Polly’s garden

I am reproducing below a wonderful report from friend and fellow yogi, Polly. It was written on her recent return to England after time away, and I thought the description of her garden was just too good to keep to myself.

“The weeds have overtaken both the vege gardens , since June rain was the highest on record. There are two large plots – however it was a satisfactory afternoon in the rain uncovering what has to be said, is an amazingly productive garden – beetroot, carrots, purple spring onions , potatoes ( three kinds , Desiree, Pentlin Javlin, and King Edward), garlic , shallots- purple and white, sweet corn, scarlet runner beans, courgettes, parsnips, rainbow chard, onins red and white, and leeks- purple and white.

The other garden contains copious amounts of brassicas, namely cauliflower , brussel sprouts, white sprouting and purple sprouting broccoli, which the pigeons entirely denuded after my departure , now they are back in force with new sets of leaves, and will mature sometime in winter.

They are flanked by two 25 metre rows of sweet corn and potatoes which could not be accommodated in the garden next to the house.

From now on harvest of the above will extend to making of chutneys and pickles , particularly the courgettes and beetroot which ripen at the same time as the onions and Bramley apples (sharp cookers) – the combination of these with some spices and other secret ingredients, make killer chutneys.

I have counted 47 fat figs on the tree which each year I have slowly rescued from brambles and refurbished with some careful pruning and mulched with Wood Farm decomposed manure, so plan for a net to be installed immediately to keep off the pesky birds, although there appears to be a species of enormous rat here that has a taste for figs so a deterrent must be found forthwith. (think rabbit trap).”

Thank you, Polly, and I hope you get to enjoy your figs!