Summer has arrived in the allotment over the last few weeks.  Harvesting has started, with almost half of the early Anya potatoes now dug and the greenhouse tomatoes are ripening nicely.

Spuds 21 July 2016

Ripening tomatoes 21 July 2016

The beans are growing strongly, with most of those in the picture below being Borlotti Beans that we grow for drying and storage – they’re great for winter casseroles.  We do grow a few runner beans as they are delicious fresh from the plant but for two of us more than 3 or 4 plants means that it is bean glut time.

Beans 21 July 2016

We’ve also started pulling the first carrots and the parsnips are promising a good autumn and winter harvest.  One of our long-standing goals, going back to the days of just three 6ft by 4ft raised beds in the garden, has been to have our own roasted parsnips on Christmas Day.

Parsnips 21 July 2016

Carrots 21 July 2016

Most exciting of all is the first crops from our new soft fruit cordons.

Redcurrants 21 July 2016