Broccoli coming out our ears

Well despite what I thought was careful planning all the broccoli I planted is ready at exactly the same time, and today there are another four massive stalks that need picking. I heard that you can lightly steam florets then plunge them in ice water, then freeze them so I might try that. Otherwise I will have 20 litres of broccoli soup in the freezer.

And never to learn, I have planted out lots of purple-sprouting broccoli seedlings where the early potoates used to be so I guess I will have the same problem last year. I shouldn't complain though cos it tastes fantastic. Mr Butternut is extremely impressed!

I've also been spending a lot of time jam-making, first blackcurrant and then endless raspberry. All this comes from the wild fruit bushes in the countryside near our house. The only thing better than raspberry jam is free raspberry jam. (Apart from the sugar...) But something odd happened with the second batch. It has set beautifully but in the jars it has separated with all the seeds at the top. Mysterious, not sure what I did wrong...

And here is a picture of my gorgeous Cosmos 'Chocomoca' plant which smells just like it sounds.

Growth and Plans

Well it has been a busy week though not for me in the garden unfortunately, the weather hasn't let me get out much. Things are growing nicely without me though and it looks like I will have blueberries this year - yum.

I've had a trip up north to my parents where me and my pa constructed a rather spectacular frame for his peas to climb up. Here is the Eighth Wonder Of The World:

I did get a bit of a fright when I went out one morning and all my brocolli and sprouts had completely wilted - a complete mystery as they weren't too dry or waterlogged and there were no beasties to be seen. I had a panic but the next day they had all totally righted themselves and are starting to form heads of broccoli.

The squashes are growing well too though I can't remember what type this is:

And then the plans...I have decided and persuaded Mr Butternut that it makes sense to dig up a lot more the back garden to create three raised beds. I want to put asparagus in one and then include the other two in the vegetable rotation but next year use one for salads and the other for strawberries. I am also planning things for the front garden which is such a mess that I am too ashamed to post a photo. We are having some building work done but once this is finished I'll be able to tidy it up and completely re-design it - very exciting!