Johnplotman's Journal

A change to gardening this morning.

Late yesterday evening.

Between rain on one side and temperatures down in the tunnel to just above 9 deg, the weather is quite cool.After spending an hour in the greenhousei we have decided to head to the Virginia Show earlier than planned today.Time will be spent there looking around all and on return about evening time i hope to get some more work done in the garden.Late yesterday evening i managed to cut most of the grass,and at least the rain will not hold up that up now.

The achievement of growing vegetables.

Working in the tunnel on return last night.

Everyone can have some kind of a kitchen garden,be it only made up of a few pots of herbs or salad vegetables on the kitchen windowsill etc.Peas and Beans trailing between the railings,or a hanging basket of tomatoes on the wall.All these can provide some fresh food that can be grown,and harvested and eaten within minutes.It is good the feeling and satisfaction of a wonderful achievement.Bringing on a seed to its full potential is a magical experience,from vegetable growing to herbs,flowers,trees etc in all the gardens.

For Olga.

Sweetcorn Zea mays var.Saccharata.

Hope all is well Olga.Just a note to let you know the picture is some of the Sweetcorn seed you sent me.Thanks.

Yellow colour in the garden.

Hypericum from the second top bed.

No matter what the state of weather is,both Hypericum and Potentilla,two or the shrubs from the second top bed here give off a splendid yellow colour.Above all the other shrubs here these are my favourite ones.The Hypericum herb was one of the first planted here from many years back.

A wet Friday.

Colour from the tunnel earlier in the week.

My intentions to start some more work in the top shrub bed this evening,seems this minute to be put on hold.Drizzle is calling again.No grass cutting will get done  along with that until tomorrow now.Good weather is a wonderful thing.From the beauty and serenity of flowers etc,to home grown vegetables.So much that sunshine brings.

Gardening until lunchtime today..

Sunflower in the main garden.

I will get to spend until about 1 pm in the garden today.That will be all,as no more will get done there until maybe later tonight in the tunnel,with the help of some light.

Today until then,i hope to spend time at the bottom entrance to the main garden alongside the herb house.Some more tubs have been brought in and i will use them up somewhere in the garden,either for flowers or vegetables etc.Watering needs checking on in the tunnel and the floor will be given a washout.

The picture is of the top of a sunflower that is now above the garden shed.The shed is up to almost  2.5 mts high.I will add a picture when the flower opens.

Potatoes [Solanum tuberosum] freezing and storing.

Potatoes [Solanum tuberosum.]

Any of the smaller of the new Potatoes can be frozen,when blanched for app 2-3 minutes.They can also be peeled or sliced into the shape of chips.These will blanched in some oil,drained,and into bags for freezing.

Storing them dry can be done in boxes or also paper sacks can be used.Always have them in a dry area.Keep a regular check on them and should any be spotted, and if rotting in any way get rid of it.If left it will pass to the others rapid.

Freezing or Hanging Oniona.[ Allium cepa.]

Onions Allium cepa 2010.

From the vegetable garden some of the onions have been frozen for later in the year.To freeze them they need to be skinned,slices,and given a blanch for about 2 minutes.Then into the freezer.Small Onions can be frozen hole.

They can also be hung up in nets or strung together.They will store in a cool dry place until about the end of spring or close to that.

Only one hour in the veg garden this evening.

Collected this evening.

Just time for a quick bit to eat and then off to the vegetable garden this evening.Only for just about an hour.Off to the card game later this evening and hope to be there shortly after 8 o clock tonight.I will get to spend that time at the Nettle bed [Urtica].A layer needs cutting and will be mixed with compost bin number 3.Some will also be also be added to the bin at the tunnel door.As this is a good activator,all will be helped on.If time will allow i might get to move on some more of the winter Brassicas.This time to a harvested bed.

I will reply to my earlier journal in the morning.

Earlier this morning i picked up my usual Grow It magazine,and i will have a look through it whenever i return,or very earlie in the morning

Looking for a name for this tiny Rose.

At the top area..

On the way into the main garden i have some rose bushes,but this one is in a pot still.More flowers ready to bloom now,and is no more that about 40 cm high.The rose has no scent on the flowers.I have one similar to that a short distance away.Any ideas please.

How Potato blight [Phytophthors infestan] happens.

Potato Blight.[Phytophthora infestans] not welcome.

