Tropical gardens

A fortnight of sunshine has made our market garden feel like the tropics, particularly in the polytunnels where the sprinklers add a warm jungly mist to the exaggerated heat. The French bean plants have rocketed up to the roof canopy where they trail like lianas- the dark-podded purple beans look especially exotic. Aubergine flowers are tropically purple too, interplanted with aromatic Thai basil, and ridge cucumber plants twine spikily together. The multi-sensory jungle experience is completed by the triumphant call of our neighbour’s peacocks and five feral green parakeets darting across the sky. Welcome to the hanging gardens of Ockley!