Spuds - the sequel!

Here's my crop of Vivaldi potatoes (and a couple of Red Duke Of York) ... I am a little bit disappointed with my yield. I feel that I have put in a lot of time and effort with the potatoes (which I am growing in barrels) and I haven't got many potatoes in return.

I might have emptied this barrel too early, but the potatoes had flowered and the greenery had died down, so I figured that the time was right ... hmmm

I still have two more barrels (with Duke of York and Charlotte's) I'll just have to wait and see how those turn out!

Is anyone else growing spuds in containers? I'd be interested to hear how you are getting on with them! Have a look at last year's crop here

Knitting Success!

Isn't this gorgeous? I am so proud of myself! My first matinee jacket knitted for a friend's baby ... I hope that they like it (and it's handmade shabbiness!)

What's occurring in Victoria Plum's Garden?

Lots of lovely things growing in the garden!! Have a look at a previous post here to see how things have come along in the last month!

Mmmmmm .... purple spouting broccoli ....

Peppers and aubergines in the greenhouse (it was 35 degrees Celsius in there this morning - phew!)

Pretty aubergine flowers ....

Broad beans!!!

Tomatoes!!!

Potato barrels!

The plot .... from left to right ... broccoli, red onions, carrots, fennel, leeks, courgettes and squash with broad beans and peas at the back.

Today's harvest! Ha Ha Ha ... two pods of broad beans, eaten raw with our bbq this evening - delicious!!

Courgette is looking a bit sad, but have plenty more healthier ones on the plant!! It's not a lot - but it's homegrown and that's all that matters!

Living the Good Life in Venice!

I have just come back from a wonderful holiday with my family. It was the first time since I left home 8 years ago that I have spent a whole week with my parents and brother - it was lovely!! Of course Mr Plum and my brother's girlfriend were also with us! It was a brilliant holiday!

We stayed in a beautiful apartment in the Dosoduro area of Venice (very close to the church in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ...) - there was a gelato shop opposite - perfect!

The weather was amazing ... we did lots of sightseeing, lazing on the beach, eating gelato, drinking prosecco, watching opera, eating more gelato, pizza and spaghetti ... and generally having a wonderful time!

Venice is such a beautiful city ... and I appreciated this visit so much more than the school trip I went on when I was 14 ...

Here's some pics of me living the good life in Venice (if anyone from Joules is reading ... I would be happy to be a model for Joules - ha ha ha!!) ...

Summer Days

The UK has been blessed with glorious summer weather (well, up until the torrential thunder storm of 0630 this morning!) ... so Mr Plum and I have been spending lots of time out in the garden, but also out and about enjoying touristy stuff in London.

We have been taking advantage of National Rail's Two for One offer on major tourist attractions (if you travel by train)....which makes a day out in London a bit more affordable!

So far we have been to Kew Gardens and London Zoo - both of which were fab days out and places that I had wanted to visit since moving down to London almost 10 years ago, but always felt that two adult tickets would make it quite a pricey day out.

We have spent this weekend at home doing housework and jobs in the garden.  The vegetable patch is looking GREAT! I have my first head of purple sprouting brocolli, lots of flowers on my tomatoes, flower buds on my potatoes, and my first little courgette appearing! Hurray!!!  Such a shame that I have the back to work Sunday blues ....