Been having a whale of a time on holiday

Fantastic trip south. It was great to see Nan so bubbly, excited and well recovered after her nasty turn a wee while ago. 98 years young ! What an achievement.

Brought Mum back up with me so I've had a little helper all week. The both of us are completely knackered. It's all this fresh air !

The weather has held for us most days, and when the sun has shone, it's been really warm. Thankfully we've managed to avoid the floods that are happening down south. Quite wet this morning, but at the least the beetroot have recovered from being all flopped over in the heat yesterday.


Here's some new babies taken this morning.

And there are loads more where they came from.

It's great having your Mum to stay. You get pressies ! A new wand attachment so I can water the baskets more easily and a squirrel proof nut feeder ! That'll teach the wee buggar for ruining my plastic one. Now let him try and get through the steel.

Mum was thrilled the other day when she was asked to prove her age ! Produced her London bus pass and got 10% discount in In-Stores. I might ask her to come up every Wednesday !

My face feels really burned, now it could be sun tan, or more likely windburn. Now I know how the plants feel. lol

Cheerybi chappies and chappesses.

xx

A ha !!! So YOU'RE the culprit !

Found the peanut feeder destroyed yesterday, look who was to blame. First time I've known one in the garden but that maybe explains a few holes dug here and there !

Sorry for rubbish pics.

Something else for me to worry about lol.

No vampires in my shed!

I lifted approximately half the garlic when I got in from work last night. It had been raining quite heavily all day and as I didn't know what was going on underground, I panicked and pulled.

Needn't have worried by all accounts. There are quite a few burst bulbs (mainly the purples) but all look pretty good to me, even if I could have left them longer to get bigger. The ones in the ground can stay there as long as they like now until they flop. At least I'll have some for the store cupboard if I can dry them right and if they start looking a bit dodge on their washing line, I can peel and squidge them and stick them in the freezer. I just hope I haven't bruised their necks too badly with the nylon line. No doubt I shall find out in due course. I was initially quite proud of the idea, but now I'm worrying that they'll rot hanging up ! Next year, I'll be an expert ! :-)

Naturally, because I was worried about the rain, the sun has come out this morning, typical, so I'm going to open both shed doors today and let the air circulate. Quite chilly out there though by the looks of the condensation on the g/h.

Right off to open up.

Yikes - Garlic coming out of my ears

With all the talk of white rot and rust (I don't think I have either), I braved the torrential rain about 5 mins ago to dig up one of the garlic bulbs.

As this rain doesn't appear to want to stop, I think I know what I'll be doing tonight, bearing in mind that I'm away down south for the weekend and don't want the rot starting before I get back.

Now where am I going to dry everything ???

Yes it rained ...........

but only after I spent another 3 hours of watering !

The exhaust was done in 20 mins and only cost £40. Was back in work by 9am. Well chuffed.

That left me the evening free but still had to feed the toms so spent it on the plot rather than the lottie. The more I think about it, I really do have to have a cunning workable plan for next year. I have to climb over everything to get to everything else. The pots, containers and baskets never seem to hold a water for more than a couple of days, even in murky weather and just take up too much time !

The amount of toms I have on the go is just ridiculous and I've still not seen one fruit set yet ! I'm particularly disturbed by this.

The poor strawberries are fighting for air amongst the onions (who suggested this companion planting ??) and I've started to lift them even though they're not full size yet. They're definitely usable though, so now we have Red Baron's on the menu.

The broad beans seem to have listened to me complaining at them, and now I've pinched out the tips, I can definitely see more pods forming.

The garlic still refuses to go over, so it's still being ignored atm. No doubt they will all flop and expect to be dried out in the middle of a thunder storm. I have no idea what they're doing under the soil, the the top growth is still good and green. Couple of streaky leaves but doesn't look like rust (whatever that looks like).

The new lettuce doesn't seem to have made an appearance but what we have left definitely needs eating ........ NOW !

The JAs are reaching for the sky and the early beetroot in a couple of locations around the garden are looking good except for some holes in the leaves. These definitely look like munch holes though and not the nasty burning looking effect of last year.

The courgettes are just full to bursting with new flowers, both male and female. Now I know why they were supposed to be planted so far apart.

I've not mentioned the rhubarb in ages and this has taken off beyond my wildest dreams. Seems such a shame I can't have a hack at it this year but better to have a long term plan and let it settle in.

I tried to tidy up g/h No. 2 last night so that everything has space enough. I've brought one trough of Cayennes outside (well I have eight so if four fail it's not the end of the world)but definitely need to pot up some of the other chilli/pepper varieties into black buckets that have now been freed up by the leeks.

