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…Two of the three blossom’s have now given up the ghost, but the one with deep crimson flowers is still going strong, and our other ornamental tree (no idea what kind it is) has produced beautiful violet leaves (gathered together in a kind of upside-down ice-cream-cone shape), and a lilac scent
…I’m puzzled by that and wonder if it might be this:-
http://www.finegardening.com/CMS/uploadedImages/Images/Gardening/Plants/cotinuscoggygriaroyalpurple_sf_2_lg.jpg
You won’t starve with Nasturtiums as they are edible, both leaves and flowers.
….enjoy
oh dear, that link’s a bit long…
My plan is to become a respected authority of vegetables, Gordon.
Do you think you may be able to help with my still 5000mt shortage of onions then Grassy?
I have my gardening mojo at Defcon 5, and it’s staying there.
Getaway, Defcon 3 at least – the green and brown occupies all your waking thoughts. The alert will rise to 2 when you start talking to your lettuces and 1 when you realise there is little else more fulfilling in life than putting the world to rights with the all-seeing, all-knowing compost heap
No frost damage a couple of weeks back then?
The most damaging mid-May frosts round here for donkeys years, down to -3C on consecutive (back-to-back?) Nights with the result that sprightly potato shoots were destroyed setting back the ‘earlies’ harvest by at least three weeks; courgettes and marigolds killed; and most other young but frost-hardy plants have only recently consented to resume their growth. Even tomatoes and peppers in the safety of my greenhouse were knocked into a period of dormancy
Enjoy your reports GH, keep them coming
Buy Onion Futures
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…Two of the three blossom’s have now given up the ghost, but the one with deep crimson flowers is still going strong, and our other ornamental tree (no idea what kind it is) has produced beautiful violet leaves (gathered together in a kind of upside-down ice-cream-cone shape), and a lilac scent
…I’m puzzled by that and wonder if it might be this:-
http://www.finegardening.com/CMS/uploadedImages/Images/Gardening/Plants/cotinuscoggygriaroyalpurple_sf_2_lg.jpg
You won’t starve with Nasturtiums as they are edible, both leaves and flowers.
….enjoyoh dear, that link’s a bit long…
That ain’t the lilac ones, Margaret. The ones in the picture seem to be a plant, whereas our stuff is flowering on a tree. If I can figure out how to post a picture, I’ll do so.
Drone – yep, I think I may have my Defcon’s elbow under ronson.
We only had the one night of genuine frost here in May (and it was mild enough), however, Mrs Grass had the wherewithal to lob some fleece over the spuds, so we had little in the way of damage. Indeed, they are looking most majestic, if I say so myself, though I’ve no idea at what stage we’re supposed to harvest them.
The strawberry planter is now showing some fruit, so hopefully not too long before we see the plants in the bed do the same.
I can confirm that the cucumbers were most delicious and nutritious.
Nearly 3 hours it took me to cut the grass yesterday! Just thought I’d share a few pics with there being none on here yet…
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/upthecats/005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/upthecats/004.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/upthecats/003.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b83/upthecats/008.jpg
Have you had to cut the grass much this year? I’ve only got a weeny tiny garden, and half of it is made over to the whippet for her own personal use [they rip up anything they can get their paws into]. I cut my little patch yesterday and it was the first time for weeks. Don’t remember cutting it much prior to that because it was so hot. When it was hot [seems a long time ago now..summer..]I put lots of water on it, but it didn’t grow. Bit of rain and, hey presto, everything shoots up.Having said that, it’s been very disappointing, flower wise. I’ve had the sum total of 4 sweet peas, and even the petunias hardly flowered. I thought I’d try petunias, because I’m surrounded by pine trees and sycamores, so nothing grows and if it does it grows sideways…even they didn’t flower much, and they’re idiot proof. The awful weather is my fault, because I treated myself to a new garden bench so I could sit and admire my sweet peas and petunias. Haven’t had a days sunshine since.
..so it’s all your fault
I just threw out all my petunias, they got bedraggled with the rain…
next year I’m sticking with red geraniums as they won’t need watering in dry weather too much.I hope everyone’s tomatoes are ripening….?
