Salads and Herbs

Late Spring and Early Summer are the best times for salads and herbs, when everything is fresh and new, rather than later on in the year when plants have potentially had to cope with fierce sunshine, high temperatures and drought (not likely in the UK, I know!)
My first "saladings" of the year were radishes and Baby Leaf lettuces:

"Cherry Belle" (round) and "French Breakfast" (long)

Baby Leaf lettuce being grown in a seed-tray, under cover

Now, I'm just about to pick the first few springs of Watercress form that miniature bed I started a couple of weeks ago.

I also have a few peas in a pot, which I intend to use as pea-shoots. I sowed 24 seeds in that pot, but some of them have gone AWOL. I suspect mice may have pinched them. Or perhaps they just didn't germinate...

There are few occasions when there are NO herbs available for use in my garden, but this is one of the best times for them. Recently I made a lovely Tabbouleh with bulgur wheat and loads of fresh Mint, Parsley and Onion leaves.

Various potted Mints

I am particularly pleased to see that the Thyme plants which I thought had died last Autumn have recovered nicely. Here you can see them in the foreground, with Chives, Parsley and Celery Leaf in the background.

It will be a while before my salads include any cucumbers though - they are only just germinating!

Cucumber "Passandra"