Learning lessons

It would be very dull if I only ever grew the same plants year in, year out, but I do wish I'd take more notice of the notes I make about things that thrive and those that don't do so well for me. In the case of this lovely Chilli in the photo I was sensible. It thrived on my sunny windowsill last year and is doing well again this year. But on the other hand why did I put Chilli Trifetti out on the veg plot this year when last year I noted it was damaged by snails when young? Who knows, but I moved the two plants today and replaced them with bush Tomatoes.

And following the pathetic showing of the Peas (which I know full well are a waste of time in containers) earlier in the year, the Broad Beans are also beginning to look like a waste of space (just as they were last year). Okay, I've got a few pods setting, but that's hardly going to be meal is it? So that's it, I will not be growing Peas or Broad Beans in containers again.

As I've mentioned before I've been holding back the Cucumbers for as long as possible before planting them out - three to a half barrel - because of the snail problem. Checking the plants today I decided that I couldn't wait any longer as the roots were coming out of the bottom of the pots. So they have been planted out and topped with horticultural grit and I'll have to go out as dusk for the next week or so and pick off any naughty snails who are looking for a tasty snack!

Georgie

Beautiful weather

It's been a very warm and sunny weekend with just a shower last night so I've taken full advantage of it and spent most of the time in the garden. The photo is of a common Poppy which opened today.

Wildlife

I have spotted lots of insects this week, thankfully most of the them 'friends' (although I had to squish a couple of Lily Beetles). I'm getting a little bit better at identifying things now, like the Rosemary beetle in my last post. I was delighted to see a lacewing near the Lonicera, Ladybird larvae on Raspberries and Strawberries, a fair number of buff-tailed bumble bees on the Rue, a host of different hoverflies all around the garden, more large red damselflies and a very pretty little moth which has been identified as a small magpie. But sadly still no butterflies to speak of yet. That said, the buds on the Buddleia are colouring up and there are the first signs of flower buds on the Verbena Bonariensis so hopefully that will bring them in.

Edibles

I'm picking a fair few Strawberries each day and pegging down some of the runners into small pots for next year's stock. There are lots of flower buds on the Courgettes and plenty of flowers out on the Tomatoes, Chillies and Physallis. And joy of joys, I have the first bean pod forming on the Broadies. The Cucumbers are still in the greenhouse to protect them from the snails for as long as possible and I've run out of Radish and forgotten to sow any more! Most of the herbs are doing well but I do wish the slugs/snails would leave them alone. They seem to love the Parsley and Thyme at the moment and have pretty much finished off the Pineapple Sage. I've moved the latter to a 'safer haven' in the hope that it will recover and taken a couple of cuttings just in case.

Ornamentals

I'm continuing to empty out containers of spring bulbs and have six remaining to sort out. As I do this I'm able to pot on other plants for the summer display but it's very time consuming bagging up all the spent compost and drying off the bulbs etc and also quite tiring lugging the pots around. Still, I've got quite a few of the annuals out now (although some will still need potting on into their final containers).

I am determined to get on top of powdery mildew this year and have been spraying the affected plants with a bicarbonate of soda solution every few days. So far it seems to be working and the Monarda, Ajuga and Pulmonaria are looking a lot better for it.

I mowed and edged the lawn then tackled some serious pruning in the tiny front garden. I also weeded the driveway again and as I did so I was pleased to see that the containers are looking good with a number of the broadcast seeds coming up, Lychnis in bloom and flower buds on the Borage. They are going to be a riot of colour at this rate and I can't wait!

Georgie

Rosemary Beetle

These so called pests are making a right meal of my Sage (Salvia officinalis) and to a lesser extent my Lavender but strangely they are ignoring the Rosemary, tricolour Sage and purple Sage. But apart from having a good nibble they are doing little damage. And as they are so beautiful why would I harm them?

Georgie

Tadpoles

The tadpoles have developed their back legs and as you can see from the second photo (click to enlarge) are now able to get out of the pond. I've still only seen two together at any one time but even if that's all I have, I think I'm very fortunate that they have reached this stage of development.

Advice seems to vary as to whether or not they should be fed but I think I will leave them to their own devices for now. At this stage they become carnivorous and there are plenty of tiny insects around for them to eat. So I see little point in supplementing their diet with fish flakes or raw meat as some websites suggest.

Georgie

Ornamentals update

Dutch Iris is one of my favourite flowers but sadly I have only a few left in the garden now so I must but some more in the autumn. Also recently in bloom are Sambucus Niger (Elder), Alchemilla Mollis, Rue, Lychnis, Thyme, Digitalis and Viola. And next to come out will be Lily Lollipop, Hosta Tokudama and Fuchsia Ant and Dec.

