Marrow meal

Get in! I've cooked my first meal using ingredients from the allotment: marrow, stuffed with minced beef, mushrooms and shallots, with potatoes, carrots and sugar snap peas. The marrow was the one on the right in the 'Harvesting the runts' post below, the shallots were picked yesterday, and the spuds came direct from the ground to the pot. And a fine time was had by all. I hope no-one gets ill or anything.

More photos here or by clicking on the fancy looking picture thing in the Links bar to the right >>>.

Leaves of green...

Nice, fat, lush leaves. No wonder I've got the best marrows in town.

(Yeah, click to enlarge)

Same with this one. I'm just watching the marrows grow at the moment, not really doing much else except watering (and feeding) the buggers. The need a good weeding though. Jesus, those weeds. My face says it all I'm afraid.

Harvesting the runts

The last week or so has seen an unprecedented explosion in marrow size and number. Because of this, several have been culled to conserve growing energy for the main-vine beasts.

Here is a selection of the fallen few - which are by no means the largest on the plot. Many thanks to the 'Sarehole Squashmaster' (Woodward's new moniker) for his assistance in the culling process: he held them still as I cut their throats and tore them from their shrieking mothers.

(Click picture to enlarge)

Marrows galore

Aunties Bloomers (groan)

At last, the BBC and 12 Yard productions have let us know that we at PAMELA will be put forward for their programme, 'The National Village Show', which airs next year.

I recieved this letter this morning (click to enlarge):

Despite all recent setbacks (yes, Hawkes and Woodward, that means you), the Allotment of Champions is committed to this competition.
It's a good thing that we're entered for the 'Heaviest Marrow' class, as we seem to be a bit thin on the ground in terms of pumpkins. The programme is hosted by none other than Alan Titchmarsh MBE (I'll slap him on the arse, live on TV, for £100) and promises to be a great event.