Sunday 28 June 2015

My Garden: 28th June 2015

Another glorious day. From reading this blog you would think that the sun always shines in Ireland but I must only be inspired to post on the good days. We were out in the garden before 8 this morning; I in my pjs and wellies and toddler in his wet gear as it had rained quite heavily last night. Torrential rainfall followed by warm sunshine is a combination in which the garden really blooms. My courgette plant opens a new flower almost every day but none as fantastic as this morning: 




Where another flower has dropped off, a courgette stands waiting to be picked. I had heard that courgettes were prolific fruiters and I've found that to definitely be the case so I am glad that I only have the one plant.




My little helper illuminated. He had great fun poking his finger in the centre of the flower. Helping along pollination I'm sure:




Basking in the sunshine:




I am growing four varieties of tomato this year - Moneymaker, Sungold Select, Black Cherry and Indigo Rose (pictured):



I bought the Indigo Roses as plants in a local GIY plant sale, the rest I grew from seed. The purchased plants were much more established that my own and they have been the first to start fruiting. I am really excited to see the purple black tomatoes emerging. Most of my plants have started to flower at this stage so it shouldn't be long before I have a range of colours.

See you in July!

Tuesday 23 June 2015

Crusty Life: 23rd June 2015

This week I am bottling my Elderflower Champagne. If you haven't already, check out MY POST with step by step photos of how to make this simple and light summer drink. It's makes a great gift for all those occasions where you would like to give something small but meaningful. It's so easy to do and great fun.

From the garden I am eating salad crops such as radish, courgette, pak choi and young beetroot leaves. My tomatoes are starting their first tiny fruits. All but one of my pears have fallen off the trees (apparently there is something called June Drop) but the remaining one is swelling nicely so fingers crossed for this baby!

Water charges were introduced last month (our bill was €55) so I am being even more conscious of my garden related water use than ever. Next big job is to get a water butt and make use of that wonderful rainfall we get. It has been quite dry lately and the plants are suffering.

Onwards and upwards!

Monday 1 June 2015

Cleaning with Lemons

Lemons are best used fresh in slices stuck into the neck of a bottle of Miller but for more sober moments, I like to keep a bag of whole lemons in the freezer. I buy them when on offer and just put them in a ziplock bag and into the freezer. To defrost, just put into a cup of boiling water and it'll be ready to use in 15 minutes or so.

I use my defrosted lemons mainly for cleaning surfaces. Simply squeeze the lemon into a plastic container and add warm water. Floating pips for decoration. You could spread out the remains of the lemon and rub directly onto the surface you are cleaning. I cleaned my kitchen work tops and the high chair top with lemon juice and water this morning and they look superb. It leaves a nice neutral smell and it's so much better to prepare food on a surface that you haven't sprayed with a harsh cleaner. I do use disinfectant sprays, mainly around the sink area, but never on the high chair. I don't have any illusions that lemon is a great killer of bacteria so I do take care to use something stronger after dealing with raw meat.