Absenteeism will not be tolerated

Nor will ignoring the blog !

Just spent a weekend in some very pleasant company of other like minded peeps in a really lovely part of NE England but close enough to the Scottish border that they accepted my Scottish £20 without so much of a bat of an eyelid. Wouldn't get that service darn sarf ! They'd hold the note up to the light for half hour to check for running ink, and then declare it unacceptable currency due to the fact that "there's plenty of dodgy ones abart".

Sadly ill-health in the family means a quick scoot darn sarf tomorrow for a few days, or more, don't know yet, so both the lottie and the plot are having to take care of themselves for a bit.

Will dig some turnips and take them with me though as they are really looking like they should be in the pot rather than the soil. The perpetual spinach is currently acting as a green manure, the carrots in the bath are probably feeding the slugs and the rhubarb is finally dying down nicely.

The poor jerusalem artichokes have taken another direct hit from a bad wind (I thought they were the ones to create the wind) a couple of nights ago, but will have to be left until I get back.

Big greenhouse is now empty of growing things, just got loads of black buckets in there drying out to make the riddling easier, oh and one pot of fuschias under fleece. All the toms have gone so first job on my return will be to give it a good wash down and disinfect ready to insulate over the winter. I've decided to only heat the Hall's g/h this winter and need to get the mini plastic g/h covers suitably cleaned and installed to add to the protection.

The successes of the season on the plot were:

Broad beans (will be going up to the lottie next year though)
Turnips (Still going strong)
Carrots (Second year of success in the bath, to be recommended)
Perpetual Spinach (Just keeps growing and growing)
Rhubarb (but as it was only transplanted this year I've not been able to touch it)
Garlic (harvested enough to keep me going well into next year)
Salad leaves and little gem lettuces (need to concentrate on them more but they did ok)
French marigolds did their bit ............ borders are STILL producing and those in the g/h did a good job of keeping the whitefly down

The disasters:

Tomatoes (too many plants of too many different varieties without a proper watering plan) - going to consolidate next year and concentrate on bush (Totem) and tumbling baskets with perhaps the odd Gardeners Delight thrown in for good measure. Got really fed up with all the side shooting and training of the cordon varieties.
Aubergines (just not enough of a return to justify allocated half the small greenhouse to them)
Hestia dwarf runners (late start followed by an erratic watering plan didn't achieve the desired results - won't bother next year)


Those that could have done better and will try again:

Peas (but they'll be up at the lottie)
Chillies and Peppers (not enough tlc afforded to the babies to make them produce much)
Strawberries (a better planting and spacing plan required - think I may throw some in the hanging baskets rather than the petunias - far more useful)
Basil - lime and purple - did next to nothing, but then i did next to nothing to encourage them either. Will definitely try again.

The rosemary bush took well to it's new raised bed home which I think will be turned over to the 'erbs next year.

The fruit bushes really need to get in the ground rather than keeping them cramped in pots. Was going to get some rasps, but have now decided to plant spuds in that border (just got to get some on order). May still get a Tayberry for the square bed in front of the deck, I'll see how things go, but better get it on order quick.

The Alstroemeria surprised me by blooming twice ! Will treat it to a bit of potting up and some new soil.

The Sunshine Blue blueberries are still ripening and would get another bowlful if only I could be bothered to get out there and pick them. Doesn't appear that the birds want them as they've been unnetted for a good few weeks now.

I will try and deadhead some pansies today inbetween packing, they look as if they could do with it !

The Spanish Palms sown from seed are doing really well. One has been delivered darn sarf and two others to go around Christmas time, leaving one for me. I'm always amazed when I managed to get something to grow from seed so was really pleased with my 100% success record in the Spanish Palm stakes ! Passion Fruit plants also germinated well and am hoping for a take over bid by them next year.

Senecio greyii cuttings have settled in well and will get a haircut to reshape. Jasmine creeping up the deck has done nicely, honeysuckle succumbed to mildew again but it's starting to sprout again now ! Dad's forsythia cuttings are doing well in their pots, as is the lovely pink shrub that I nicked from his neighbour. They really need to get in the ground now, but that means clearing the border and won't happen for a while. Am thinking of just keeping them in the pots until the spring.

