again - and this time is was really nice.

That's good Freebird, it must be weather related then. We've had carrots and broad beans from the polytunnel today with home grown lamb chops.

I've just emptied a bucket of new potatoes, grown in the greenhouse (mainly because I needed the bucket to plant a melon plant in...!) Just enough for a meal for three, and good and early!

I brought back from the polytunnel today broad beans, potatoes, carrots, mange tout, lettuce and strawberries and we've just had them (except the lettuce) for dinner.

Your polytunnel is doing well Ploshkin!

That's terrific, Ploshkin. You must be so pleased.

Very impressive Ploshkin, that must be hugely earlier than you could manage unprotected in Wales.

I am quite envious !

The only thing I have outside so far is early potatoes and they are only up about 8". I have some brassicas to plant out and some courgette and I will be putting in some peas and beans. It will be a month before I get anything out of the garden so the polytunnel is really earning its keep.

I've never had much luck with extra early or extra late potatoes. After all the hassle I usually get half a dozen ping pong ball sized spuds. I have had 8 tubers of rocket in the polytunnel, 4 each in 2 drainage rings. They've had excellent foliage but the flowers dropped off. I had a furtle round the edges the other day and couldn't feel any potatoes so pulled up one of the haulms to find just one potato, albeit a decent size. I had a fish around deeper down yesterday and found enough for dinner - quite respectable as we are big potato eaters. I thought I would harvest the remainder today so that I can use the space for something else. This is what I found lurking at the bottom of just one of the rings. Needless to say I am suitably chuffed. (3" plant pot for scale)

Oooh, produce envy here
I have lots of rhubarb but that's it. Like someone else- freebird I think - I sowed some old seed and have a few carrots and radishes germinating. Not doing much this year as we are still thinking about putting house on market. Other things keep getting in the way, though.
Even the chickens aren't laying much

Oh they do look good ! I like the way the skin has rubbed off one one down the bottom there, to show that they are as fresh as can be. Parboiled new potatoes and broad beans tossed in a pan with bacon lardons frying in their own fat. Mmm