Raspberry time

This morning on my garden walk about, I noticed the first raspberries were ripe. Time to get out there and pick them before the birds do, I thought. Time to pick them before the grandchildren spot them too. I don't mind sharing with either of them, but I like to get a good amount, some to eat fresh, some to freeze. So for the next two or three weeks I will be checking daily for ripe raspberries.  I scrambled about amongst the swaying branches thinking they seemed to have grown an awful lot recently and realised I'd not tied the canes to the frame which Richard had made earlier this year. That's another job to add to my 'to do' list.

I got a small amount of raspberries from these first pickings. I gave them to the grandchildren as an after school treat with ice cream. I think they will love me forever.

A new fruit bed

the fruit bed and apple tree last year

Plot 8 is progressing well and our latest addition is the fruit bed.   Last year when we took the plot on we found an apple tree amongst all the rubbish and tangled mess of weeds. In another part of the plot we found some raspberries. We decided we would have a fruit bed centred around the apple tree.  We dug over this area, moved the raspberries and recently planted strawberries around the apple tree. We also planted some rhubarb.

the new fruit bed

My daughter was given a plant which she was told was an apple tree. It was very pot bound and we have planted this in the new fruit bed. It has perked up quite a bit since being planted, we are not convinced it is an apple tree though. Also in the bed we have planted a blueberry. In the last few weeks the fruit bed has been extended and we have planted more raspberries, some gooseberries and a redcurrant. 

I'm really loving this fruit bed having seen it develop from an area full of weeds, rubble and all sorts of rubbish to a tidy controlled space. All the plants are looking happy, and we are looking forward to seeing fruit later in the year.

Fruity

It must be a good year for fruit. I have never seen so much fruit in my garden.  Well I only grow strawberries and raspberries, but there are loads of them.  I keep thinking this will be the last good picking I have of them.  Then a day or two later I go up to the top of the garden and there they are again, waiting to be picked. Then there's the allotment-- gooseberries, blackcurrants and rhubarb.

In the kitchen there are bowls of strawberries in the fridge waiting to be eaten, trays of raspberries and blackcurrants in the freezer, and more fruit already bagged up. I'm considering buying another freezer for allotment produce.  I think though that I really need to get into jam making, that is the answer I'm sure.