Zamorston, I do like your large garden and with a stunning outlook. I think you’re very lucky to have all that but expect it’s as much for your children to run around in….?
I might cover up all that fencing though with a few more shrubs, larger ones
Have you had to cut the grass much this year?
Believe me moe…I know when I’ve had to cut the grass because it’s such a job. I can’t say I’ve had to do it as many times this year as previous though. I think the constant change in the weather has played a part in that though because I don’t like doing it when the grass is wet. It’s been a case of having a week of sun and me saying I’m gonna do it and then just as I’m about to it chucks it down, then I have to wait til it dries again and then it rains etc, etc….
Zamorston, I do like your large garden and with a stunning outlook. I think you’re very lucky to have all that but expect it’s as much for your children to run around in….?
Yeah she loves it, problem is sometimes though that she seems to make that many friends it seems half of the estate are wanting to come in at times. Nice in the summer for b.b.q’s though!
I might cover up all that fencing though with a few more shrubs, larger ones
It’s a real work in progress!
Two or three years ago the Wife had an idea…there used to be a long hedge down the side of our garden with overgrown bushes at the other side. She checked on the deeds and found out no-one owned the land. We went through all the right channels and after advise from a solicitor put a ‘claim’ on the land. It just about captures how much land we’claimed’ in the bottom photo, maybe a bit more? If no-one objects to us claiming it then after 6 years it legally becomes ours. No-one can really object though because nobody owns it! The neighbour wasn’t really happy but I think that’s because he missed a trick. As we was advised we’ve maintained it over the years and kept photo’s as evidence…
Anyway we ripped all the hedges out, knocked down 2 outhouse buildings (to put a drive round the back) and put the fence up and had to rip out all the overgrown bushes and level it the best we could. With it being so open to the elements we’ve had quite a few problems over the last couple of years and it’s cost me over a thousand pound with the fence blowing down twice in strong winds…an absolute nightmare the last time! It’s stronger now than it ever was and (I hope and pray) it’s strong enough to not go down again!
All the trees, shrubs have only appeared in the last 12 months or so with the aim of trying to ‘break’ the wind as much as possible from this side of the fence. Ideally, over the next couple of years we can get more in and they will grow and grow and grow!
…I’m sure it’ll look great in time…
very astute of you to claim that piece of land so I hope that all works in your favour in the long run. Strange that no one seemed to own it, I always thought every scrap was owned by somebody.
..it looks a strong fence now, with those concrete[?] posts, just looks a bit stark but that’ll change over time.
Best of luck with it and nice of you to share it with us here
A grand garden and view you have there Zamorston and a wonderful environment for your daughter to grow up in.
That sturdy fencing looks tailor-made for growing espalier-trained fruit against: peaches, plums and cherries if you have a south-facing side; apples, pears and soft fruit on others
Lots and lots of grass. Any thoughts about turning some over to a kitchen garden? Living as you do in or near the ‘Wakefield triangle’ rhubarb is a must surely, and maybe liquorice
Whatever, enjoy it. A long-term labour of love
UM,
As is the norm at this time of year I have a glut of Gardener’s Delight and Marmande tomatoes: breakfast, lunch and tea, with the surplus going to grateful neighbours
My garden backs onto farmland, so the farmer provideS/maintains my fence. A couple of years ago he replaced the all wooden fence with one with concrete posts. Thankfully, the farm workers took pity on me and saved all of my trellis which had honeysuckle and eunomus growing up it. However, the problem I have now is that, not only are the posts concrete, but the base is as well [stops it rotting, I guess], so I don’t have any wood to nail the trellis to. It’s kind of suspended from the top of the fence. Think someone should make trellis that has stakes at the bottom the dig into the ground. I’m sure I can’t be the only person with this problem. Perhaps I should invent something myself and make lots of money?
I might be getting some trellis done, I’ll let you know how they do it as I too have concrete pots and thingummy’s at the base…
Drone,
I’ve not heard of those tomatoes, I’m going to look into those. Mine are ‘Suncherry’ and very sweet they are too.
