I'm not sure if it is the heat, or blackfly, or both - but having harvested around 100g - a mere handful - of runner beans, the remaining little beans are curling up and dying as are the leaves. The tipi is dismantled [and the components readied for next year]
Meanwhile I went out to check on the peas last week - and they were not there- just a few chewed stalks and brown leaves. Older wiser gardeners have told me that it was probably mice.
"It is not worth growing peas, anyway, Angela. Captain Birdseye sells them at a reasonable price, and they are always fresh from the freezer, all year round" Well, that's as maybe - but I did want to try it once, if only for the pleasure of sitting on the back step with Rosie, podding a bowl of peas together, like I used to do with my grandmother. I find Lidl peas as good as Birdseye, and a better price. But maybe I just didn't watch my crop carefully enough. As somebody once said
The price of peas is eternal vigilance
The peas and beans have all been disappointing this year but you've got an excellent crop of puns.
ReplyDeleteGrown, groan!
Delete😁😁😁😂 Kezzie x
DeleteSorry to hear about your beans and peas. My garden isn't doing too well, either. Too hot!
ReplyDeleteWe're all suffering from the heat, aren't we? 😎🌞🌞😎
DeleteShame about the peas -I grew mange-tout for afew years and they were better than trying to grown enough peas to make the effort worthwhile. Old gardeners used to soak pea seed in something - paraffin? - so the mice didn't eat them from the ground.
ReplyDeleteThe joy of growing is that there is always next year!
NEXT year I shall be more confident. Every week I learn a new gardening skill - and I am not getting despondent. I doubt I shall be entering our local produce show for a few years yet. I leave the honour of prizewinning veg to people like you, Sue.
DeleteSeveral people I I spoken to have had disappointment with their climbing beans this year. Looking at your photo they look drought affected to me. They need constant moisture at the roots. I hope you have another go with peas next year. [Today's Gospel reading in the Catholic lectionary for today's Mass is the 10 bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom].
ReplyDeleteIt is helpful to realise I am not alone - the heat has resulted in many BAKED beans. I love that story , all about being prepared.
DeleteI only planted 3 beans this year, from last year's crop which sadly succumbed to the slimy slugs and snails that abound in my garden. So far, so good with this lot. Beans need loads of water. My neighbour said exactly the same about growing tomatoes last year 'just get them at the shops'! so I haven't bothered this year. It's all a learning curve.
ReplyDeleteSome lessons easier to learn than others!
DeleteI managed ok with dwarf french beans. They were a strange variety which were purple or black on the vine but turned green when cooked. Peas were not good, much better last year. Now, my carrots are looking great!
ReplyDeleteThe beans sound intriguing
DeleteIt's been a disaster bean year for many including my Mum and me. All my runner beans died as did my home germinated green dwarf beans. My sister's were good but not sure how they are currently doing.
ReplyDeleteMy shop bought green beans are pretty small and I've only had about 40 beans in total so far.
Cucumbers have been prolific for mum- she's picked over 100! I've had 3 so far.
My neighbour's cucumbers are small. But plentiful. I may try them next year
DeleteI love fresh peas - they taste completely different from frozen peas. Definitely worth trying again, I think!
ReplyDeleteI'm still deciding - yes truly fresh are delicious.
DeleteGet an early variety maybe? Also, it's not too late to start a second batch
DeleteI'm considering a second attempt
DeleteIf you do plant cucumbers don’t plant courgettes as well. They cross-pollinate and you get what looks like a cucumber on the outside, is lightly yellow on the inside, and is horribly bitter. They both grow prolifically and take a lot of space so take care where you plant them. One courgette plant crowded out a half dozen pea plants in our garden a couple of years ago. We had more courgettes than we could eat (kept all the neighbours supplied) and only three pea pods!
ReplyDeleteThank you, this is really useful information. I like both courgettes AND cucumbers- so will have to consider carefully which is more useful
DeleteOops, I've done both for a couple of years. Not in the same place though
DeleteOur garden had a tall fence around it to deter deer , screening to thwart those who tunnel in, a wire cage over the strawberries to keep the birds at bay and rubber snake woven through the fence to be scary! Nobody bothered the veggies.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
I couldn't cope with a rubber snake in the fence!
DeleteSorry to read about the mice decimating your peas. We have chipmunks, squirrels and birds raiding our berry patches but perhaps we shouldn't complain since these are wild plants that we have taken over!
ReplyDeleteWe dont have chipmunks round here!
DeleteThe quote is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI don't grow peas because I fail, but I watch for this time of year and buy them sort of stale but still shelling peas, getting my fingers completely green and making a mess. I haven't seen any this year, but I don't know whether that's climate issues or picking issues.
Both I imagine, sadly.
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