8 Aug 2018
Timely tips for a heatwave garden
This summer has not been without its challenges for gardeners but I confess I'm enjoying the novelty of having a proper English summer, it's so nice to sit outdoors in the shade. Daily watering of balcony plants in pots (tomatoes, chillies, salad leaves) has become a nightly ritual but I have to admit that watering pots downstairs in the garden is a hit and miss affair depending on the time available. But I have a few tricks up my sleeve for holding moisture in the garden for longer.
Labels:
advice,
container garden,
summer
Posted by
Caro
at
19:52
2 Aug 2018
30 degrees in the shade (July in the garden)
So... July; how was it for you? Here, like most of the UK, it was hot and dry. For most of the month I despaired as seeds failed to germinate, pea and bean crops failed, and garden pests abounded. I considered the very real possibility of making the veg patch into a perennial drought garden next year. It would be pretty and not much work. I still haven't booted that thought out but the month ended on a happier note. I now have a garden tap. Not exactly nearby but only two hosepipes away round the back of the flats that overlook the garden. After a heatwave summer, it was an exhilarating moment to turn that tap on and soak the garden.
Labels:
Onions,
three sisters growing,
Tomatoes
Posted by
Caro
at
17:12
25 Jul 2018
Dahlias - Café au Lait and a book review
For the first time, this year I've introduced dahlias to the garden. I've always liked the look of them but a childhood dread has deterred me before now.
In the past I've resisted growing dahlias as I thought they attracted earwigs. As a teenager living in the Yorkshire countryside, I regularly found earwigs in my bed in the summer. (All part of life's rich tapestry at the time.) I've no idea how they got there but my bed was by the open window in our large old house so perhaps that was it. (An alternative option involving my siblings has not been ruled out.) The upshot was that I developed a lifelong aversion to the fleet footed, pincer tailed beasties.
In the past I've resisted growing dahlias as I thought they attracted earwigs. As a teenager living in the Yorkshire countryside, I regularly found earwigs in my bed in the summer. (All part of life's rich tapestry at the time.) I've no idea how they got there but my bed was by the open window in our large old house so perhaps that was it. (An alternative option involving my siblings has not been ruled out.) The upshot was that I developed a lifelong aversion to the fleet footed, pincer tailed beasties.
Labels:
book review,
cut flowers,
dahlias,
Naomi Slade,
resources
Posted by
Caro
at
16:47
12 Jul 2018
Five kilos of cherries
July is the month of soft fruit and I absolutely adore the sight of ripe red cherries hanging from the trees in my garden - even knowing that the cherries in question are not sweet cherries. At the time the garden was repurposed for food growing, our group chose sour rather than sweet cherries. I'm not altogether sure that we knew what we were doing; I expect someone recognised the name Morello, perhaps from a delicious jar of store bought jam, and thought that was the cultivar to go for. As it happens, it was a good decision in terms of location (Morellos don't mind a bit of shade) with the bonus that birds leave the fruit alone ... on the whole.
Labels:
Cherries,
Growing fruit,
Morello,
Preserving,
Recipe,
urban orchard
Posted by
Caro
at
09:36
5 Jul 2018
Some observations from the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show
Settle in for a long post, folks - I spent Monday at the third of the four main RHS summer flower shows, held in the best of locations at the rear of Hampton Court Palace.
Labels:
Flower Show,
Hampton Court,
RHS,
summer shows,
UK shows
Posted by
Caro
at
14:19
2 Jul 2018
Weed, Mulch, Water, Clear - the yin and yang of gardening
It's been a busy month in the veg patch. Every year I imagine that I'll reach that dreamed of moment when all that's needed is a little light watering in the evening and a chance to sit and relax. Hohoho. Well, that's certainly not happening this year! (Does it ever?)
As usual, there's been good and bad, yin and yang, light and shade. The heatwave continues so watering is sparse but slugs are few; flowers have bloomed then faded much too quickly; aphids have been legion, weeds less so. Hopefully after my efforts in past weeks, the bad will have been nudged to one side. Temporarily, at least.
Labels:
#mygardenrightnow,
garden tips,
Pests,
summer
Posted by
Caro
at
07:00
1 Jul 2018
Dappled Shade
Can you believe this summer weather we're having in the UK? Day after day of cloudless blue skies, hot sunshine and gentle breezes. Just fabulous; it beats the hell out of sitting indoors complaining about continuous rain which is what we've generally had to contend with in previous summers.
No, this summer is the stuff that childhood memories are made of and we Brits will probably be talking about it for some time. You know how we do love to chat about our unpredictable weather. But, and please don't think I'm complaining, I'm not partial to gardening in extreme heat. It makes me go a bit wobbly so, generally, I try to avoid the midday heat. Frequently though, I get so involved in what I'm doing that I lose track of time and, as luck would have it, I have a nice little spot of shade to head into for a cool down. The importance of a small corner of dappled shade in a garden can't be overemphasised in my opinion, even in a country that's prone to soggy summers.
Posted by
Caro
at
17:24
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