Last Post 1393 days 5 hours ago
31 July 2009 20:20:39
![Study time this evening [thanks to our weather friend.]](/members/2814/photos/77954029.jpg "Study time this evening [thanks to our weather friend.]")
Study time this evening [thanks to our weather friend.]
Poor weather was all that we had earlier on the cards.Nothing touched,in the garden today.The only job that had to be done was to lift up some of the small blown over,flower tubs caused by a slight wind problem.As we fast approach the end of July,one wonders will their ever be a decent change in the poor spell of weather.Plans to finish cutting the grass and some of the usual jobs are on hold until tomorrow.Even then it is not looking good weather wise.Lights on earlier than expected.Time to look through some garden notes,and could maybe even find out how to banish rain along the way.
29 July 2009 20:26:01
Kohl Rabi doing well.
Still more showers today.Not real heavy until app 7 pm.Then the haymaker of a shower fell.Some thunder along with that.Between 6pm and 7 pm the sun came out in very short spells.At least it was dry then.Managed to tie up the remaining peas and weeded the root crop bed for a short while.Checked out the tunnell and greenhouse for feeding of plants.Nothing else done outside tonight.
28 July 2009 21:25:55
Fill me up with clay,not water.
What can be said about today.Almost a washout.The tunnell and greenhouse were only open for a short while.With the wind at times along with the showers of rain the day seemed like approaching autumn fast.Touches of winter was there also.Done a few bits of weeding in the tubs in the main garden at evening time.[Whenever allowed thanks to the rain] The whole ship was abandoned by app 6.30pm.It was impossible to proceed much further with the state of the weather.
27 July 2009 22:09:57
Brassicas holding well despite weather.
Mostaly dry,a little windy describes todays weather.Thinned some of the lettuce.Pulled any noticed weeds along the way.Watered in the greenhouse and tunnell.Tunnell floor had its weekly washout.No worries about watering outside.[no thanks to heavy weekend rain]Moved in some more of the new clay to earth up some more tubs.
26 July 2009 20:25:19
After a night of heavy rain along with some more showers throughout the day,nothing light got done in the garden earlier.Just to open up tunnell etc around 8am.Well into July now with some veg showing the outcome of poor weather.[Potato blight,leaf spot,etc.Not real bad but if this rain continues hard to know what the outcome will be.The slugs and snails are cheering with joy.All is not lost though in the battle against them and other garden enemies.
25 July 2009 22:23:24
Remainder of clay this evening.
We had a great day in the garden weather wise.Started early this morning to have all the jobs done before the lorry load of clay arrived.First by opening up tunnell,greenhouse,and coldframe.Done some weeding in the veg garden.All was going to plan with the grass getting a good trimming later in the morning.Doing the remainder of the feeding was next on the list.Started around 12 noon and by app 2 pm almost finished.Then panic stations arrived.The clay came 2 hours earlier than expected.All feeding was abandoned until later.Help had been arranged but not for another 2 hours.The clay was tipped and the entrance at the back lane was blocked.Nothing arrived to drive by. [lucky me].I wheeled in barrows of clay for the next few hours.Help arrived and the day finished on a high note.Around 7.30 pm the remainder of the feeding was done.Polytunnell etc closed app 8pm to finish the day.
24 July 2009 23:16:27
Cauliflower holding well against the weather.
Had a walk down the garden just after 6.30 am this morning to see how the veg was surviving after both a wet night along with a major attack of slugs and snails with this weather.I took note of any jobs that needed urgent attention.Some tubs,despite drainage etc still had a major wetting.As the Irish Garden Magazine mentioned earlier on today in the kitchen garden section,Potato blight hits.It sure did.I cut away some of the spores to save the tubers.I also noticed blackleg on 2 of the stems.This weather is terrible.A large section of the potatoes are doing fine.Lets hope the sun appears quick.Most of the brassicas are holding well.Spinach,onions beetroot,carrots, doing well.Despite the weather a good section of the peas and beans are holding well.Some have failed.The mulch in some of the veg garden needs sun quick.Today had a few sunny spells with an odd shower in between.Not so bad but we need sunshine,lots of it.In the greenhouse the tomatoes were given a feed.The plan for tomorrow is to extend the area in the greenhouse to suit more tubs by removing some unused timber sections.Afternoon a lorryload of clay arrives,with a large section of the clay to be barrowed into the second garden.[Not just looking forward to job].It is also to be added to some of the tubs placed near the bottom of the veg garden along with a little sand and compost.
