Saturday 6 August 2011
The meal consisted of a maple and mustard glazed ham served with roast potatoes and steamed carrots and peas. The carrots (Amsterdam Forcing Sprint) were grown in a half barrel, the potatoes (Vales Emerald) were grown in purpose designed sack, and the peas were grown by accident!
We actually grew mangetout with the intention of eating the whole pods. We did in fact eat quite a few mangetout in salads and in a Chinese stir fry. However, we had planted more seeds than we needed and so got lots and lots of mangetout. As we didn't eat them fast enough they continued to grow until they were essential peas in a pod. So we picked and shelled the peas and they worked perfectly.
There are still two more sacks of potatoes, three courgette plants and some runner beans growing in the garden so I doubt that it will be the only meal this year where most of the ingredients come fresh from the garden.
Carrots work well in land drain pipe. They are massive and tender if grown in sharp sand and picked at about nine inches long.
Thanks Adrian, useful to know about the sections of drain pipe. While we didn't grow them in sand we did have to use compost. The soil in our garden is about 50% clay and 50% industrial waste (the houses are built on what used to be a steel works) -- in other words it's solid. certainly too solid to grow root vegetables in.
One day I'll grow some vegetables. Well that's what I've been saying for years and years. Perhaps....
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