One of the most well known Potato problems when growing them is the Blight.Another favourite for the same disease are the Tomatoes.Blight is severe in warm,wet weather.The Potato Blight love this type of weather and it spreads rapid.The first sign is brown patches on the leaves of the Potato stalks and this will eventually turn to a black colour.Destroy them when seen.It is not so much the Blight itself that does the damage,but when the spores are washed down into the ground then its trouble.Tubers [Potatoes] get infected.Blight attacks especially around this time of year more serious than before.No matter what happens in the garden a touch of Blight will happen.Not so much that Blight can be altogether stopped.We just keep it under control to a certain stage.I spray the Potatoes every 7 days in serious weather.Different types of spray can be used against it.

Roots splitting on Carrots.[Daucus carota]

Young Carrots after checking..

The cause of wrong root action with Carrots is normally due to a wrong supply of moisture in the soil,and this will result in the roots ending up splitting lengthways.To avoid this,keep even growth throughout its length of growing.One way out is some mulching for a hold on to moisture,and very important is to water the soil before it can dry out completely.A complete waste of time to try to store damaged carrots because they will rot and not keep.

Off to the vegetable garden.

Home grown Brassica 2010..

A little later than usual this evening i will have a quick cuppa and then head down to the vegetable garden to prepare more Brassica for the freezer.Some more of the heads will be worked on,and done from there.They will be blanched to the correct time and saved from that.All going well i will get all finished in row 3,at area C from the main garden.I will answer my journal later of earlie in the morning without fail.

Berberis.[Full name needed please].

Berberis full name seeking.

At the end of the second shrub bed here in the garden i have this Berberis placed along with some other shrubs together.I know the shrub is call Berberis im fairly sure but the full name not.Plenty of thorns are on the branches.The complete shrub has a purple colour and all leavs die off in autumn.Any ideas on the full name please.Most grateful.

Feeding the ground after some harvesting.

Ground prepared for feeding.

Any used beds in the vegetable garden for harvesting were raked,left level,and prepared again last night.They were also given some green manure to help them on.In a few weeks plenty of young small green stalks,suitable for digging into the soil will appear.When they are suitable for the job all will go back into the ground  when the time is right,and this will help manure the crop for the next visit of vegetables later in the year.Some fast growers will be included,so not just to have the place to bare in that area.

Harvesting vegetables.

Food for later in the year.

Last night from about 10 o clock i started to lift the remainder of the Brassica and Potato companions.The Potatoes will keep the food table supplied and the Brassica from that area have been frozen.The bags have been dated and a letter used for each type of vegetable going to be used. On the chart will be the name, along with the letter used so never to forget.This year all Brassica will go down as A1 for Cabbages and A2 for Cauliflower,A3 etc.The name for Spinachs will be B1 etc and so on for the rest of the vegetables.

Gardening earlier this morning.

Looking dull yesterday evening.

At the start of another week i decided to give a fast check over all in the vegetable garden.I left down markers yesterday evening,where some more of the seeds are to be placed.They have now be noted in the vegetable diary for this year and will be given a few final touches this evening.Around 10 o clock i decided then to have the usual fast Sunday evening walk that i missed upon.Just my luck about half way around,and the rain starts.Dull here this morning with plenty of clouds.Hopefully we will be in for some dry weather,on return later this evening and i can attack the garden more.

Time to check over all in the garden.

Roses from the main bed this morning.

Home about an hour and now i will have a walk around the garden,to see all is well.Tomorrow evening i hope to start some more fast growing vegetables,such as Chinese Cabbage,Turnips,and Early Nantes Carrots.This sowing of the Carrots will not be fully grown,but will be there to harvest,even if only small sized.The feeding charts need checking on,and both those and the notes taken for the week will be looked over,sometime later on for about an hour or there abouts.

Garden plans for today.

Todays dinner.Cauliflower Brassica oleracea 2010.

After the usual papers collection this morning from the local shop i decided to take a check around the garden and collect some food for the table today.After dinner it will be off to visit another garden and on return i hope to spend some time going around the shrubs here.I now have full names for some of them,thanks.I will also check on the area at the bottom of the garden with the winter vegetable that need more moving on,so to have all ready for tomorrow evening.That is provided the rain does not upset plans for then.

Time to attack the garden jobs.

Begonia at 1 am.

