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