As the summer comes to a close, it’s time for my final Grow Your Own update in partnership with Wyevale Garden Centres.
In my first post, I shared our adventures in sowing seeds, potting up and early seedling care. In my second post, I gave an update on the progress of our tomatoes and basil, and how much we were enjoying eating a meal made from produce we’d grown ourselves.
Today, I’m excited to share how our strawberries, peas and mint progressed, and I also have a recipe that we made with our produce (topped up with some supplies from the local grocer – well this is our first year of growing!)
So first up, I’m pleased to say that our strawberries got off to a great start, and we managed to keep the birds away from the fruit long enough to enjoy our first harvest.
We only had a few fruit this year, but they were absolutely delicious; a world away from the chilled, imported strawberries we’re all used to finding in the supermarkets. Â The plants should produce a bigger crop next year, and they will also create new plants which we can pot up to increase our strawberry patch. I can’t wait!
Our pea plants were very popular with the local snail and slug population.  We used copper tape around the pots to deter them, but the plants took a while to recover and we had a rather small yield from them, but we’ve learned a lot for next time. Still, the low yield was a great excuse to eat our crop straight from the pod – sweet and delicious!  Growing peas was great fun and we’ll definitely give it another go next year.
Our mint plant has really thrived, with very little intervention from us. Â I’m loving fresh mint tea, and of course it’s perfect in Pimms.
One dish borne from our growing adventures was this pea and mint pesto pasta. It’s delicately minty, with pine nuts and almonds bringing texture, parmesan bringing salt cheesiness, and fresh garlic and lemon giving a satisfying kick.
Here’s how to make it.
Ingredients
- 350g (12.5 oz) rigatoni
- 45g (1.5 oz) pine nuts
- 45g (1.5 oz) blanched almonds
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 50g (2 oz) parmesan (I used a vegetarian hard cheese equivalent)
- Handful of mint leaves
- 150ml (5 floz) olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Up to 65ml (2 floz) water from the pasta pot
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Put the pasta on to cook in plenty of boiling, salted water. It’ll take about 10 minutes to cook, which gives you time to prepare the pesto.
Put the pine nuts, almonds, garlic cloves, parmesan, three quarters of the mint leaves and olive oil into the bowl of your food processor.
Blitz until coarse.
Add the lemon juice and a splash (up to 50ml/1.76floz) of hot water borrowed from the pasta pan) and blitz again.
Taste and add more mint leaves as required.
Blitz again and finally season to taste.
Drain the rigatoni and serve into a large bowl. Top with the pesto.
And the peas.
Mix and enjoy!
It’s super yummy, I promise! Are you tempted to try this recipe?
Here’s a printable version of this tasty pea and mint pesto pasta recipe – just hit the PRINT button on the recipe card below.
Pea and mint pesto rigatoni
Ingredients
- 350 g dried rigatoni
- 45 g pine nuts
- 45 g blanched almonds
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 50 g parmesan I used a vegetarian hard cheese equivalent
- Handful of mint leaves
- 150 ml olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Up to 65ml/2.19floz water from the pasta pot
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Put the pasta on to cook in plenty of boiling, salted water. It'll take about 10 minutes to cook, which gives you time to prepare the pesto.
- Put the pine nuts, almonds, garlic cloves, parmesan, three quarters of the mint leaves and olive oil into the bowl of your food processor.
- Blitz until coarse.
- Add the lemon juice and a splash (up to 50ml/1.69floz) of hot water borrowed from the pasta pan) and blitz again.
- Taste and add more mint leaves as required.
- Blitz again and finally season to taste.
- Drain the rigatoni and serve into a large bowl. Top with the pesto.
- And the peas.
- Mix and enjoy!
- It's super yummy, I promise!
Growing our own food has been such a rewarding experience.  It’s provided fun family time, taught us some new skills, and given us super-fresh, wonderfully tasty produce.  And seeing all that lovely food growing just outside the back door has also been a real source of recipe inspiration to me.  I think I’ve caught the grow-you-own bug!
