Drying nasturtium flowers

This afternoon, I decided I’d been thinking about doing some work in the garden for long enough without any action. So, the plan was to get out there and chop the lemon balm bush back in order to make room for the garlic.

I put my gardening boots on, which in itself was an achievement in view of the fact that I routinely go out in Birkenstocks and then end up with muddy socks. I even remembered the key to the shed, whereupon I forgot all about the lemon balm. Instead, I had to take my boots off to go back in for the broad beans I picked up at Helmsley Walled Garden last weekend.

Interestingly, the hugel bed I sowed the broad beans in was clearly full of wood. In other words, the branches had not rotted down to any noticeable extent, although it is only a year since this one was built. I hope therefore there will be enough root-space for the beans. 

Anyway, after pottering about, removing unwanted vegetation from around the garden, picking tomatoes from the remaining plants (the ones in pots) and chive flowers, it came to me that I needed to do something else. Namely, why I was out there in the first place!

I didn’t manage to clear all the ground, although I’ve now got plenty of lemon balm for winter. The nasturtiums are still going strong and I hadn’t got the heart to remove them as well. There could be a frost at any time, so I will let nature to sort them out.

However, I don’t want to miss out on eating the flowers if I can. So, the other day, after dark, I decided to pick as many of them as possible. 

Freshly picked nasturtiums for drying

Last year, I froze some flowers but they were just a mushy mess when defrosted. Two days in the airing cupboard and I would hardly call this year’s batch the same. On the other hand, as part of drying they have shrunk considerably in size. But I did pick a load more today to add to the bag.