Once again we have to thank the Victorians for discovering the culinary delights of rhubarb, as prior to the 19th century it was more likely to be found in a physic garden or apothecary’s shop than the vegetable garden. Extracts from Chinese rhubarb Rheum officinale and Chingai or Turkey rhubarb Rheum palmatum have been used
Vegetables
Vegetable Garden
The potatoes are in sacks under the bench in the shed, the garlic neatly platted and hanging above, soon to be joined by the onions which are drying in the polytunnel. There are boxes and boxes of jam and chutney and both freezers are full to bursting point. Autumn has definitely arrived, complete with the
Courgettes or zucchini
As a child I encountered marrows but nothing as exotic as a courgette – apart from the mysterious thing called zucchini listed as an ingredient on the back of a packet of dried minestrone soup. My love affair with courgettes started in Italy when I was served stuffed courgette flowers and tiny delicately flavoured, finger-sized
Showtime
In any rural community the major event of the summer has to be the agricultural or local garden show, although here this maybe disputed by the islands’ highland gatherings (games). Whether it is a grand county event or the local village fete being asked to be a judge can either be viewed as a privilege