PIN ME
For more ideas and inspiration for your next pasta dish, visit my pasta meals recipe index!
This is a commissioned post for Wyevale Garden Centres.
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tracy sinclair says
31 October, 2016 at 7.26pmI would love to grow all different kinds of herbs, so I can use them more in my cooking x
sharon martin says
31 October, 2016 at 3.30pmi”d like to grow raspberries as they are my favourite fruit
Adrian Bold says
30 October, 2016 at 9.06pmI’d most like to grow carrots and peas.
Jodie W says
30 October, 2016 at 8.52pmI rented a raised bed in my village allotment this year. My favourite thing to grow was courgettes as they are so easy and produce lots. However the tastiest thing ive grown have been my sweetcorn
darren matthews says
30 October, 2016 at 8.51pmI would love to grow my own herbs and vegetables.
Jessica says
30 October, 2016 at 4.21pmStrawberries – my son can’t get enough of them and some herbs so fresh ones are on hand when cooking
Deborah Mackenzie says
30 October, 2016 at 4.16pmI would love to try and make a herb garden; I particularly love mint with lamb and it tastes so good when it is fresh.
SUSAN L HALL says
30 October, 2016 at 3.15pmi only have a patio garden but would love to grow a selection of herbs as love fresh herbs
Derek Wilson says
30 October, 2016 at 12.23pmBaby cherry tomatoes – so sweet!
Pauline Dring says
30 October, 2016 at 10.32amCourgettes, our crop failed this year
Sue Price says
29 October, 2016 at 10.31pmTomatoes, peppers & peas I would choose to grow
rebecca austin says
29 October, 2016 at 9.02amstrawberries and tomatoes
Sheila Reeves says
29 October, 2016 at 7.37amI’d love to grow some spinach, and some carrots
Sheila Shepheard says
28 October, 2016 at 5.24pmI’d like to grow raspberries – they are so expensive to buy and my family loves them so.
Maxine Feehely says
28 October, 2016 at 4.27pmCarrots are so much sweeter freshly picked
Emma Walton says
28 October, 2016 at 8.23amI would love to have a go at growing some cauliflowers. They look a little difficult but I would like to try anyway.
Martina Alban says
28 October, 2016 at 5.51amherbs – I had my garden redesigned this summer and have a great spot now to grow my own herbs and vegetables
frances hopkins says
26 October, 2016 at 8.59pmI’d love to grow raspberries
Maureen M says
26 October, 2016 at 8.43pmLove to grow some soft fruits.
Lorraine Stone says
26 October, 2016 at 7.28pmI would love to have some gooseberry bushes and grow some rhubarb too.
Kimberley Ryan says
26 October, 2016 at 3.39pman assortment of peppers, chillis and herbs
Sheri Darby says
25 October, 2016 at 9.51pmA nice little herb garden
Nancy Bradford says
25 October, 2016 at 9.06pmI quite like the idea of growing some of my own food. We eat potatoes and tomatoes in some form nearly every day so I’d like to grow those.
Michaela Hannah says
24 October, 2016 at 10.42amI would love to grow our own carrots. We eat a lot so it would be a real treat
Francesca Jones says
23 October, 2016 at 11.31pmI want to grow strawberries and also herbs
sallyann johnston says
23 October, 2016 at 7.23pmI would love to grow some different varieties of peppers
Leanne Bell says
23 October, 2016 at 11.26amI would love a well stocked herb garden to include mint, coriander and rosemary and would love to have a go at growing new potatoes and carrots.
Judith Allen says
20 October, 2016 at 10.17pmSome perennial herbs, we don’t have any in this garden. Rosemary, sage and lavender to start with. We had lots at our old house, and the dog used to like to rub up against them. He liked to smell nice. Well, that thought made us smile anyway.
