View August's letter from our Organic Gardener Dennis Hawke

In the poly-tunnel the tomatoes are ripening, though slowly.  The french climbing beans are finished and we are now waiting for the french dwarf beans. 

The courgettes continue to crop heavily.  The basil has done well and has been heavily harvested by the chefs.  The rest of the beds have been replanted with lettuce, bulb fennel, parsley and rocket. 

Outside the salad leaves mizuna, pak choi, tatsoi, red and green mustard are thriving.  Chard and spinach have done well.  We have had a bumper crop of garden peas and mange tout – are picked nearly every second day. 

The main crop potatoes, ‘Golden Wonders’ are being dug.  The yield is small due to the lack of rain in May.  A very good crop of onions have all been lifted and now lie drying in every available space.

I have planted out more kale, brocolli and cauliflower.  These seem to be doing far better than earlier plantings.  We have had a useful crop of globe artichokes.

The camomile flowers are blooming.  The flower heads are picked, dried and being used for camomile tea. 

The raspberry and loganberry harvest is about over, loads of jam has been made.  The blackberry picking has commenced and is quite early.  Some of the apples will be ready for picking over the next couple of weeks.

All the common herbs are flourishing and provide the kitchen with an enhancement to many recipes.

Recently we had a visit by the ‘Entente Floral’ international committee.  The group had a tour of the kitchen garden and grounds, a short stroll on the beach followed by dinner in The Weeping Elm Restaurant.  The entire committee showed great interest and all gave a very positive response.

As the year turns so aspects of the garden change.  Already I feel the autumn approaching.  We will look back at the summer of 2008 and wonder did we have a summer at all. 

If you are taking a late break at the hotel, do pay a visit to the garden, have a walk around and perhaps sample some of the produce.

Dennis
15. 08.’08