first harvest!

[daisymay]

Hi,

Today is the first day ever we have eaten exclusively all our own veg!
Harvested our first beetroots, potatoes and carrot (yes - singular, was quite small!) and some more lettuce (which we have been eating for a while now).  So had the lettuce and beetroot leaves in our sandwiches at lunchtime, and the beetroot, potatoes and carrot for tea - delicious, not to mention extremely satisfying that we grew it all ourselves!

Also went to check on the lottie today and found two ripe plums that the birds had not found, so had them today for the first time too :)

Been a good day really. Going for a pint, then to the pictures to round it off now  ;D ;D ;D

[daisymay]

[Icyberjunkie]

Nice result!   Especially the plums - nothing like that sort of surprise find.

[Marianne]

wow daisymay !  Well done - do you have a picture of your harvest ?
;D :D

[Roy Bham UK]

;D Well done Daisymay ;D It's a great feeling init? ;D and I didn't realise you can eat the leaves of your beetroot, I presume you have to cook it with the Beet? I may just try it, is it nice, alright, or smashing? ;D

[wardy]

Sounds like an idyllic day rounded off by a nice evening.  There's nowt like the first crops  :)  Well done you  ;D   Carrots are lovely aren't they - dead sweet  :)
Our lotty plums aren't ready yet and there's that rush when they are to get to them before the flamin wasps  ;D

I've been tidying up on my plot and trying to find space for some more stuff under all those bleeping weeds.  Done lots of composting too and planting Bocking 14 Comfreys. Put loads of stuff in me compost bins.  Put some weed membrane under my squashes to keep them clean and protect them from rotting hopefully  :)  OH tried to plug the leaks in the shed roof but failed  :(  Came home tired and filthy and had fish, chips, lager and wine.  Fell asleep in front of Casualty.  Doesn't everyone  :(  Right bloo*y boring  ;D

[Looby Loo]

Excellent stuff!!

Just had a risotto with home grown courgettes (yellow and green) broad beans, runner beans and chard.  Not too sure if it's very authentic but it was pretty scrummy.

It's so satisfying.  Better than that cardboard, processed, pre-packed malarky any day.

[daisymay]

We had the beetroot leaves raw for lunch, then steamed them for about 3 - 4 mins till soft (as you would cook spinach) for dinner. They really reduce down so cook more than you think you need! They taste a bit like spinach too, are delicious.

Here is a picture - had already eaten quite a bit till it occurred to me to take one, so looks a bit puney!!

[Roy Bham UK]

;D Now that looks good enough to eat ;D D.M. do you eat the stalks with your raw beet leaves ??? reason I ask is that my GP said you can eat potato leaves (Cooked) so I check on here and got a resounding No! Do you think we have a budding Dr Harold Shipman at our surgery? :o ;D

[Derekthefox]

This is what makes it all worthwhile eh! Congratulations !  :D

[Marianne]

It looks absolutely delicious !  A meal fit for a queen and king !
Well done !

;D ;D ;D

[daisymay]

I cut off most of the stalks, just leave about 1 cm at the base of the leave, I don't think they are bad for you! Had not adverse reactions so afr anyway, just they would cook at a different rate to the leaves so would be a bit woody.

[tim]

Those young days when we used to 'go to the flicks'! What a way to round off such success.

Beet stalks - like the colourful Rainbow Chard - eat it all!

But, for Roy - maybe this was the reason?

"POISON NOTES: Potatoes are good for you, but all of the green parts of the potato plant contain poisons called alkaloids. Even the potato tuber can be poisonous when it is left in the light and begins to turn green. Avoid any potato with green skin."

PS We know that you just peel them!!

[Roy Bham UK]

 ;) Thanks DM ;) I will give them a try, I noticed some of my first ever Beetroot has flower or seed heads, yet the Beet root doesn't appear large enough to pull yet, is this normal or are they bolting? ???

[Mrs Ava]

No Roy, they have bolted and the root will be woody and course.  Old Jack on our site has lost all of his boltardy already like that!  Lack of water for us you see.  Still, sow some more, you will still get some lovely small roots to enjoy as this summer ( ??? ::) ???) comes to an end!  ;D

[Roy Bham UK]

Oh dear thanks anyway Emma ::) can't understand it as we have water on tap and I have been quite generous with it (I thought), as it happens I do have back up roots to follow on and will sow even more as the time allows. :)