我的菜園七月在種什麼？What Am I Growing in My Vegetable Garden in July
經過六月變幻莫測的天氣後，進入七月，竟然仍未回暖！網上務農群組的成員都叫苦連天，大家都在追問；「今年夏天到底會不會來？」幸好到了七月中，終於出現夏天的跡象，喜暖的農作物終究肯長大了，卻又迎來各種害蟲和動物，不斷要跟蝴蝶、鼻涕蟲、蚜蟲、雀鳥甚至松鼠作戰！
本月我終於悟出兩個道理：（一）去年冬天特別暖，原來對農田不是好事，因為許多害蟲和病原體沒有凍死，令樹木去年的病延續到今年。（二）英國的天氣實在「估佢唔到」，所以不妨春夏秋冬的菜都種一些，最後總有一兩款會「撞中」！就像我的通菜、莧菜都沒有瞄頭，但本來不屬於本月當造的菜心，反而有收成！
今年在英國種菜的經驗，跟過去兩年實在很不同。看來要學習的事情仍多著呢！
After the unpredictable weather of June, July arrived with a surprisingly cool temperature! Members of online gardening groups were all whining, “Will summer ever come this year?” Fortunately, by mid-July, signs of summer finally appeared, and warm-loving crops began to go strong. However, this also brought various pests and animals, leading to constant battles with butterflies, slugs, aphids, birds and even squirrels!
This month, I learned two important lessons: (1) The unusually warm winter last year was actually not good for the garden because many pests and pathogens didn’t die from the cold, causing diseases in trees to continue into this year. (2) The weather in the UK is truly unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to plant a variety of vegetables as there will always be one or two that thrive! For example, my Morning Glory and Amaranth didn’t do as well as last July, but Choy Sum, which isn’t typically in season this month, yielded some harvests!
This year’s experience of growing vegetables in the UK is very different from the past two years. It seems there is still much to learn!
菜心 Choy Sum
上個月實施的「吊高來種」策略成功了，菜心無遭受鼻涕蟲侵襲。然後，蝴蝶活躍起來，加了防蟲網，也成功阻截了蝴蝶產卵。 我把菜心放在陽光不能直曬的角落，加上六月寒冷的天氣，結果本來在春秋二季種得較好的菜心，今個月陸續有收成。雖不及天冷種植的粗壯，但還是比起超市賣的好吃。有天朋友來我家吃飯，我特別採摘來做菜，朋友說，要吃真正的菜心，得來你家才有呢！
The “hanging planter ” strategy I implemented last month proved to be successful – my Choy Sum wasn’t attacked by slugs. Then, as butterflies became active, I added an insect-proof net which successfully prevented the butterflies from laying eggs on the plants. I placed the plants in a spot that doesn’t get direct sunlight. This, together with the cool weather in June, led to a remarkable yield this month. Though not as robust as those planted in colder seasons, these Choy Sum still taste a lot better than the store-bought ones. One day, a friend came over for dinner, and I picked some Choy Sum for the meal. My friend said, “To eat real Choy Sum, one has to come to your house!”
芥蘭 Kai Lan
六月寒冷的天氣除造就了菜心，也令芥蘭長得不錯，一樣陸續有收成，而且每棵都可以收割兩輪，挺划算。芥蘭特別吸引蝴蝶，所以我把它放在這個有網架保護的菜床內種植。
The cold weather in June not only benefited Choy Sum but also Kai Lan, which I kept harvesting continuously. Each plant provided two rounds of harvests so it was quite a good deal. Kai Lan attracts butterflies like magnets, so I planted them in a veggie bed with a protective net.
芥蘭頭 Kolhrabi
跟芥蘭一樣，芥蘭頭也是蝴蝶的摯愛。這些我沒有落防護網，結果要不斷監察和去除蟲卵，然後，葉片被咬得體無完膚，幸好芥蘭頭仍然完好無缺。
Like Kai Lan, Kohlrabi is also a favourite of butterflies. I didn’t put any protective net over them, so I had to constantly monitor and remove the butterfly eggs. Despite my efforts, the leaves of my Kohlrabi were severely damaged. Luckily the Kohlrabi head remained intact.
櫻桃蘿蔔Radish
原來蝴蝶也愛吃櫻桃蘿蔔的。由於這不是我重點種植的農作物，主要是用來填補空間，我也就不費那麼多心思去除蟲。我陸續收割了一些櫻桃蘿蔔後，發覺在高溫下它抽苔開花了。聽說它的種子莢也挺好吃的，便長一些來試試。
It turns out that the butterflies also love radishes. Since this isn’t my staple crop and is primarily used to fill space, I didn’t put much effort into pest control. After harvesting some radishes, I found that the plants bolted in the heat. I’ve heard that the seed pods of radishes are quite tasty, so I let some grow to try them out.
