Fathers’ Day 2023

A very hot Saturday meant that I didn’t go to the plot in the middle of the day.  Eldest and I stopped by as we were going past after a meet-up in the village.  I watered most of the beds while she harvested all the Meteor Peas and the first lot of Perpetual Spinach.  It soon got far too warm to continue so we cycled home.

Later that evening, we returned so she could play with a friend and I could plant out the Climbing French Beans, Runner Beans and Dwarf Borlotti Beans.  I cleared the Peas so they could be replaced by the Borlotti and I erected a frame with borrowed bamboo and netting for the tall beans.  I had to move the Pumpkin plant so cleared the Onions from the top end of Bed 4 (transplanting around 5 tiny Onion plants) into Bed 8.

Sunday was focused on ferrying loved ones with the hope of some rain in the afternoon.  Before the ferrying, I did get to the plot for some speed harvesting (of Lettuce and the first Broad Beans) and planting (of 10 of the 20 Bulb Fennel seedlings).  To fit the Bulb Fennel in, I lifted the Spinach which was going to seed though I managed to harvest a tray of leaves.  

Pleasingly, the Pumpkin plant was looking good.

And one of the few Kohl Rabi looks happy…

While there, I cut back the Comfrey plant in Bed 6 as it is clearly shading and encroaching on the Sweetcorn, judging by the difference in growth in the plants.

In the evening, some drizzle did arrive.  I watered the plants in the greenhouse and the Strawberries.  I also harvested a punnet of Strawberries, all the Gooseberries and the 3rd picking of Mange Tout.

A note on fruit…the Gooseberry bush appears to have been completely stripped of leaves.  Presumably by Sawfly.  I’ll need to have a think about that - to work out if it recoverable.  One of the Blueberry plants is looking decidedly poorly.  Leaves going very brown and patchy despite watering.  Something else to consider.

The plot is doing ok, I think.  

With the Peas, Perpetual Spinach, Spinach and the remaining Garlic scapes, I made a curry for my tea. 

Lots to sow next week (or during the week if at all possible).  I need to weed Beds 3 and 4 in particular.  And around the Raspberries and Boysenberries.

Frazzled plants

This week has suddenly got quite hot, despite cooler nights.  After neglecting the greenhouse for 2 days - bearing in mind I’ve not got the vent opener on, lots of the seedlings have either frazzled or gone to seed.  This weekend then, I’ve planted out the Cornflower, Verbena, Tomatoes and remaining Marigolds at home.  The first three in the front garden.  I also harvested the Potatoes from the remaining 3 pots. 

It reached 30C I think on Saturday so I didn’t go over to the plot until the evening.  I really needed to plant out most of the Cucurbits - 2 Marrow, 2 Triple Treat, 2 Courgette and 1 Pumpkin.  To do this, I had to clear Bed 7 and half of Bed 8 which was overgrown with Horsetail, Poppies and other weeds.  See below for before and after:

Before leaving, I watered all the beds and picked 4 Strawberries and all the Gooseberries off the more established bush.

It was also hot on Sunday.  With hubby busy with his main hobby, I focused on gardening at home.  The back garden had been a tip for a while with various pots around containing poorly looking plants including bolted Lettuce and Spinach.  I tidied those up, harvesting all the remaining Potatoes and planting a Courgette plant in one of the pots that had been freed up.  I planted out the remaining Tomato plants - 2 in the back garden bed and 2 in the sunny front garden bed. Unfortunately another had snapped as it had flopped over in the tray.  I planted in a pot more deeply and staked it.  As insurance, I plan to pot up some side shoots of other plants so I may not end up too short.

In the evening, I mulched the Strawberry troughs and planters, using spare plants to fill gaps.  I watered and feed them too.  I also took the opportunity to transplant the remaining Chillies into large pots to go onto a shelf (in one of the large grow-bag trays) in the greenhouse.  Things look a lot tidier though there are some half-filled pots that need using for something.

BBQ harvest

Some rushed gardening this weekend.  Yesterday evening, I moved the 3 unnamed plants in the back garden bed - to the back and 1 out completely.  This provided more space for the Rudbeckia and some Cornflowers.  I put 2 of the remaining Tomato plants at the back, with some French Marigolds to keep them company.

As the light was going, I quickly re-sowed Runner, Borlotti and Climbing French Beans. 

Today, it was pretty warm.  I spent just under 2 hours at the plot.  I planted out the Celery and Celeriac in the same spot in Bed 3 that the Borlotti Beans went in.  Some the latter had bent over so they were pulled out.  

I also planted out the solitary Brussels Sprouts plant in Bed 2 along with the Kalettes and Kale.  It doesn’t look like the the Cauliflower has survived so I planted the 4 Romanesco plants in their place in Bed 1.  

The Sweetcorn looks fairly well-established and I had to tie in the Cucumber planted last week as it seems to have grown well since.  Before leaving, I harvested some Spinach, Lettuce and Radish for a BBQ salad for later.  

At home, I harvested the Potatoes from 2 of the pots and turned those into a potato salad.  And I picked the first Sweet Peas - 2 stray April in Paris from last year.