I've been harvesting Pansy seeds again so sowed another lot in pot which I've put in the greenhouse. I've taken some Box cuttings (last year's are only just beginning to root!) and potted up a Fuchsia cutting which has rooted in water. And I've continued with the potting on including Heliotrope, Sunflowers, Cyclamen and Centratherum.

At last I've finished feeding all the containers and I've pretty much finished mulching the border with cocoa shell mulch except in the areas where I've sown seed direct. Of these direct sown seeds, so far only Nasturtium Empress of India has been successful - all ten seeds germinated and are making nice sturdy little plants. What came up of the Calendula have been eaten or failed to germinate and there is no sign yet of the Ipomoea. Perhaps the ones I broadcast a couple of weeks ago will fair better?

I'm just waiting for the early flowering plants such as Hesperis and Aquilegias to go over, then I'll be able to replace the containers with the scented Pelargoiums and Skimmias which are currently on the patio and that will make a bit more room for the annuals which are still in the greenhouse.

Georgie

Edibles and wildlife update

Edibles

The photo shows part of my veg plot and goes to show that edibles can be at least as attractive as ornamental plants. The Chives flowers are going over now but the Broad Beans behind them are looking splendid and I was pleased to see the bees taking a lot of interest.

I've got the first flowers open on some of the Tomatoes and Chilli Trifetti and I think what might be a flower bud forming on the Courgette which I potted on and put outside because it was getting a bit too big for the greenhouse. The first fruits are forming on the Physallis and I'm delighted to see that one of my Alpine Strawberries has put out three runners.

I've potted on two of the Passiflora edulis I started from seed earlier in the year and they are looking nice and glossy if a little slow growing. I've also potted on Coriander and Chenopodium giganteum (Tree Spinach) but have yet to find homes for them.

Wildlife

I'm happy with the progress I'm making in the wildlife area of the garden. A young frog is now living in the pond - I think it must be one of last year's - and there are lots of insects enjoying the native plants I'm growing. But best of all the Lonicera I grew from a cutting in 2007 is covered in buds and will liven up the Forsythia no end. It joins the Ivy and Passiflora which are also growing up the Forsythia - talk about cramming 'em in!

Georgie

Busy few days

I've spent every spare moment I've had in the garden over the last few days yet the more I do the more there seems to do! Such is gardening.

Odd jobs

I weeded the driveway leaving behind the wild flowers I like such as Viola odorata and a few thistles for the bees/butterflies. I assembled a new garden hose - the sort that's on a wheel - because my old one wasn't long enough to reach the area next to the shed which I'm now using as a wildflower area. I'm very pleased with this hose but the instructions took some working out! And I put some vine eyes in one of the fence panels to train the Trachelospernum up strings in a fan shape. So that was my DIY for the weekend.

Edibles

I'm sorry to say that the Potato crop was rather disappointing, turning out about four portions all told. They tasted good - although not exceptional - so I doubt I'll bother growing first earlies again. The other disappointment this season so far has been the Peas. I had three pods, one of which got eaten by the snails, so ended up with just two fully formed pods which hardly touched the sides! I will not be growing Peas again - the snails just devour them. On a brighter note my Broad Beans are flowering and I've picked two ripe Strawberries so far with lots more to come. I'm also harvesting salad leaves and lovely crisp Radishes so all these little triumphs make up for the failures.

Having harvested the Potatoes it was time to reorganise the veg plot and and I potted up and planted out Chilli Trifetti, Tomatoes Whippersnapper (which have their first trusses), Tomato Tumbling Tom and Pineapple Physallis. The only edibles yet to go out (they are currently in the greenhouse) are Courgettes and Cucumbers. I'll keep these under cover until they outgrow the space in the hope the slugs/snails will be less tempted by tougher leaves.

Ornamentals

I've got a few new things in bloom including this lovely Tradescantia in the photo. Also out this week are Dutch Iris, Alchemilla Mollis, Elder and Trachelospernum. And tantalisingly in bud are Tagetes, Lonicera, Poppy and Digitalis.

Finally it's been six weeks since my early Narcissus and Tulips stopped flowering so I've been emptying their containers and storing the bulbs in dry compost in seed trays ready for planting out next autumn. This means I've got some spare pots for all the annuals still in the greenhouse waiting to go out. The question is where on earth I'll put them all?

Georgie