Sunday 5 July 2015

More Turkish Delight

I have held off getting turkeys this year until my health issues were sorted, and now I am back in Galicia for the rest of the year (I hope) it seemed like a good time to get them. After last years trials and tribulatuions with the bronze commercial birds I was determined to get something smaller and more robust so I am now the proud owner of six, four week old Spanish Black Turkeys. They arrived home with me in a small flimsy box held together with sellotape but luckily there were no escapes enroute.
They went into the prepared turkey house and spent 24 hours there to settle down with food and water.
This morning they were let out into the heavily vegetated orchard where they will spend the rest of their lives.
As they were from a commercial supplier they hadn't seen the sun, or had any surroundings other than wire cages but already they are pottering around enmass exploring and eating as they go. This breed has been less 'messed around with' and we hope they can mate naturally. Tim and I plan to eat some but keep a pair, hoping to raise our own poults next year.

Friday 3 July 2015

Triffid Tomatoes

It is my first year growing in a polytunnel and so far it is all looking good. This area is very blighty and in previous years a good tomato start always ended in disaster. As a typically optimistic gardener I hope this year will be different. I am growing more blight resistant strains, Legend, Broad Ripple Yellow Currant and Amish Paste combined with polytunnel production and a thick mulch .
There has been very little rain this Spring and I am trying to mulch as much as possible to retain moisture in the soil. My next project over winter is to install some tanks to capture rainwater from the roof. The flowers are looking very beautiful. I am eating day lillies every day as a snack and still they bloom.

Due to ill health and frequent visits to the UK my veggie patch is very overgrown and badly in need of TLC but somehow it continues to be productive, despite the drought.
There is still no where else I would want to be in the world than Galicia and on a sunny day like this, it can't be beaten.