Tea on the Plot
We took a mid-week opportunity to visit the plot to tend to the runner beans that have been causing me some anxiety. For some reason our beans are turning crinkly and growing in an ugly branched fashion. I initially thought they had been caught by a cold spell but I’ve been growing them in succession and every little seedling that pops up proves to be a disappointment.
Not quite every seedling – some shine.
I planted two varieties of seed, a hand me down from Lynn’s dad that has been in existence for decades and a saved variety from the Sheen plot which is probably a version of Wisley Wonder. One of them seems to produce half way decent plants and the other doesn’t.
I’ve planted loads more seed and now can only hope for the best, or perhaps try and buy some plants in from the garden centre.
Lynn in the meantime was down on her hands and knees trying to capture the wonder of the onions with her phone.
It’s hard to do justice and this photo just doesn’t evoke the same sense of pride.
Lynn has claimed the onions as her own, along with the other plot success – peas. The plot failure on the other hand is always referred to as “Angela’s carrots”.
Hardly fair.
The peas are pretty wondrous though. The plants are vigorous and healthy and the peas are a delight.
A lovely sweet pea must be about the best thing to come out of an allotment (maybe second to purple sprouting broccoli?), and they cook up marvelously with a handful of Arran Pilot, prepared in the shed trangia and eaten on the plot while surveying our land.
Originally published on my earthwoman blog.
Where’s the picture I took of ‘my’ beautiful peas ?!