In the garden we have now planted up the bird bath bed. The week before last we replanted the ferns and astilbe that were already growing there. They all appreciate the moist conditions produced by the splashing birds. We decided to add another astilbe and then plant annual plants towards the front of the bed. We bought a couple of different colours of impatiens and a couple of pansies. This was mainly determined by what was available in the garden centre that will tolerate partial shade. In autumn I want to add some spring bulbs. The birds seem happy with everything.
The garden contributed towards last week's harvest. The ripe cherries were thoroughly enjoyed
We also harvested our first Mini Munch cucumber.
On the allotment we planted more winter brassicas. This time it was purple sprouting broccoli and a cabbage called Cendis. The plants had been attacked by, what we suspect was, wood pigeon whilst in the cold frame but the central growing point was undamaged so we are hoping that we will get away with it.
Martyn provided supports for the outdoor tomato plants which seem to be appreciating the extra protection afforded by the skeleton cold frame. In light of our contaminated compost problem we may be looking to these plants to provide us with our main harvest.
The salad leaves, radishes, spring onions and spinach that I sowed the week before last germinated quickly and so have been covered with enviromesh to protect against various kinds of pests. I also sowed some coriander in a fourth trough. (Video here).
I'd removed runners from the new strawberry plants once but they continued to pump out a tangled web of shoots and so I've removed runners yet again. I want the plants to build up their strength rather than waste it on making babies.
In between these and some general tidying up we have to leave time to pick berries, which can be rather time consuming.
 |
| 8 July |
We cut some small cauliflowers and cabbages left in our first brassica bed. Martyn has sown some dwarf French beans in module trays to plant in the bed once it is cleared.
We are continuing to dig early potatoes as we need them.
The first sowing of Onward peas have produced lots of pods which are now filling up and we had our first picking last week. The second lot sown are just starting to flower and the third lot should follow on. We sow our peas thickly so one job needed to keep the peas happy is to give them plenty of water. We are now back to very dry conditions and so back to regular watering duty.
The pods of our first lot of broad (fava) beans - De Monica are filling up quickly. They have grown really well this year unlike last year when they struggled. I guess we will have to start freezing them soon.
Our potato harvest included our first root of one of our trial varieties - Premiere. Due to some bad planning - see video - we may not have harvested all the tubers from the root but they certainly passed the taste test. With another early variety - Athlete - still to harvest, choosing our favourites to grow next year will be difficult as all have been extremely flavoursome.
The courgette and squash plants have, at long last started to grow. The courgettes have begun to set fruit although some of the fruits are oddly shaped. Two small fruit seemed to have an identity crisis and wanted to grow ball shaped. This is often caused by poor pollination which is probably a consequence of the poor weather this summer. I managed to cut a couple of small fruits. Now the plants have produced more flowers, hopefully the real courgette harvest will kick in.
Finally we picked cut flowers which included the first sweet peas.
The dahlias are flowering on very short stems which doesn't really lend them to use in a vase. I also picked some godetia and achillea.
The plants in our second brassica bed are growing well.
 |
| 11 July |
The first sowing of Onward peas have produced lots of pods which are now filling up and we had our first picking last week. The second lot sown are just starting to flower and the third lot should follow on. We sow our peas thickly so one job needed to keep the peas happy is to give them plenty of water. We are now back to very dry conditions and so back to regular watering duty.
 |
| 12 July |
Our potato harvest included our first root of one of our trial varieties - Premiere. Due to some bad planning - see video - we may not have harvested all the tubers from the root but they certainly passed the taste test. With another early variety - Athlete - still to harvest, choosing our favourites to grow next year will be difficult as all have been extremely flavoursome.
 |
| 14 June |
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Posts
Wonderful harvest of soft fruit, the birds ate mine! You have a cucumber already? Mine are only just beginning to flower, same here re the courgettes, they are slow this year. Love all your planting and cut flowers.xxx
ReplyDeleteThe cucumber was from the greenhouse, Dina. Our courgettes and squash are slow too.
DeleteYour boxes look worthy of centre stage at a harvest festival! Never too many peas or beans, two of the most versatile veg in the garden with a little imagination.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are never too many peas and beans, Deborah, except when it comes to podding them.
DeleteThe brassica plants look like they are growing well. My spring planted ones never really took off but they do better here in fall anyway. The cherries look lovely. We only grow the pie cherries, and get the sweet ones from an orchard.
ReplyDeleteThe brassicas are enjoying the current conditions, Dave as long as we water them. The pie cherries are just too sour for us.
DeleteI am going to have to stop reading your blog right before dinner. It always makes me so hungry seeing all of your produce. I even want to take a bite out of your dahlias. All look so good.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Lisa if only you could have a taster as you read.
DeleteYour refurbished shade garden looks lovely. And oh those cherries and so much other fruit to enjoy! I too like to use pea brush for support of my snow peas though eventually they climb up over six feet high. Pea brush keeps them headed in the right direction. All the flowers are lovely.
ReplyDeleteWe do like our fruit, Sue the variety of peas we sow only grow about three foot.
DeleteLovely dahlias, Sue. Mine are awful this summer, have no idea why.
ReplyDeleteYour cherry looks very tasty, is it sweet? I've bought some in supermarket - it was sour.
The cherries are lovely and sweet, Nadezda
DeleteCourgettes are slow here too Sue, and most of our dahlias have shorter stems than usual as well. Interesting what you said about potato varieties.. I have never grown any of these so must look out next season and try a few tubers
ReplyDeleteAt least our dahlias now seem to have more usable stems, Kathy - hope yours have too
Delete