Digging & Dreaming

For The Love of Pesto

Few things reflect the generous abundance of summer as well as homemade pesto. A matter of weeks ago fresh basil was a rarity on our plot - something to be used in moderation, that needed cosseting to keep it going and growing. Now the sun's shining, the basil plants are putting on inches by the day and it's possible to sacrifice a whole plant, even two, to make a delicious bowl of pesto. Here's to plenty more sunny days and many more mounds of deliciously basily pasta before the summer's out.

Plenty Left To Plant

Even though the growing season is now in full swing don't despair if you haven't planted everything you'd hoped to - there are still plenty of seeds that are more than happy to get going at this time of year. The Mizuna seedlings in the picture above are just one example. These mustardy oriental greens can be eaten raw in salads or steamed and are amongst the crops that will run to seed if planted earlier in the year. Now's the perfect time to plant them and if you plant some to grow indoors later in the summer, or protected in a sheltered outdoor spot, there's no reason that you shouldn't be eating fresh greens right through the winter. The same is also true of Pak Choi that actually relish the chance to get going at this time of year.

Another crop that's raring to be planted right now is Florence Fennel. I'll be getting my seeds going in small pots this week with the aim to plant them out by the end of July. They need a fertile, moisture retentive soil and plenty of space between the plants. Planted earlier they're pretty much guaranteed to go to seed but at this time of year they'll grow as quickly as anything and will make nice aniseedy bulbs ready to be picked just before the weather starts to get really cool again in October.

And if this isn't enough for you to get going with, you can still plant beetroots this month and next, it's perfect timing to get winter cabbages and cauliflowers going, swedes and turnips are more than happy to go in until the end of July and you've got at least until the end of August to plant lettuces and radishes. So, what are you waiting for? Here's to another couple of months of productive seed raising ahead!