onionbagblog

Having had the good fortune to inherit a mature, manageable garden just under a year ago, it is only now that @AnnaJCowen and I are starting to see the benefits of Wivenhoe in bloom.

Even a lost cabbage palm tree over the course of the severe estuary winter has provided some mid-summer joy. Half a dozen seedlings are now starting to emerge from the roots of the original. Mother nature is rather forgiving when it comes to bad gardeners.

Our plan all along was to try and encourage the existing garden, as well as to attempt to grow a secondary kitchen garden in the small extra space that is available.

Spring seeds were swapped with the good folk of Transition Town Wivenhoe back at the Farmer’s Market in March. We were rather reckless in our potting, forgetting that many great things grow from little seeds.

Being blessed with a conservatory that doubles up as a greenhouse has certainly helped. It’s also rather artistic apparently - the current Over the Sofa exhibition at the Wivenhoe Bookshop features prominently… my kitchen.

Cripes.

The joyous early summer estuary climes soon got to work. We are now fighting back the green shoots, both indoors and out as the various vegetables start to deliver.

Courgettes are growing out of our ears (and elsewhere.) The tomatoes are still green, but I fear that a freezer load of tomato goulash is going to be the only option to deal with the excess.

Peppers have slowly started to appear, along with the late developer that is the beetroot boys. I swear I saw an aubergine the other morning, although it just might have been my courgette addled brain taking over.

Keeping with the TTW ethos of share and share alike, tomatoes and courgettes have been handed out to family and friends. In return we received the most delightful bag of cherries from over the garden fence - thank you!

The decking that doubles up as a makeshift Death Row of all that was once green, great and good is even starting to come back to life. And here was me thinking that it was all about the daffs.

Anyone know what size is the largest courgette ever grown in Wivenhoe? I’ve got an absolute beauty that will bring tears to your eyes. Best enjoy it now Madam, whilst it is still ripe.