I grew up in Eastleigh only a few miles from Southampton, so it’s a bit special for me to be invited to talk to some groovy growers in that town on Wednesday 15th June 2016!
All posts by Stephen Barstow
Edimental apples
Apple trees in full bloom are a wonderful sight, aren’t they? I’ve seldom seen so many flowers on them as this and the rowans are also flowering well which probably means that the apple tree moth (rognebærmøll), which prefer rowans, will keep off the apples this year! (here’s a page about the moth http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/argyresthia-conjugella )
16 days later
The rate of growth of Udo (Aralia cordata) from Japan is phenomenal in cool spring weather, even outgrowing Hablitzia tamnoides (Caucasian spinach)!
The first picture was taken by Christian Odberger during my permaveggies course and just two weeks later the plant is taller than me! The view is or less the same and the apple tree at the back is now in full bloom! The fern is ostrich fern.
Udo seedlings
It’s difficult to believe that these tiny seedlings can grow into something as big as Aralia cordata, Udo…currently germinating in the garden! (that’s a knife handle in the background)
Hablitzia racing anyone?
Can you see your Hablitzia grow?? I must measure mine next year! http://backyardlarder.blogspot.hu/2016/05/how-fast-can-climbing-spinach-climb.html…
Thanks, Alison Tindale!
Diamond back moth invasion
One of the worst invasions of diamond back moth / kålmøll happened a couple of days ago….here is a video showing hundredds swarming over one of my Lily White sea kale plants which is about to flower. Luckily they never do much damage to sea kale (Crambe maritima) as the harvest is over before they arrive, one of the big advantages of perennial brassica…on the other hand, annual brassica crops are being planted now in my area…they have little chance against these tiny moths….
I blame the rapeseed oil industry for this…they don’t overwinter here, but they migrate passively on warm winds from central Europe and Russia, even reaching Svalbard and Northern Norway…
Magical midnight in Malvik!
We are nearing midsummer and there was a magical light in the northern skies last night dominated by reds and blues…
Fast Slow Edimental Lunch!!
15 minutes from garden to table must qualify as fast food, but unlike its namesake this is highly nutritious and with a few flowers becomes gourmet edimental food…
The greens were boiled and then stir fried quickly in olive oil with chili and garlic.
Inspired by traditional Mediterranean village food!
Yes, cooking is FUN!!
Yes, cooking is FUN!!
Grennessminde and the fantasy salad beds
On 13th August I’ll be doing an edible wander at Grennessminde, the organic nursery just outside of Copenhagen. A large number of edible flowers are also produced here for Michelin restaurant NOMA. I popped in for a quick look on Tuesday with project leader Aiah Noack who is also (together with Naturplanteskolen) organising a trip from Denmark and Southern Sweden to my garden around 15th – 19th July! There are still some places available!
Naturplanteskolen looking good!
I’ve had a couple of meetings in Copenhagen over the last couple of days and I visited Naturplanteskolen again. The nursery was looking really good and plants had grown dramatically since I gave the course there only 3 weeks ago!
