News from the Garden

Every week Chef Oakley and I take a walk round the garden to see how our vegetable plants are doing. I let Oakley know what I'm growing for him and what will soon be ready for harvesting, so he can plan the week's recipes and shopping.

Yesterday was at least dry for our garden tour even though it was rather overcast and very windy.


Although it looks dark, I can assure you we were out in daylight - our camera obviously thought we needed some illumination though. First stop was the cucumber plants. If you can remember back to mid August, you may remember me telling you how I was growing cucumbers and squashes from seed. My cucumbers have not been in a greenhouse, but are producing quite a few fruits. This plant, despite its scabby leaves, is the most prolific fruiter of the bunch. I have already harvested a shop size cucumber and as you can see there are 3 more growing.


Next stop was the squashes whose seeds were sown at the same time as the cucumbers. Two big squashes have been harvested and are resting on the window sill in our dining room. As you can see there are others coming along well which will soon be ready for cutting.

There are also others which still have some growing to do ...


It's quite a jungle when you get amongst those squash plants. Their tendrils snake over the ground very quickly and they take up a lot of my vegetable plot. Fortunately a visitor who was staying with us last weekend, gave me a masterclass in squash care and pruning. The bed looks a lot better now, although it was sad having to decide which of the squashes to keep and which to cull (in the interests of the retained plant).


Our corn on the cob plants, also grown from seed, were a bit of an experiment this year. They have grown and we do have some cobs as you can see, but they are more suited to a small bear's (like me) appetite rather than a big bear's, such as Ungi or Blue Bear. They'd have to eat quite a a few to satisfy their hunger.

Last weekend we met up with members of the Midlands branch at T.B.B.'s (Teddy Bear Bill) minder's party and we were very pleased to be given lots of lovely mint and stawberry plants. I planted the strawberries yesterday, all together, so it will be easier to net them next year, when - paws crossed - some lovely fruits develop.


Here you see me proudly showing my planting to Oakley and giving him advance notice that we hope to have stawberries on the menu next year.

My mouth is watering already!

Lots of love Tommy (gardening bear) and Oakley xxx