Tommy's Busy Green Paws

Our blog has been quiet of recent, but don't worry, it's just a sign that George and Yorkie are leading a party on another classic Bears Unlimited adventure. They will be back soon, bursting with news to share and pictures aplenty, but in the meantime, I, Tommy, will bring you some news from the Bear Cave garden.

The season got off to a good start when a kindly local lady gave me lots of broad bean plants.  At the time, I was planting my broad bean seeds straight into my raised veg beds. I admit I was a little late with my planting, but the happy result has been that we have had a long broad bean season with good pickings.

When it came to podding, I was surprised and intrigued to see quite a few of the beans were red, rather than the traditional green. They looked great and Chef Oakley was pleased as he thought they would make some of his culinary creations look extra special.

Our French beans got off to a very shaky start. I planted them from seed 3 times, before I ended up with plants which survived to maturity. That old saying that 'if at first you don't succeed, try and try again' is definitely true of my experiences in the garden. My third planting has given me the best crop ever. The plants just keep producing more beans. I can't help but be reminded of that Duracell bunny!

I'd been on the look out round our village for courgette and squash plants to buy, but only managed to source 2 squash plants and lots of tomato plants. As a result I ended up planting courgette seeds weeks later than I should have, but my logic said that if they got sun and water they should grow and they have. Unfortunately George & Yorkie have gone off with the B.U. Camera, so I don't currently have a picture, but there may be one soon.

The leek plants I'd brought on from seedlings are now in the ground and I'm now thinking long and hard about autumn planting. Any suggestions?

Lots of love, Tommy xxx