Caroline Hunter says
20 October, 2016 at 3.22pmI’d grow tomatoes, peppers, chillis, onions and runner beans.
Kelly Ellen Hirst says
20 October, 2016 at 7.37amI’d most love to grow some chillies to add some zing to my meals
Linda king says
19 October, 2016 at 8.01pmBrilliant prize just right size for my garden
Christine Lockley says
18 October, 2016 at 8.40amI’d love a herb garden
Kat Glynn says
17 October, 2016 at 8.41pmWe have tried growing most vegetables in our garden, but I would really like to try growing mushrooms next :)
AMY fidler says
17 October, 2016 at 6.02pmbeetroot and garlic x
michelle o'neill says
16 October, 2016 at 6.30pmlettuces and tomatoes
Kim Neville says
16 October, 2016 at 5.55pmBroccoli and green beans
Susie Wilkinson says
16 October, 2016 at 3.16pmI think I’d like to have a go a growing carrots, we eat loads, both raw and cooked!
claire woods says
16 October, 2016 at 9.37amI saw a lime tree yesterday at a garden centre. I’d love to try growing those.
Anthea Holloway says
16 October, 2016 at 8.23amI would love to grow some carrots and parsnips.
Karl Borowy says
15 October, 2016 at 5.19pmTOMATOES AND HERBS GARDEN
Aaron Broad says
15 October, 2016 at 4.31pmI would love to start growing some vegetables if possible
Katie says
14 October, 2016 at 10.23pmI’d like to grow my own potatoes
Ruth Harwood says
14 October, 2016 at 8.37amI’d love to grow my own little herb garden – I don’t have much space and I love experimenting with herbs in recipes xx
Samantha O'D says
13 October, 2016 at 9.22pmWe have only ever mastered growing peas, I would like to grow tomatoes
Charlie @ The Kitchen Shed says
13 October, 2016 at 7.53pmHow much pasta did you use for this recipe? I might be being dim, but I couldnt see it. I would love to grow courgettes in my garden. They grow so well! The pesto pasta looks delicious!
Emily Leary says
13 October, 2016 at 8.02pmWhoops! Thanks for spotting that! About 350g of dried rigatoni (I’ve updated the recipe) but you get quite a generous portion of pesto so you could go up a little and still get a decent coating.
Laura Pritchard says
13 October, 2016 at 6.25pmA blueberry bush as my kids eat so many!
Chrissie Curtis says
13 October, 2016 at 5.09pmThere is s much I would love to grow! but especially carrots as we eat so many.
theresa cooke says
13 October, 2016 at 2.27pmI would love to grow Figs. They are in the shops only a short while but I love cooking or just eating them.
maria blythin says
13 October, 2016 at 1.21pmi would like to grow spuds x
Char Keddy says
13 October, 2016 at 12.12pmWould love to grow some tomatoes and peas – both taste so yummy straight off the vine! xx
Donata says
13 October, 2016 at 9.52amGherkins. I tried growing them this year but only had 2 or 3 small gherkins. I want to try again next year. I love gherkins pickled in brine.