22 July 2009 22:24:50
Broccoli doing well.
Touches of sun appeared during the day but at app 3.30 pm the clouds opened.Hailstones fell today and they were desperate.Like a sand blaster it was that heavy.The sun came back out around 4.30pm.This evening was spent spraying the potatoes and the tomatoes with dithane to ward off hatefull blight.The weather is in a bad state lately leaving things in a messy,mucky,and annoying state.Some of the other veg is holding well.Watering in the tunnell and greenhouse was done also this evening along with any hanging baskets that needed some added.Finished with a look around and left the garden wondering what will attack next.With the cold of this evening after 8 pm anything is possible.
21 July 2009 22:24:39
Rest for these today.
Winter was upon us with the state of the weather today.Only for an odd slight piece of sunshine the day could be call a washout.This evening in the garden i weeded in the veg bed.Outside was worked a few times during the dry spells.When the rain called back it was into the tunnell to work there.Closed up just after 8 pm.
20 July 2009 21:03:47
Carrots coming on well in deep tubs.
Nothing much needed to be done with either feeding or watering in the garden this evening.Gave the leylandii hedge opposite the main front beds a quick trimming to keep it in shape.Cleaned the greenhouse windows and finally had a quick walk around the veg area to see all was going to plan.
19 July 2009 17:26:22
The usual early morning opening of the tunnell,greenhouse,coldframe,etc was done shortaly before 7.30am.Nothing else went on in the garden today. After lunch we ventured over to Tullynally gardens.Some of the family wanted to admire the surroundings,buildings,trees,flowers etc but my time was spent in the veg area looking through some brassicas,roots,salad greens,veg fruits etc.An enjoyable day was had by all.I will add some photos later in the week.
18 July 2009 21:10:04
![Fooling the slugs.[hopefully]](/members/2814/photos/954711823.jpg "Fooling the slugs.[hopefully]")
Fooling the slugs.[hopefully]
A most enjoyable day was had today in Mullingar when we visited Belvedere House.From 12 to 1 questions and queries were answered by Gerry Daly.After that was finished a flower swap etc took place.My other Oldcastle friends and i had some lunch before taking a walk around the gardens.
I was delighted to speak to some other garden members for the first time.Sorry that i did not get to approach all my friends in the club.Maybe some other day.
When we returned to home i closed up all in the garden after an early morning opening.Nothing else was done today in the garden.
17 July 2009 23:13:07
![Tomatoes in baskets. [tumbler]](/members/2814/photos/878426788.jpg "Tomatoes in baskets. [tumbler]")
Tomatoes in baskets. [tumbler]
One section of grass was given a quick trim.Any hanging baskets around the house received watering.Some tubs in the front area of the house were also watered.The main section of the garden especially the veg area will be watered early in the morning and inside the tunnell and greenhouse will be fine until return from Mullingar tomorrow.Clipped the hedge between the main garden and the second smaller one.Netted some of the brassicas to the caterpillar attack.
16 July 2009 21:41:43
Turnips,lettuce,cabbage,and broccoli.
Normally i would not get anything done in the garden on Thursday evening. Had to attend a local funeral and after that i hurried home to lock up all.The temp fell a little and it was noticable after 8 pm.No worries about watering inside or out this evening.Weeded the veg tubs outside the tunnell door for a short while and that ended the garden work.
15 July 2009 23:23:58
![Remaining peas[low growing] in final place at last.](/members/2814/photos/704541659.jpg "Remaining peas[low growing] in final place at last.")
Remaining peas[low growing] in final place at last.
The main area of work was done in the greenhouse this evening.The tomatoes had all the side shoots removed along with the outside sown ones.Some feeding was done along with some more tying to supports.A quick look was given to the veg bed and then back to wash out the greenhouse floor.The seed packet trays were given a tidy up.No more garden work this evening after that.
14 July 2009 20:31:32
No rain for me.
All kinds of showers fell through the day.Some light,some thundery,and some really heavey ones.Not a lot of evening work got done in the garden.The tunnell remained closed up and only used to avoid the showers,and give a quick check on any veg inside.Prepaired 1 of the veg beds outside for a mid August sowing of turnips.[Whenever allowed do so]
12 July 2009 17:19:59
Lavatera branch hits the deck from wind..
What another strange day today.Between wind and rain the garden is getting slight touches of the middle of winter.Some light branches etc did not survive the wind.In between the showers i thinned out some last sowings of lettuce and turnips.Gave a light watering to the tunnell and greenhouse.Went for a walk with the dog and also to admire other peoples gardens wherever possible.That was all in the garden today.
