Battling elements to grow your own

Erratic weather has played havoc with Valerie’s efforts to grow edibles in pots in her back yard, and bugs have been working against her as well. But now everything’s back on course, and this week she outlines the foodie options available from her home-grown items.

Snails are the enemy of the ‘home-grower’

Back in April, I extolled the virtues of growing your own food. I planted in pots (as I don’t possess a grassy garden but a yard) many edibles that I hoped would grow big and tasty.

With the erratic weather we’ve been having it’s been a tempestuous time in the yard. Runner beans had to be brought in out of the gales and are now growing, quite literally, up the walls, but in the house. My apple tree promises to be an apple tree though shows no real signs and the dreaded greenfly have turned up to remind me that you can never be smug when nature is concerned.

Despite bugs, snails and dodgy weather my once bleak yard is now a green haven full of healthy looking plants that we can eat over the course of the summer. Lots of people in Limerick and its surrounds have gardens or big spaces to grow things in.

Maybe a workplace garden would work would brighten up your office. A few pots on a balcony or in a yard can grow herbs and salad leaves—just keep them away from the smokers!

Peas, please

In keeping with the idea of growing your own food and saving the world in my own miniscule way, I planted peas in washed tin cans that I punched holes in for drainage.

Peas are so easy to grow and bugs didn’t bother them. They are almost ready to eat and are so sweet and juicy that you don’t really need to cook them. My son was even found eating them straight from the pods.

I’ve found recipes that say you can eat the whole pea pod, leaves and cute tendrils and shoots. That sounds yummy and something I will try out. You can see from the photo that the peas look healthy and tender. You can plant peas anytime, now is good and they are very low maintenance.