Sharon Lou Johnson says
13 October, 2016 at 9.36amtomatoes and mushrooms x
Angela McDonald says
13 October, 2016 at 2.14amI’d love to grow some Snowdrops!
I’d also like to grow some herbs like mint and coriander to use in cooking
Sarah Parkin says
12 October, 2016 at 8.23pmPeppers would be great to grow – I’m always running out!
Jane Brown says
12 October, 2016 at 8.22pmTomatoes as we eat a lot of them!
lynn savage says
12 October, 2016 at 5.00pmi would like a herb garden so that I always have fresh herbs to hand.
maureen moss says
12 October, 2016 at 4.35pmsome really sweet strawberries
Peter Watson says
12 October, 2016 at 3.08pmI’d like to grow root vegetables,especially parsnips-I love them roasted and glazed with honey
Suzanne Drummond says
12 October, 2016 at 1.23pmfingers crossed this would be great to help kick start our garden makeover
iain maciver says
12 October, 2016 at 10.49amI would love to start growing potatoes again
Joanne Beale says
12 October, 2016 at 10.04amLove to grow both vegetables and flowers in my garden so to win would bring me great pleasure
sandi green says
12 October, 2016 at 9.57amI’d love to grow coriander, I keep trying but it just dies on me.
Tracey Mitchell says
12 October, 2016 at 9.17amI love growing fruit and making scrummy jam and puds so probably buy an apple tree.
Tania Atfield says
12 October, 2016 at 9.15amPumpkins for next years halloween for my kids
Janet Humphrey says
12 October, 2016 at 9.11amalways wanted to grow my own peppers and chillis, but not the super hot ones.
Victoria Prince says
12 October, 2016 at 9.05amThis looks so scrummy, definitely one I want to try :) I would most love to grow peas, tomatoes and beetroot (sorry – can’t pick just one, had trouble narrowing it down to three :D). Nothing better than eating peas straight out of the pod that have been picked just seconds before
Carrie Talbot-Ashby says
12 October, 2016 at 8.48amI would love to grow Potatoes, carrots and beetroot. Simple tasty foods we use a lot of the time! I have no real garden to speak of though sadly, but I suppose I could grow a potato or two in a window box? lol After a few years might have enough for a meal! :-D x
Fiona Martin says
12 October, 2016 at 8.34amI’d love to grow tomatoes, courgettes and fresh basil.
Spencer Broadley says
12 October, 2016 at 6.33amI really want to get a good herb garden / kitchen pots going
Sharon H says
12 October, 2016 at 6.01amI’d like to try growing mushrooms, they are pretty much the only veg that dad does not grow.
A says
12 October, 2016 at 4.03amI’d most like to grow carrots, radishes and peas.
Margaret GALLAGHER says
12 October, 2016 at 1.04amCucumbers and melons
I’ve heard they are fabulous when home grown
Monica Gilbert says
11 October, 2016 at 11.56pmI’d like to try to grow rosemary and mint. I love eating both, and it would really add to my cooking.
Danielle Spencer says
11 October, 2016 at 9.47pmI’m looking for grow our rabbit’s their greens, starting off with herbs such as mint, dill and parsley.
Helen Thurston says
11 October, 2016 at 9.19pmI’d love to grow a selection of fruit and veg – maybe some of the older heritage varieties – oh, and rhubarb :)
Jodie Cook says
11 October, 2016 at 8.35pmI would like to grow peas – they are so yummy straight out the pods!
Hayley F says
11 October, 2016 at 8.11pmI would like to grow some broccoli through the winter x
Cathy Glynn says
11 October, 2016 at 8.08pmI would love to grow some fruit, possibly raspberries and I would love a plum tree x
Gemma Holland says
11 October, 2016 at 7.49pmStrawberries & raspberries. It would save me a lot of money as my two love them!
Jackie Allum says
11 October, 2016 at 7.27pmMore sugar snap peas as this year they were simply amazing. I have ordered some different things from China, like purple potatoes and blue strawberries but sugar snap peas were fabulous this year so I’d love to grow more of those.
cheryl hadfield says
11 October, 2016 at 7.18pmI would love to grow my own vegetables to be more self sufficient
Julie Kenny says
11 October, 2016 at 2.24pmI love growing tomatoes as my dad use to grow them and the scent reminds me of my childhood and happy days spent in the greenhouse x
Tracy Nixon says
11 October, 2016 at 1.22pmI would love to grow lots of different tomato varieties!
Sim @ SimsLife.co.uk says
11 October, 2016 at 12.23pmThat looks absolutely divine! I was surprised at how much my strawberry plants had multiplied the second year – be prepared to make jam next year! Would love to attempt to grow my own peas next year – nothing better than popping them from the pod! Sim x
emma walters says
11 October, 2016 at 12.23pmwe love our little veggie patch and sweetcorn is the best thing to eat fresh :)
Mary Baldwin says
27 October, 2016 at 4.42pmI would love to grow spinach – I use loads both raw in salad and cooked, but if you buy it from a shop it goes off really quickly so growing our own would be ideal.