The jasmin round the side of the house is blooming and if you stick your nose in it, has a lovely scent. The sweet peas are 3/4 up the arch. Must remember to get the oH to cut a big vase full for when Mum gets here on Sunday.

I'm still on the lookout for straw but can't for the life of me find a supplier of bales in the area. I really don't want to have to pay out a fortune for bark chips and don't have enough home grown compost for mulching. I keep reminding people to give me their grass cuttings, but may have to prompt them again (obviously not going to happen today though as everything is soaking wet - not good grass cutting weather).

I still have a couple of hedges to cut, so am going to ask the question of whether these would provide a good mulch, so that's where I'm off to now.

Enjoy luvvies.

xxxx

More pics added, more planning required.

Found lots of marigolds being chomped by Mr Sluggie and his baby pals and the calendula is just covered in whitefly. Bit peed off with that if the truth be known, but if the whitefly are sticking to the calendula rather than going anywhere else, then I suppose that's good.

Chillies are romping away now and need potting up.

Potted up some passion flowers and sowed some more lime and dark opal basil as the first two batches came to nought.

Tea last night included Parmex and All Green Bush. Forgot to look to see if the new lettuce sowings have germinated yet. I'll have a peek under their fleece tonight.

Need to water the toms and aubs tonight though, I'm very lax with this. Next year I'm definitely planning better. Nothing is getting the attention it deserves .... and I'm knackered already.

Got to get the exhaust fixed today as it's hanging on by the skin of its teeth, so it will be hours of watering and watering only.

With a bit of luck it will pour down (it's looks like it might) so that will take care of the outsiders.

Cheerie bye.

xx

Gut instinct

was to stay away from the booze on Friday night ............ I should have listened to myself!!!

Meant a whole day out of action yesterday but captured these this morning.




























Cut my first courgette from the plot yesterday, and some more peas and broad beans. For the size of the broadie plants though, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of new pods forming, so I've nipped out the tops (and steamed them) to see if that will concentrate their efforts on pod forming.

The lilies are all opening like mad, I just hope there are some left for Mum's trip up on Sunday.

All the birdies are out in force, dozens of sparrows, starlings and huge wood pigeons (huge poops too). Even saw a baby robin today, parents weren't around either but it was definitely a robin.

The squash seem to have settled in nicely and have begun to spread. The poor strawberries are being crowded out by the Red Barons. Tomatoes are not setting, boo. If I don't get at least one fruit per plant I shall be distraught.

Calendula are definitely going over now, and I thought I'd have a display all summer long. I've started saving a few heads for seeds for next season. Sweet peas have started blooming in abundance though so still have got a nice splash of colour and the aquilegia are finally putting in an appearance.

We've missed the worst of the terrible weather that has plagued the rest of the country. It's been cold and damp but certainly not flooded.

Chillies seem to be putting on a bit of a spurt at last, even the one that I've just thrown in the cold frame. Whether I'll get fruit remains to be seen.

Harvesting the Parmex carrits regularly now. Some are bigger than others, must be down to the spacing. Everything else is just poodling on nicely.

Now I feel semi human again, the plan is to get to the lottie today to finally get the leeks in and to inspect any damage caused by the weather we have had.

Happy Sunday everyone.

xx

Sweet Peas and other delights

Just cut the first lot ! They smell so nice.












The petunias are also throwing off a lovely scent after the rain (which we had in abundance last night. What doesn't look bedraggled, looks lovely and fresh this morning.

The early calendula seem to be running out of steam so I'll have to think about how to save some seed.

My poor wee poppies in the side bed are just soooooooo over crowded but they're just going to have to take their chances. I hoping that some of the rain actually got through to their roots. The lovely Mr Sec up at the lottie have some enormous red poppies. Going to ask for a few pods for next year.

I'm going to nip out the broad bean tips soon. Not because of blackfly (which I still don't have) but the rain had really battered them and they look really top heavy. Mmmmmmmmm greens !

From my window I can see the first nasturtum flower just ready to pop and some more Morning Glory's that are either on their way in .... or out.







I take it these are the Jolly Jester marigolds given to me by a lovely person (who's name escapes me). They will co-ordinate nicely with the Naughty Mariettas.










Mum's "brown" marigold could be a Red Marietta although these ones do seem blousy enough to be Scarlet Sophie.






I'm going to try and label all the lilies this year and left them from their pots to replant in a more co-ordinated fashion.