11 July 2009 22:21:44
The finished compost.
The day was ok weather wise until app 4 pm then clouds sent on some rain.By 6.30pm it was like the middle of winter.The main emphasis for the day was to fill from 1 of the compost heaps that were ready in the veg area,into some remaining tubs and buckets.Some well rotted manure was also added to the tubs as was a little sand and clay.After that was finished the second heap was moved,then covered and left to cook.A quick plan was drawn up to see what will be added to the new line of tubs.At some stage tomorrow that will be finally decided.[weatherwise]The tunnell beds were watered.Picked some weeds and checked around the main garden for water and food.Just when that was done the rain arrived [it could be worse i suppose]Closed up all in the garden and that finished the day.
10 July 2009 21:22:38
Cabbage 10/7/09
First to be done was a quick grass trim.The tunnell was given a clean up.Large tubs in the garden were also given a wash down.Done some more successional planting in the veg bed.Weeded some in the veg area.Checking to see whats next for the garden tomorrow.[Rain allowing]
09 July 2009 22:30:46
Nothing done in the garden this evening only some quick pictures taken at app 6.30 pm.Added tomorrow evening to the photos.
08 July 2009 21:42:40
Taking shape.
The weather today was not to bad.Very little sunshine but a least staying dry.Nothing was touched in the garden today except for a late attack on getting the leylandii hedge into some kind of shape at the bottom of the garden.With some of the garden being a little downhill along with the roadway behind the hedge it was decided to shape the hedge to suit.The job will be finished at some stage on Friday.
07 July 2009 21:54:41
![All new beds on left side of tunnell ready for planting.[15 in all]](/members/2814/photos/1002777702.jpg "All new beds on left side of tunnell ready for planting.[15 in all]")
All new beds on left side of tunnell ready for planting.[15 in all]
After a quick check arounnd the garden it was into the tunnell to fill up the new beds.All were given a mixture of compost,riddled clay,manure,fert.Handy been able to reach all beds with ease and no long streaching to reach them.The tunnell floor was swept and also given a good washout.Next to do was check on the coldframe and see how the new growath was coming along.Sprayed the potatoes with Di,945.Did not get to put some rose clear on the roses but will be first on tomorrows agenda.No more work in the garden now,and time to look through some garden notes.
06 July 2009 22:04:34
All work was in the polytunnell today.Not the best of days with the weather.During the day some showers,and from 7pm a washout.Picked some nice early rooster potatoes in the old bed this evening before taking it from the tunnell and then installed some new single beds.App 15 small beds were fitted on the left hand side of the tunnell.
05 July 2009 13:26:20
Noticed a foxglove in the veg bed..
Headed off to attend the Loughcrew yearly mass earlier on today,and then on to visit the Loughcrew Historic Gardens. Meet up with some friends and everyone enjoyed the day out.Having arrived home at around 5 pm it was down the garden to check on things there.Also to see that all was well in both tunnell and greenhouse.Nothing else done in the garden today.
04 July 2009 22:26:07
Stay a while sunshine.
Rather impossible to make out the weather today.Garden work went haywire today with a mixture of showers showers and more showers.A little sunshine came out at times,just a little.The evening was fine.After 8 am the main job was to tie up the outside tomatoes at the garden shed.Some bamboo canes had to be fitted and when app half way through the job the clouds opened.In and out of the greenhouse among showers got to finish the job.The coldframe had the lids opened and closed regular.Watered inside the greenhouse.The tunnell was fine.Among the showers the veg garden was weeded in places.Got to take some pictures after 6 pm.
03 July 2009 21:42:45
Hanging baskets in veg garden.
Where has the rain gone.At last the grass got its weekely cutting this evening.Gave the leaf mould heap a shake up.Watered lightly both it and the compost heaps.Gathered up any weeds spotted.Washed out the tunnell and greenhouse floors.Some feeding in the garden to be done tomorrow.
02 July 2009 18:20:13
Nothing to take note off in the journal except rain,rain,and rather humid weather today.
01 July 2009 22:34:51
Successional sowing of cabbage.
A rather humid day today with an odd light shower.No outside watering thanks to the showers.Inside the tunnell and greenhouse some had to be given.The time this evening was spent weeding the main flower bed in the centre of the garden.No more time for any other jobs in the garden after the weeding.