When living in the UK I had very little space in the garden for growing fruit and vegetables. A small greenhouse was as far as we got, tomatoes and cucumbers, and it was Sheila’ domain. She named them all individually and talked to them to encourage growth. As an experiment she turned her back on a couple of plants, that, she swore later, did not do well because of the neglect! You will not be surprised to hear that she also named the greenhouse – “Gregory”.
So with this background it was with some apprehension that I embarked on growing veggies!
Our friends and neighbours here in France have supported us – with loads of advice. The advice does vary so I have to be selective, and also diplomatic ………. much of the advice centres around what position the moon is in at the time of planting! However without that valued advice I am certain there would have been little success.
The decision to plant 10 courgette plants the first year was, as I have mentioned elsewhere, an error ……. and, caused much hilarity in the village! Sheila one day overheard Andre, our neighbour say “ John, would you like some courgettes”? imagine her surprise when she heard me reply: “ Yes please, Andre, that would be great” – she had just harvested 5 kilo from our garden!
There is great pleasure in harvesting your first crop: be it, potatoes,haricot vert, rocket, onions, shallots, garlic, runner beans, melons (just the one!), radish, strawberries, raspberries, red – black – white currants, gooseberries, various salads, beetroot, and of course tomatoes.
Over the ast 2 years we have planted 6 varietuies of beetroot, courtesy of my sister-in-law Cherry, “Golden” (I think the names needs no explaination), “chioggia” (red and white rings through the centre), “Alto” (a long beetroot, looks a little like a red ratte potato).
All easy to grow, and, a multi coloured beetroot salad in the summer looks very pretty, although when cooked the chioggia does lose the rings.
Tomatoes have had a post to themselves, so suffice to say, on a warm summers evening a mixed tomato salad, with a light olive oil and white wine dressing, torn basil leaves, and a ball of white moist buffalo mozzarella scattered over the top, all, served with loads of crusty bread, and maybe a cheeky bottle of wine…..what is not to like?
This year for some reason, I decided not to plant potatoes, onions, shallots and garlic – why? I’ve no idea and feel quite despondent when I drive through the village seeing the perfect rows of the said veggies.
When it comes to perfection I have a long long way to go – Andre and our friend Michel amaze me each year. The precise rows and weed-less plots are beautiful to see.
So I must now get out of my bed and go and water my demanding horde!!!
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