紅葉白菜 Red Leaf Bak Choy
上個月把餘下的所有種子都種下來，本來打算吃完就不再種了。不過，它長得那麼強壯，味道又佳，改變了主意，留幾棵來留種。這個轉變帶來了一個小問題──如果早有這個計劃，我不會把菜苗種在防蟲網架內，因為它不夠高。結果，我把其中兩棵移植到別的位置，這最強壯的一棵，我不想移植，把會削弱了它的質素，唯有讓它在網架角落露出頭來。
Last month, I planted all the remaining seeds, planning to finish them and not grow them anymore. However, they grew so strong and tasted so good that I changed my mind and decided to keep a few plants for seed saving. This change brought a small problem – had I planned this earlier, I wouldn’t have planted the seedlings inside the insect-proof net frame, which isn’t tall enough. Now I had to transplant them to other spots. I kept the strongest plant inside the frame, however, as I was concerned about weakening it by transplanting it. As a result, I had to let it stick its head out of the net frame.
油麥菜 Indian Lettuce
油麥菜的產量挺高，陸續收割葉片吃了很多次。它無論在大盆或小盆都種得不錯，對陽光的要求又不高，真的很好種植。
The yield of Indian Lettuce is constantly high, and I’ve harvested its leaves many times. It grows well in both large and small pots and doesn’t require much sunlight, making it very easy to grow.
蕃薯葉 Sweet Potato Leaves
隨著月中溫度開始提升，蕃薯高速生長起來，陸續採摘了蕃薯葉，為膳食增添綠色葉菜的種類！
As the temperature began to rise in mid-July, the sweet potatoes started growing rapidly, and I’ve been continuously picking the leaves, adding another type of green leafy vegetable to my meals.
莧菜 Amaranth
莧菜一樣隨著天氣變熱而快速生長，第一輪收割的菜苗又嫩又好吃。之前播種時，我一共播了四盆，只有兩盆發苗，兩盆一直無動靜，於是我把那些泥改種別的東西。然後，最近我在不同的花盆裏找到莧菜苗，是當時沒發芽的種子現在長出來了。我把這些幼苗移植到一個空盆裏，又成為新的一盆菜了！
Amaranth also grew quickly as the weather warmed up. The first batch of seedlings was tender and delicious. I sowed four pots, but only two sprouted, so I emptied the soil in those pots and used them to grow other things. Recently, I found Amaranth seedlings in varioys pots – the seeds that didn’t sprout earlier have now grown. I transplanted these seedlings into an empty pot, and they became a new pot of vegetables!
通菜 Morning Glory
六月插枝種植的通菜一直生長緩慢，七月中開始隨著天氣變熱而加速成長。今年我試驗它們可否種得密些，省空間一些，結果看見葉片有點黃，不過追加雞糞肥後，葉片又變回綠色。看來密植做法是行得通的，但條件是施肥要充足。
The Morning Glory cuttings planted in June grew slowly but started to pick up their pace in mid-July as the weather warmed. This year, I experimented with planting them densely to save space. The leaves turned a bit yellow, but after fertilising it with chicken manure, they turned green again. It seems that dense planting works for Morning Glory, but adequate fertilisation is essential.
節瓜 Hairy Gourd
本來培育了三棵節瓜苗，結果死剩一棵！隨著天氣漸暖，它終於長大起來了，還在七月底開了花，有雌花有雄花呢！我為他們進行了授粉儀式，期待八月長出節瓜！我一直以為今年六月的寒冷天氣影響了節瓜的生長，但我比較去年的種植筆記，其實節瓜開第一朵花的日子只是遲了幾日，並無很大分別。
Originally, I cultivated three Hairy Gourd seedlings, but only one survived. As the weather warmed, it finally started growing and even flowered at the end of July, with both male and female flowers! I manually pollinated them, looking forward to a harvest in August. Originally, I had thought that the cold weather in June were slowing down the growth of the gourds. However, when I compared the notes in my gardening journal from last year, I realised that the first flowering date was actually not much different, only a few days later.
苦瓜 Bitter Gourd
節瓜苗陣亡後，我原本搭好了的攀爬網多出了許多閒置空間。幸好朋友送了兩棵苦瓜苗給我，正好用來填補空間。七月下旬，瓜苗攀得越來越高，還長出花蕾來了！這是我第一次種苦瓜，希望會有beginner’s luck吧！
After the Hairy Gourd seedlings died, I was left with a lot of unused space on the climbing net I had set up. Fortunately, a friend gave me two Bitter Gourd seedlings, perfect for filling the space. By late July, the seedlings climbed higher and higher and were starting to bud! This is my first time growing Bitter Gourd, and I hope for beginner’s luck!
