Apples & Rainy Day Veg Soup

This year I had a bumper crop of 14 apples on my self fertilising apple tree! This is an all time record for me. My tree is in a large pot and has been in a pot for years.

I've no idea what kind of apples they are but they taste delicious - sweet but also tart. They're one of the best tasting things I've grown.

Every Spring the tree is infested with green caterpillars which seem to eat the buds so I've learned to keep a careful watch. This year it has paid off. Plus I've made an effort to feed the plant weekly and ensure the pot doesn't dry out.

Today I'm making vegetable soup. (So excited as first time ever growing many of these plants). Pictured: celery, carrots, parsnip, spring onion, courgette, kale, spinach. The type of seed & when I planted them can be viewed at: http://kelliboylesgarden.blogspot.com/p/2011-grow-list.html 

I was going to put a few potatoes in my soup but I forgot. I've harvested (approx) 7 kg potatoes / 15 pounds.
Variety: Maris Peer

I'm surprised to even have potatoes this year. My plants were devoured by something (caterpillars and/or slugs?) very early on (pictured). I didn't have much hope for harvesting any potatoes this year. Left it really late but when I was digging I got a nice surprise - potatoes!

Veg Update (Broccoli, Carrot, Cabbage, Celery, etc)

One carrot pulled (yes one) - for making soup and one parsnip (under size). Grown in a veg box, pictured below. I only wanted one of each but can't wait to harvest more. Variety: Carrot 'James Scarlet Intermediate', Mr Fothergill's seeds. Variety: Parsnip, Carters Tested Seeds.

An interesting looking broccoli - I forgot I'd sown this. Not sure when to harvest? It doesn't look too productive like the seed pack (pictured below). Also some pest damage.

Blackberries are starting to ripen on the thornless blackberry plant.

My prize cabbage; the others are being eaten by pests.Cabbage 'Golden Acre/Primo III', Mr Fothergill's seeds. Sown 3 April 2011 indoor. (Planted outside mid-June; netted). 

Radish are always welcome! Variety: Radish 'Scarlet Globe', Mr Fothergill's seeds.

Some ingredients for cooking at the weekend:

• Celery.
• Kale Curly Scarlet.
• Kale 'Nero di Toscana'.
• Broccoli '(Autumn) 'Green Calabrese'.
• Courgette (yellow zucchini) 'Soleil F1'.

Fab Flowers

Summer flowers bring lovely colour throughout summer. I do love flowers - all year long! 

Left: Watercolour painting called 'Hollyhock' by Egretta Wells.

Egretta, our fellow blogger and person who inspired me to start blogging, has just set up a new online gallery of her amazing floral paintings and fine art. Such beauties! If you'd like to have a look, her online gallery is located at:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/ewells-2206