The vegetable patch has continued to grow and produce lovely greens, herbs and tomatoes. I can honestly say that I have not had to work very hard at all. I come out every now and again and pick some of the weeds. I use a hoe, which means I can do it quickly and not have to get down in the mud (and let’s face it, it is pretty muddy after all the rain we have had) the rain means that I have not even had to worry about watering anything.
The peas (that I thought were beans) grew really well at first, but are now a bit straggly so I need to work out why that is. They taste amazing though.
We have harvested nearly all the cherry tomatoes now, but some are still growing.
The Case of the Wondrous Courgette
I know that I am not an experienced gardener, nor would I consider myself a hugely successful one, however I have (with some help from Lily) managed to grow a magnificent courgette! It grew so beautifully and so big that I could barely bring myself to pick it. My son is proudly holding it to be photographed.
Contrary to what the books or websites advise, which is to pick whilst young for better taste
(I am guessing the normal shop bought size is young) my big one tasted great and lasted for 3 meals!)
They have continued to grow at different times so that I don’t have to pick them all at once. They are so easy to grow; anybody can just plant a seed in a patch of earth in the garden and water and wait. Alternatively put seed in some compost in a small plant box and when seedlings have sprouted, plant them. I just broke the rules and stuck them straight in the earth!
Growing in abundance
Potential Problem
The only problem that I have to investigate is the white mould that has recently formed on some of the leaves. I have just looked up on some green sites what to do naturally for this mould an most suggest spraying diluted milk, however most people that had tried that have not seen any good results.
So I decided to try a mix of water and a few drops of citricidal (Grapefruit seed extract) which is antifungal and can be used on skin or even consumed by humans so I felt it would be safe for courgette leaves. I will let you know how I get on with that.
Mould on leaves
I have also just mixed a bucket of compost and water and fed the courgette and broccoli plants at their base.
Courgettes (or Zucchini as other countries call them) have great nutritional properties. The flowers are edible too.
Nutritional Benefits
– Low in calories
– High in water
– High in Potassium
– High Vitamin C
– High in Carotenes (converts to Vitamin A)
– Good source of folate, iron, manganese, phosphate, zinc and other B Vitamins
They are cancer protective and highly anti-inflammatory and help with gastric problems, as they are gentle on the gut and easy to digest. They can help alleviate bladder and kidney inflammation.
They are good for skin when eaten due to the high content of nutrients and fluids and when use in a facemask.
(I will be experimenting with this when I do the Beauty workshops)
Courgettes can be eaten raw in salads, lightly steamed, baked or sautéed, and added to stews, casseroles and stir-fries. They are very versatile and can keep for quite awhile in the fridge.
I will be attaching a recipe for courgettes on my next blog entry.
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