From Artichoke to Zucchini

Well, it's been a while! Between filling seed packets and fulfilling customer orders as quickly as we can, it's been a busy period, and finding the time to escape to the Green Seed Company greenhouse hasn't been easy. Mr Green has, however, succeeded where I have failed! Well, you know what they say.... all work and no play. And so this morning, having had a brief , if somewhat wet, wander around the organic veg patch and the herb garden, I sought shelter in the greenhouse, and am pleased to report that the Green Seed organic seedlings are coming along very nicely.... well, most of them anyway!

Those who know me well will realise that I like a list (cringe), and preferably a red pen for ticking off completed tasks (even worse)! Being a bit wet this morning though, I had to make do with a mental list, and pretty soon realised that, although we (and by we, I obviously mean Mr Green) had sown practically everything in between, we'd (he'd!) missed out A and Z. No artichoke and no zucchini! My suspicious mind wonders if this has anything at all to do with the fact that Mr Green likes neither! Not to worry, still plenty of time.

Having quickly sown four organic globe artichoke seeds (Imperial Star) and two organic courgette seeds (Dundoo F1), I set about reminding Mr Green why it is we like to grow these!

As well as producing deliciously tasty globes, artichokes are beautiful architectural plants and, for those who don't enjoy preparing or eating the buds, (mentioning no names, of course!) they're still very much worth growing for the beautiful flowers that the uncut buds will turn into. Not only do these look striking in the border, they'll be enjoyed by beneficial insects and can even be left on the plant to dry and then cut and used for decoration indoors.

We normally only sow a couple of courgettes. With each plant producing anything up to 20 fruits and the fact that Mr Green isn't that keen (nor the kids for that matter!), two plants is more than ample!

Courgettes are so easy to grow and so versatile. All you have to do is remember to harvest them, well, that, and be on slug patrol! I've actually managed to persuade even Mr Green to enjoy Jamie Oliver's 'Courgette Carbonara' and our younger daughter, having been initially disgusted that the school dinner ladies should dare to add grated courgette to her favourite chocolate muffins has, eventually, plucked up the courage to try one and reluctantly agrees that they're actually, surprisingly, very tasty!

So, there is hope. Maybe next year I won't have to remind Mr Green to sow A and Z.... we might even grow 3 courgette plants next year!

Go on, grow green!