士多啤梨 Strawberry
士多啤梨在整個七月，每隔幾天都有些收成，直至月尾才放緩下來。首年種的士多啤梨，味道不一定甜，但很香，香氣大得吸引了雀鳥、松樹來偷吃！其中一隻松樹每天都來開餐！我不介意跟牠們分享一兩粒士多啤梨，但可惡的是，牠們往往只吃掉果實一半便丟下，十分「無衣食」！為了不浪費我的心血，我把剩下的半粒士多啤梨放在蚯蚓堆肥箱內給蚯蚓吃，很受歡迎！
Throughout July, we had a continuous supply of small batches of strawberries until the end of the month when growth slowed down. These first-year strawberries were not always sweet but were very fragrant, attracting birds and squirrels to steal them! One squirrel even came to feast daily! I don’t mind sharing a strawberry or two, but they often just ate half the fruit and left the rest behind. To avoid wasting my gardening efforts, I gave the half-eaten fruits to the worms in my wormery; and they proved to be a treat for the worms!
蘋果樹 Apple Tree
蘋果樹上的果實也是鳥兒覬覦的對象，我包了防護網減少損失，結果有一個還是隔着網也給啄爛了，唯有摘下來，也送給蚯蚓吃！
The Apples on the tree were also targeted by birds. I wrapped them in protective bags for damage control, but one was still pecked through the net. So I picked it and fed it to the worms as well.
蒜頭 Garlic
七月把所有蒜頭都收割下來了。我本來的計劃是種植蒜心，最後卻只長出幾條，只夠用來伴碟！至於蒜頭則收割了一大堆，我留起幾個明年再種，其餘的用來做菜。它們比起外面買的蒜頭，美味多倍，用來製作以蒜味為主角的菜色，非常合適。
I harvested all the Garlic in July. I initially planned to grow Garlic Scapes but only got a few, just enough for garnishing my dishes! I did have a good harvest of garlic though. I kept a few bulbs for next year’s planting and using the rest for cooking. They are much more flavourful than store-bought ones, perfect for dishes where garlic is the main flavour.
葱 Spring Onion
為了實現葱可以自給自足的目標，不斷種、不斷種……的確少了買葱的需要，卻仍未做到自給自足。
To achieve self-sufficiency in Spring Onions, I keep planting and planting… It has reduced the need to buy them, but I haven’t yet reached full self-sufficiency.
韭菜 Garlic Chive
為了讓韭菜越生越壯，趁此旺季不斷割、不斷割……希望它會越割越濃味吧！
To make the Garlic Chives stronger, I keep cutting and cutting during this peak season… Hm… I hope the continual cutting will also make it flavour stronger.
芫茜 Coriander
天氣炎熱，芫茜的葉片長得很細，而且轉瞬便抽苔開花。聽說如果任由它開花結籽，種子會落在泥裏重新長出新苗，我想試試，便留下一盆不收割。
In the hot weather, the Coriander stopped producing big leaves. Its leaves were small and the plants quickly bolted and flower. I’ve heard that if left to flower and seed, the plant will self-sow, so I’m leaving a pot unharvested to test this.
生菜 Lettuce
這棵生菜放在陰涼處，一直還在生長，一直有得吃，也沒有抽苔開花的跡象。用兩英鎊買回來的living lettuce，吃了多輪，很划算！
This Lettuce, placed in a shady spot, continues to produce without bolting. The £2 living lettuce I bought has been harvested multiple times, making it very cost-effective!
辣椒 Chili Pepper
天氣終於夠熱了！辣椒終於開花了！其實我並不好辣，而這棵辣椒去年的收成已足夠我吃上幾年！但我想試驗把辣椒樹越冬，好使不用每年都買新的或重新播種。現在證明實驗成功，我把去年這棵辣椒成功保留到今年，繼續開花結果了！
The weather is finally warm enough! The Chili Peppers plant have started flowering! I’m not very fond of spicy food, so last year’s abundance harvest from this plant was already enough to last me for years! However, I wanted to experiment with overwintering Chili plant – so I wouldn’t have to buy new ones or replant every year. The experiment has proved to be a success! Last year’s Chili plant has been preserved and continues to flower and fruit this year!
薑 Ginger
它長得好～慢～啊～！看來在英國種薑，真的很不容易！
The plant is growing so sloooooowly! Growing ginger in the UK is really challenging!
葵花籽 Sunflower Seeds
太陽花凋謝了，收成了葵花籽，留一些做種子明年再種，其餘的用來做菜。
The sunflowers have wilted, and I harvested the seeds, keeping some for next year’s planting and using the rest for cooking.
青蘿蔔Green Turnip
播了六粒種子，只出了兩棵苗。這是我最後一批種子了，且看是否種植成功。
I sowed six seeds and only two germinated. This is my last batch of seeds. Let’s see if they can be successfully grown.
各式香草 Herbs
夏天是香草生長蓬勃之時，收成源源不絕，我把採收得來的，用各種方法來烹調、冷藏，好不忙碌！
Summer is a time of vigorous growth for herbs. I kept harvesting them and were busy cooking and freezing them in different ways!
