A little warmth, a little moisture, and the gardens are bursting into action. You turn your back for what seems like just five minutes, and come back to find things have grown a foot. I live in a world of sticks and brown string at this time of year - moving from one garden to another making sure that everything is getting the support it needs to hold the weight of the crop as it develops.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLNIPfLq4Z7KPoaiEL1C8uq-nyRgwzLut_BMTPBO3Aw9AIeA1Wb_p0gQFvuuK-Latixvfi5ZYG4VSwH98nJhdXSRpWv2Vw6PNhqWGSv9JQkPVYhyUCDQIjuyIKtJsJpyX5qRYwfjouUc/s640/crison+broad+beans.jpg) |
Crimson flowered broad beans |
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pea tendrils reaching for support |
It's a time of promise - the first of the salad leaves that I sowed directly into the ground are nearly ready to start harvesting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IB1sM2pJ2FU5l6ysljC9ua1x9QC5YCfS3KKaQ7HxPy8kP9YWwxXR9s8l0GgA1Ghw3hcmx2vSTv7YAO-YECYVgDzUCg6cxn3h1LGhDuoaElYoY-ivDcWNMATsNBWTYVBzPEJ5tyKyItY/s640/lettuce.jpg) |
Spotted Bloody Cos lettuce |
The cucumbers in the hotbed and my pumpkin patch babies are starting to rev up. They throw out their tendrils at such a speed, that it seems like you could hear them squeaking as they grow if you stood still for long enough.
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baby cucumber (with aphids - c'mon you ladybirds!) |
The first tiny fruits are setting on the cucumbers - my dreams of making my own brine fermented pickles were fuelled by a visit to the
Wisley bookstore, where I treated myself to Alys Fowler's lovely new book
Abundance. (The fact that we're about to rip our kitchen out and fill the house with brick dust seems like a mere detail).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAhP4tI8_v4lRAhDx8M9EvCylNnMRYWXdcEbo9k_sXl1RL7G7JdITCWw5k3LJiya1dJXbr5Zm4eo1Z6bqZa31mhNfHMZZwdwkRZVYnR1UbMxnK0GE7FLbWt3A_DuNWFsPUEfQHIsCCyk/s640/pearlets.jpg) |
pears |
In the orchard the fruitlets are swelling and changing colour...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftxiiCuIfkc3H-5FjGNg_bOQxQ7OcDiaMRpuJx6BpKhL6iOVtbzoWQao3oU1-suLtFMdFvXMyR7S_8hf52dxoWaJf8C1ZPKyh6MwwjjpUKCS9D6qkfJ5XNqXRx9FMiS5Z8nNVeOY1gKM/s640/cornish+gillyflower.jpg) |
Cornish Gillyflower apples |
..and in the fruit gardens the gooseberries hang like jewels - still rock hard, eye wateringly sour and guarded by the most ferocious prickles. I'll be wearing full body armour when it's time to pick them - and even then I'll end up covered in the kind of lacerations that look like they might be a cry for help.
Soon I should be harvesting plenty of produce to show you...
..things are looking promising!
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