Likewise neighbours getting their share
..and one or two are a bit pushy…Not updated this for a while – been too busy getting digitus verdus.
Fruit
Ok, so we’ve basically eaten all of the strawberries, but we have masses of brambles (been picking a new batch every night for a week now), and the plums on the little tree are now edible. The cider apples should be ready in a week or so, at which point we will borrow next-doors press and demijohn’s, and have a bash at making some hooch. The cheery tree was ransacked nightly by birds unknown. We’ve still got some more raspberries to come though the yield is not great, but given we’ll be knee-deep in brambles, it’s no great loss.Legumes
All the onions are now dug-up – about 20 each of white and red. purple-sprouting broccoli is massive, but no crop as yet – same with the butternut-squash. We’ve had copious amounts of mange-tout, French beans and broad beans, and 2/3 of the potato bed is now dug-up yielding about 8-10 large spuds per shaugh (sp?). We’ve had upmteen beetroots, and any number of carrots too – many of which wouldn’t look out of place in Bugs Bunny’s hip pocket. My pride of joy, however, is my corn. Six plants, seven-feet-tall, and as straight as an Amish bookie. We’ve lost a couple of cobs, but we probably have around 20 left that look in reasonable shape. We reckon another couple of weeks, and we’ll be able to pick one to test-drive.Greenhouse
We’ve had around 15 large cucumbers…ooer….from our two plants – one of which is now shagged-out (Ithink
that’s the technical term). Our six tomato plants – both cherry and normally-aspirated – are in great nick, and have started to field fruit We’ve seen more tom’s than an Al-Qaeda latrine over the last three weeks. Our three bell peppers all have fruit, as do the cayenne, lantern and jalapeno chilli’s – though none are ready for picking yet. The three aubergines are also in grand fettle, and we picked the first couple last week.
Throw in a complete overhaul of the compost heap (not quite finished, but getting there), cutting nearly 1/2 an acre of grass every two weeks with an ironically-named B&Q "self-propelled" mower, trimming about 250ft of hedge, and strimming and weeding the *******, I can honestly say I’ve never worked as hard in my mortal.
Top, top fun though, and highly recommended.
If I can figure out how to do it, I’ll try and add some before and after shots.
Oh yes – and sh*teloads of courgettes, lettuce, spinach, blueberries, rocket, coriander, dill, mint, oregano, chives and parsley.
Good stuff GH
A word of warning:
My pride of joy, however, is my corn. Six plants, seven-feet-tall, and as straight as an Amish bookie. We’ve lost a couple of cobs, but we probably have around 20 left that look in reasonable shape. We reckon another couple of weeks, and we’ll be able to pick one to test-drive.
Much as I like it and the handsome plants, I’ve given up growing sweet corn because the rats enjoy it too too much too. Like us they resist going for it until the last minute when it’s at its succulent best, and then proceed to strip the cobs in no time at all.
So when you think a cob is ready pick it without delay
Incidentally, to preserve maximum sweetness and enjoy them at their best cobs should be cooked and eaten within a few hours of picking, or frozen. Next day just ain’t the same
I find the gardening year winds down in early October…Chepstow ‘n’ all that…
perfick
Drone, my good man – it is surely evidence of a benign creator, that He/She/It giveth us Jumps racing throughout the winter, and gardening throughout the summer when there’s nothing else going on.
Your warning re the corn is noted. Thruth be told, I’m ready to hack the best one off, and eat it right now, but my father-in-law – who is well versed in such matters – has told me to leave it until Saturday a.m.
All good things come to those who wait, with any luck.
So far, we have had no grief with rats. The neighbours told us there was a frightful infestation a few years back, when the previous incumbents of our drum used the compost heap as a tipping ground for all manner of household waste. Fortunately, it was so bad that the exterminators were called in.
Presumably, these intelligent creatures have passed knowledge of the killing fields down through the generations, and they are giving my perch a body-swerve. Either that, or foxes eat rats, because that ginger ba*stard swans round the parish as if he pays the bleedin’ mortgage.
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