Hi everyone, I used to post a lot in a previous Gardens etc until my wife was also diagnosed with cancer just over 2 years ago and she went through such a hard time so my time was taken up with not just Mrs Tvman but I was not good because of the rise and fall of red cells, white cells, neutrophils and platelets.
The good news is that I have a little bit more free time to garden. I never stopped because it's in my DNA to get working in the garden. I'm also a wheelchair user because of a serious back condition called spinal stenosis and the pain is so great that I'm only able to work in short bursts.
So let's see photos of your gardens or allotments, whether they be large or small or maybe you only have room for pots and troughs in a balcony or back yard.
My speciality for the last 40 years is vegetables and I have won hundreds of prizes over the last 20 years or so. I have had vegetables in show that have made me Northern Ireland champion for my sins. Unfortunately, since covid some shows have ceased therefore I haven't entered any for a few years.
I've a few photos below, that's if I can remember how to insert them! It's been a while.
Below is a photo of the contents of my greenhouse, there are tomato plants left and right of the pathway. Also just past the tomatoes are cucumber plants against that have frames for them to climb up. The cucumber variety is Mini Munch, they're a small variety that are sufficient for a few salads
The plants in the large pots below are aubergines, variety Black Beauty and inbetween the pots is a seed tray in which spring onion seeds have been sown which of course haven't germinated yet. Over here in Northern Ireland we call spring onions "scallions" and apart from in salads we have them with butter in mashed potatoes and that dish is called "champ". Believe it or not that was served as a stand alone dish that we had when I was small, some 60 years ago. Just mashed potatoes with small pieces of cut up scallions, cooked slowly in real butter then a dinner plate was loaded up with champ, a hole made in the top and filled with more butter then everything was mixed together and eaten. Along with an Ulster Fry in the morning, no wonder we had the highest rate of heart disease in Europe!
Last photo below for this post is a bed of garlic (on the left), shallots in the foreground and at the far end for those of you eagle-eyed is a few red and white onions that are just 2 or 3 inches high. They are grown from onion sets that are small immature onions and usually come in a net bag weighing 250g and there are about 70 in total.
You'll notice that I have wire netting around the beds, that's because 3 years ago I had a rabbit problem. 35 years without them, 1½ years of rabbits and none since! The wire netting is staying for a while yet!
What about some photos from anyone else?
Tvman
Hi Tvman and Eddie
My parents grow Cobra french beans. They are really delicious and lasts a long seasons too. They are my favourite vegetables for the summer time. My local grocery store sells them Around £5 for a pound of them!
my friend has trouble Her alliums too. She grows them on a sunny border with clay soil. She planted over 200 in a row but they don’t show up much this year. Any advice? Is it better to plant them In groups for better impact?
I have visited a lovely garden in Norfolk a few days ago. They have a giant tree peony in bloom.
Below it is my mum with the tree.
Hi Fleabane, there are slicers everywhere online, be sure to check it's a stringer as well, you can get one for courgettes too which are lovely in a simple sauce, even uncooked, maybe someone should start a food thread, there must be a few of us who have different dietry issues.
Eddie xx
I thought the same about a food thread...because i was thinking about my egg custard recipe ...there are lots of nutritional dietary information but can be over whelming.
Just like u mentioned, the courgette spaghetti, I knew about that. But never thought of green beans..
So the little snap shots of others ideas is good thing.
Hope you and Sheila are having a good day...
Hugs and love
Hi Fleabane, well we all have to eat, my friend, and for some it's not that easy, this subject has popped up on my other forum occasionally and with some good ideas, but I've never seen a dedicated thread, would you like the honour?.
Sheila's fine, the only thing that affects her is lack of daylight/sunshine, I'm ok, bloods back today HB and Reds low, haematrocit's very low so check again in 4 weeks, PSA still falling so can't complain.
Let me know about the thread.
love Eddie and Sheila xx
Sorry poor Sheila has got the vampire problems, a beggar not being able to enjoy the daylight. Send her my love.
The food thread was your idea lol..what direction, recipes, eating hints for those struggling, etc...what did u have in mind
You could call it Eddie's Eatery...hahaha
Your results low bloods bad, but good news on the psa...have i read that properly ..so a bit tired and sickly hahaha
Anyhow...I am happy either way about food thing just don't know how to go about it
Anyhow hugs +
Hi Fleabane, Sheila's problem is not enough sunshine/daylight, luckily she has a sister in Australia where she spends our winters with.
I was thinking anything goes regarding the thread, so others can ask any questions they want, without worrying if it's appropriate.
I was tested for 18 things re ny bloods, so only 2 markers a little below normal and only 1 of concern is good, PSA is the main one.
It seems its been a long day for both of us, regarding the food thread, I don't mind starting it, but we can give it a day to think it through,
love Eddie and Sheila xx
We have a slicer too for the runner beans. They're one of the veg that are eaten widely in England but not so much in Northern Ireland. I like them a lot but last year they were one of the foods that Mrs Tvman wasn't allowed to eat.
No allium leaf miner in sight thank goodness, I was reading the other day about allium pests and the advice was to not grow anything in that spot from the same family for 5 years.
Aw man, I was reading one of your other posts about you will be having liquid food and then fed by tube. I'm so sorry to hear that mate.
Take care Eddie
Tvman
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