Harlequin tomatoes

Again this year my Harlequin tomatoes have been the first, by far, to set and produce fruit. This is useful to know when planning a successional season, ie. so that you can have veggies ready for the longest period possible. These Harlequin seed were saved from last year's crop. Last year this variety was new to T&M and was on the front cover of their veggie catalogue. A packet of only 6 or 7 seeds cost me about £2.99 !! This year from about a hundred saved from only a couple of last year's tomatoes - for nothing. It really is worth saving your own seed. Having said that, not all vegetable varieties will come true to type. Squashes and pumpkins will cross pollinate with any likely partner (without wearing a condom!) and if you save seed this way you may not get what you expect. Cucumbers are the same, as are runner beans. Plant a long line of different varieties of runner bean and if you save the seed produced, you will probably create a hybrid variety - which might be interesting.

Asparagus Pea

I like to try something new on the allotment every so often. Asparagus pea had often intrigued me so I planted some seeds this Spring. I have not heard great things about them but decided to give them a try for myself. The pods are supposed to be winged, and you are supposed to pick them very small, about 4cm long and steam them. They are supposed to taste of asparagus. I read about them recently and one grower stated that you must have a vivid imagination when you think that they taste of asparagus! At present their one redeeming feature is these lovely scarlet flowers! Has anyone tried growing asparagus pea? Was it worth it?

Elsewhere on the allotment, my 2 disappointing rows of carrots have failed miserably. Not only did I get only half a row out of each packet, in total only 6 carrots have germinated in both rows! The seed was definitely in date, (from T&M) I suppose they are temperamental like parsnip seeds. Anyway, I have sowed 2 more rows of Detroit 2 and Perfect 3 beetroot. I love beetroot! (My Uncle Charlie was sent home from Palestine during the war because they thought he had dysentery... actually he had been eating beetroots!!)

Trip to Madeira

I've just come back from a wonderful short break on the island of Madeira. All round the countryside you will find Madeirans growing their own fruit and veg on a little patch of rich volcanic soil, clinging to steep hillsides. The sheer variety of fruit and vegetables is tremendous. There are hundreds of varieties of familiar fruit and vegetables, most of which are on sale at the market in Funchal (above). The second picture is of 'cherry guavas' bite sized guavas which were delicious. The Madeirans have a farmers co-operative so that if you only grow a few bananas in your own back garden, you can still sell them to earn a living. Sweet potatoes are grown year round by most people. The name of the island's capital is Funchal, which is Portugese for fennel which is also grown here.

When I go on holiday I visit the DEFRA website and establish what my personal import legislation states I am able to bring back into the UK. From the EEC, apparently, we are all one big happy family and there are few regulations on which fresh fruit, veg and flowers you can bring back to the UK ... so I did !