I’m starting to realise the amount of attention that goes into growing vegetables.  My greatest worry now is not whether things will grow but when it’s the right time to harvest.

How big should we let things grow?  When’s the tipping point from ripe to over-ripe? Oh, the trials of vegetable production.

I’ve dragged my vegetable growing books off the shelf to see what I can learn.  To be honest they are informative to a point it’s clear that I’m just going to have to let experience have it’s way and learn from my own mistakes.

So far things have gone well and the eating has been delightful.  I’m also enjoying trying out new things in the kitchen.  Remember this red cabbage?

Well it’s now like this

I found a recipe for pickling red cabbage that didn’t require all the salting and waiting. The faithful Delia again.  So it was just a question of getting the pickling vinegar spiced up, sterilise the jars and pack the crisp red cabbage with the aromatic vinegar.  Now I have to wait for two weeks before we can taste it.  It should keep for up to four months.  Can’t wait to taste it.

This evening I spent a wonderful half hour with the sun shining shelling peas from the potager.  I felt like I was living the life in a Home and Garden feature magazine.  Well, without the fancy table dressing and the services of a food stylist.

We enjoyed the peas in the traditional way with a succulent steak and crispy chips.  Stylish eh!