I've run out of composting room. All three darleks on the plot are full as is the giant one at the plot. There are various old compost bags of cuttings and other flotsam and jetsam strewn around the place. Need to give the plot darleks a turn and riddle to see what can be used now to create some space.

Overall thoughts on the year ............. less is more ! Having outgrown the plot and bits of neighbour's garden, I was pleased to get the lottie as it will give me the space next year to grow a great variety of successionals like broad bean and peas. Didn't realise you could have BBs running right through the summer. However last year of creating the plot, and then this season concentrating on the lottie really has taken up 150% of my time. The OH sees me when he sees me but is impressed by some of my efforts.

I hope that next year, I'll be a bit more organised given the fact that all the hard landscaping is now done.

Oh .............. and I must get a bigger freezer !

Laters folks.

xx

Family matters

kept me away from both the plot and the lottie at the weekend. First night back on the plot last night.

Still trying to clear out the greenhouses to clean and prepare for the winter.

New next door neighbours who I think tried to jump through the hedge ! Big gap in in now which will need wiring together ! Found a football under the hedge my side, no broken greenhouse panes - thank god for toughened glass. I can see we're going to have trouble here.

Turnips are now increasing in size and will lift a few more soon. Miner is still getting at the spinach so will counter attack tonight.

Shed is just overflowing with new toys donated by lil bro who's on his way to Menorca to live. New shelves are already full to bursting.

Stuff for the compost heap coming out of my ears. Need to get that up the plot quick. Need to get broad beans, peas and sweet peas sown ........... or I may just leave them til I've caught up with everything. Cauliflowers have been moved to the greenhouse, but are going all leggy. Think I'll just ditch them too.

No time, no help, too much to do, nights drawing in far too fast and work is a pain. Weather is very blowy and dark today, tut tut looks like rain ! Winter is on it's way.

Can you tell I'm depressed ??? lol

This week is plot week

The plot has been sadly neglected due to it's younger lottie sibling taking up all my time this year. It's had the odd afternoon here and there but pretty much told to look after itself.

As the evenings are drawing in and sunset is somewhere just before 7pm now, I can spend a couple of hours a night on the plot tidying and winding down. The weather in true style of Britishness has surprised us all, and yesterday was like a summer's day. The greenhouse got a drink, and various bits of plot got cut away and shoved in compost bags as I've run out of space in the bins.

The Naughty marietta marigolds still keep blooming though even though I've not deadheaded them in weeks. The sweetpeas have all finally been cut down and my total lack of attention to depodding means that I've got a fair few seed pods for next year (which I really must get round to sowing soon).

The pink shrub cuttings that I stole from Dad's next door neighbour have taken really well, and one or two of them are in fact in bloom. They, along with the forsythia are going to be kept in the cold frame over the winter and planted along the border (haven't decided which one yet) in Spring.
I'll get out there again tonight and do the royal tour but here are a couple of pics just for tasters. Don't ask me what variety the tomato is as I haven't a clue.

The aubs are Black Beauty although you'd never know it. I don't know if they're under ripe, over ripe, whether they've ever been ripe or if they're just protesting at being ignored, but they'll get eaten anyway. Just going to look for a ratatouille recipe now. From 8 plants this is all I got so I should be grateful for small mercies.

I gave the deck a good wash down and tidy up yesterday, but it really needs a power spray and another coating of linseed oil before the winter. Most of the fuchsias are under cover now and lots are sprouting already!

I've discovered that I love perpetual spinach. Had another lovely load last night and is definitely something that I'll grow again. I'm trying not to sow too much now as I want to try and get myself back on an even footing before all the chaos starts again next year, but I may just start another tray of PS under cover to get me through the dark winter.

The cauliflower seedlings have been moved to the greenhouse but I forgot to count how many finally came through. They're rather leggy though and need thinning as there's two or three in some cells and none in others. Fickle things.

See you later alligator.