Midsummer Day in the Orto 2011

There is lots happening in our orto at the moment, and right now I could do with a cold bath! It’s been over 40 degrees since lunchtime… however we decided to pretty up this bath, rather fetching don’t you think?

The pomodori (tomatoes) are coming on a treat, just need to keep pinching out those side shoots…

These are runner beans, I think and hopefully will have a few more for later on… a favourite of l’uomochifa (and my Papa methinks…)

Just underneath my shadow our first melanzane, now eaten for lunch. Slice thinly, griddle on both sides and then drizzle with a mixture of olive oil, red pepper, garlic and lemon. Marinate in the fridge for at least 30 mins then serve… yum yum with tomatoes and mozarella!

And our first green pepper, again this has been skewered along with onion, pork and sage and put on the barbie!

Zeppelin Zucchini’s at the ready – that’s courgettes in another guise… they have gone bezerk…

Lots of lovely, new, zesty, lemons I hope – time will tell.

It’s not all veggie, the lavender is wonderfully fragrant and if you peer closely you can just see a tiny little bee who thinks the same!

Parsnips under lock and key. Friends have intimated that they may break them out overnight. So watch out…

Chickpeas! We need to plant more next year as there are only two to a pod. Apparently we leave them to dry on the plant… first year for us.

Our finest onions to date… not sure what we did different, but we’re not complaining!

Apples on our newish tree – planted last year. We bought a pear at the same time and have zilch fruit

Japenese wild flowers, are going to be stunning,

and the dump patch with old potatoes, sunflowers and wild flowers from last year. The chicks love kicking about in here!

See you later!

Pot of Gold

 

The Walnut Trees are so lush and green at the moment and look fantastic in the early morning sunlight. Last year we hardly had any fruit – according to the locals lack of water, can’t be said for this year to date – so hoping that we’ll get loads to shell. Very therapeutic activity, shelling walnuts.

And we’ve harvested our first lot of new potatoes – which we sampled in a Salad Nicoise (I know it’s French but we’re international eaters) and hoping that they will come good in a Dauphinoise for our Anniversary meal tomorrow. No Colarado Beetle either this year. Hurrah!

And a lovely rainbow yesterday morning, though we hadn’t had any rain? Do you think the gold will still be there? Bagsy first…

Some Flowers In June

		Flaming June VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Thought I’d post up some pictures of the floral activity at the beginning of the month. Not a great deal of colour but very pleasing to the eye all the same. The olive trees are dripping with flowers but we are very wary, last time that happened we ended up with a teaspoon of olives. The yucca is glorious but very heavy and in a place that it can’t be easily seen. Our little fat Buddha is surrounded by roses and lilies…

It’s Getting Busy in the Garden!

 

		Growth in May VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

It's all going a bit crazy in the garden now, what with lots of rain and then lots of sunshine! Temperature keeps dipping and rising which doesn't seem to worry anything too much... here is an update for the time being.

Kitchen Orto (Orto di Cucina)

We have pomodori (tomatoes) melanzane (aubergine) peperone (peppers), sedano (celery), runner beans and latuga (lettuce) which have gone crazy.

Chicken Orto (Orto di Pollo) - well it's next door to the chicken pen!

Here we have patate (spuds), piselli (peas) and the last of the fave (broad beans). Simon made a fantastic dip with the broad beans, a little like hummus... delicious!

Lower Orto (Orto Li)

In this patch, which looks very dry on top but quite wet underneath we have cipolle (onion), aglio (garlic) - my firsts successful growing, brassicas (cabbage, brocolli, swede) and porro (leeks). Hoping this will fill up over the next few weeks.

We also have apricots, cherries, almonds, apples, pears, strawberries all in varying state of growth and bamboo coming out of our ears (well not literally).

Plus our green-fingered friend James has given us some Birds of Paradise, Dahlia and an Oleander all grown from seed. I hope I don't ruin them!!

SEEDLINGS FOR MAY

Just a quick entry. Bought our first lot of seedlings today and it cost us 29 Euro:

• 10 Pomodori (San Marzano)
• 6 Sedano
• 4 Peperone
• 2 Peperoncini
• 2 Melanzane
• 20 Castana Latuga

So not a bad start! Also sowed some seeds yesterday (its a full moon) and include:

• Corn (last lot eaten by something)
• Purple Sprouting Brocolli
• Cetrioli
• Zuchini
• Runner Beans

I'm sure there was more but can't remember! Have some parsnips growing in paper pots and James has suggested growing in compost bed, so we're going to use the old cold frame! Exciting. And I planted some wild flowers, but Freya has already dug up one patch. James has also given me today some Oleander, Birds of Paradise and Dahlia seedlings...

Weather Report: After a very cool and wet start to the month, the sun is now shining and looks set to continue. Hoorah!

READY, STEADY, GO?

Well, its been a weird month. At the beginning we had a mini-heatwave and the shorts came out of their mothballs, today it is misty, rainy and we have just lit a fire! Last night had storm with hailstones!!

So in the garden what is happening?
The cherries, figs, almonds and peaches  are beginning to form - yum yum!

 

 The potatoes (early and main have gone bananas!)

We've already had our first fave (broad beans) and the piselli (peas) and chick peas (ceci) are coming along fine


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And out of five carciofi plants I have one left but look at that beautiful bud!

And I have lots of seedlings beginning to sprout... so I think (and hope) that May will bring the warmer weather and allow us to get going! In the UK they've had sunshine - lots of it. Easter was a 'summer' sensation, though  the sun was reluctant to come out for the Royal Wedding- aah, doesn't matter, it's fortunate  for newly weds... the rain that is.