The Aubs have filled their new space already but I hope this sudden turn in the weather won't check them too much. I have a longing for moussaka this year !

So much still left unsaid so .......... til the next time.

xxx

Let the show begin

And the baby starlings have fledged ! :-)

What did I say about Pishing June ?

When it's started to flame. Poor garden looks like the Gobi Desert. Not had much time to spend here recently since taking on the lottie, and you can tell.

Why don't water retaining gel crystals actually retain any water ! All my hanging baskets look as if they've not seen water for weeks. I hope the drowning I've given them tonight perks them up a bit overnight. I shall be most annoyed if they've copped it already.

Picked first crop of peas last night and jolly lovely they were too. Some even managed to get to the plate.

Had two Red Baron onions tonight to make room in the strawberry bed for the strawberries lol.

Lilies are all blooming like mad now. I was hoping that they would last until Mum got here, but don't think that's going to happen.

Honeysuckle is climbing the greenhouse roof nicely, nasturtiums trying to climb thin air.

Had to move 4 of Supersprouts Pineapples out of the triffid house. Was finding nasty beasties as well as loads of sideshoots that I hadn't spotted, so I've moved them outside to give everything a bit more room.

Calendula is taking over. I spend about 30 mins every morning deadheading ! Courgettes are doing well and have a couple of flowers on. The ones up the lottie are slightly ahead though, I put it down to being a bit pot bound when they were transplanted.

Spring sown broadies haveover taken the aquathingies but aquathingies are cropping better.

Fuschias have all got a bit of mould. I'll not destroy any of them so have sprayed them with an anti-fungus thingy and spread them out a bit, give them a bit of air.

I've put a whole bunch of stuff down the side of the house to take up to the lottie, goosegogs, bronze fennel, blackcurrant bush just to give me a bit of room on the plot.

Next year I shall definitely plan better.

I'm constantly covered in mud and dirt of some description and it's a good job I haven't got any nails, cos they'd be permanently black.

Will post some piccies tomorrow, but now I need some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Night all.

xx

The Aubs have left home

and gone out into the g/h. It was roasting yesterday afternoon so felt they deserved it. Gave them a bit of a feed too. Hope they weren't too chilly last night though. About to go and check the temps !

Splash of colour

I was poking around the nasturtiums and beetroot and found these two gems ! Much earlier than I remember them from last year although I was quite late sowing them then so perhaps that explains that. Such lovely colours. I can't wait until I have a wall of them.









And then we have the hanging baskets, all starting to take off now.

















But boy, do they take some watering ........ between them and the toms, I need quite a few butts !

And then there was yellow

So much to talk about, so little time so follow the link to the plot this morning and you'll be spared the chatting ....

http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l198/missusKP/5%20June%202007/

Aub progress

Got teensy ickle buds on all 8 plants, and they're not even in the g/h yet.

Carrits anyone ?

My first pulling of Parmex sown 17/2. I did notice the greenshoulders but don't know how any sun got to them as they've been in the g/h the whole time. Will have to mulch a bit higher. Tasted lovely though and there's plenty more where they came from.

Spent most of the day trying to dodge the rain. Had a good prune and tie up of the toms, got most of the fuschia cuttings and other lovelies out of g/h No. 2 for a good water.

Found some mutant lilies which was odd. The blooms just hadn't formed at all. No sign of anything untowards, perhaps I'd not fed them enough last year.

Picked loads more Little Gems for sarnies tomorrow. Some were just about to rot at the base. Guess it's just too wet for them.

Garlic is looking superb. Tall and strong, will be enough to last the next few years !

Still cropping the aquathingy broad beans, huge pods, small beans but really sweet. Hundreds more blooms on the Green Windsors. Think I'll just pick them smaller and eat whole, to make the most of them.

Took some marigolds, calendulas and beetroot up to the lottie to plant out when it's drier.

Sweetpeas are slowly coming to life. Had a few blooms, but plenty of strong growth. Marigolds are all starting to flower one by one. Nasturtiums are looking lovely big and green.

It just needs to warm up a tad and then it's all systems go !

Flaming June ? Pishing doon more like.

So am taking the opportunity of pruning and watering the toms. Will move onto g/h No. 2 after.

Don't see much lottie activity today apart from the AGM although you never know.

Red first !

The first of the lilies are blooming. Had a couple of long days concentrating on the lottie but will definitely have to water and feed the toms tomorrow.

It's a fair bit milder now, so I'm leaving the hanging baskets out overnight unless there's a chill forecast.

And now to lie down.