Quite damp here this morning.I had hoped to start the cutting the lawns,very early here,but that is on hold until afternoon now.Started in the vegetable garden just before 8 am at the top blocked vegetable bed for weeded.Now that some more vegetables have been lifted from there,plenty of unnoticed weeds were paying a call.Watering had to be checked inside the tunnel and all is sorted out there.Now that i have had breakfast,i will first head to the local Coop and collect some more canes and another compost bin for the liquid manure.All baskets will have a quick check,and then to have the mower ready for action in the afternoon.Provided the rain stays in the many black clouds to be seen this minute.The grass will be added in layers to the compost bins later this evening.

Took a quick check around the garden on return home and all is well.No slugs appeared at that stage,but they sure will.

One picture i managed to take was the Begonia in the centre flower bed.

Name confirmation needed of this Hypericum please.

Hypericum at the top arch.

On the left of the arch entry to the main garden i have on one side this Hypericum.As i mentioned all names are been noted on charts especially for this purpose.I have looked over some books,now that i know what to go for.Ok with vegetables but the flowers im mad to find out here now.

The picture is off the Hypericum shrub.Will i call the shrub Hypericum calycinum or  Hypericum Hidcoat,or another name,Thanks.

Seeking another shrub name at the entry.

At the main garden entry.

The shrub in the picture has been here just a few years now and has a shape on the stalkes themselves. A six marker to me.I have often thought about checking out the full name but never did.I just water and feed it.Flowers come out of the tips but have not appeared yet.Any ideas please. 

Home grown Spinach for the freezer.

Young Spinach 2010.

The Spinach here [Spinacia oleracea] at harvesting will first have the leaves washed and then blanched for no more than about 2 minutes.They will cool and any excess water will be removed.Then into plantic bags and frozen.The important point to always remember about Spinach at freezing time is that it will end up a solid lump.Each bag must only be filled with the Spinach needed for one meal.When getting them ready for the table just boil for no more than 5 to 6 minutes and enjoy.

Name needed for this shrub please.

Shrub in a tub.

This is one of the shrubs just in front of the small conifer area.The leaves are almoat similar to those of a Buddleia shrub,but i cant confirm that.The height is only about 70cm.I dont recall seeing flowers on it before,and also would love its name please,if at all possible.Thanks.

Touring the vegetable garden at night time.

Rain wont upset the scarecrow 24 hrs a day.

After i returned from the card game in the late hours,i decided to have a quick check around the vegetablle garden.I did not do to bad at the cards for a change.Before i headed out i had to call on the use of the rain coat and the boots,the weather was that poor,but rain did not upset the job.I removed some slugs,and on the way out of the tunnel i gave a quick check on the strength of temperature readings.Just above 9.5 deg,so noticable.The feeling of autumn weather was in the air.

This morning it is quite similar with rain,and looks like it will be indoor work in either the greenhouse or the tunnel this evening.Who knows,maybe the weather would suprise us all and the sun appear with blue skies.When though,is the question.

Cauliflower into the feeezer for another time.

Cauliflower [Brassica oleracea.] 2010.

Now that some Cauliflower are grown and need lifting,some of them will not be thrown out into the compost heaps,but saved in the freezer for another days meal.To freeze them,they will be cut into florets and blanched here for only about 2 minutes and not much more.Then they will be frozen.Along with that they will be given a very slight touch of lemon juice and this will go to helping them hold the normal colour.When taken from the freezer for a meal the florets will be boiled frozen,up to about 5-6 minutes.

A short while in the garden,then off to cards.

Area at the hedge finally filled and ready for starting.

Just at the right time the rain has decided to start again.Outside work has to change round a little now.Some of the added buckets will be moved into the tunnel and the final filling done to them.Seeds will be checked upon,and more started there.Some final touches will be done to the buckets first off,such as an organic protection against slugs,especially with the seeds at a very early stage in that area.Should the weather upset plans for moving them back into place when ready,then all will be left under cover until earlie in the morning.Called into my friends house on the way home this evening and enjoyed a cup of Nettle tea.The area at the right of the top arch is ready almost for planting,now that finally the clay is ready and in place.

The cards are on as usual tonight and i will have to exit the garden earlier than normal.The slugs are warming up to appear on a wet night again and maybe a visit will be given to them later.

Harvesting Turnips [Brassica napa]

Turnip [Brassica napa] 2010.

With maincrop Turnips start lifting them the minute they are ready for use.Just like some other vegetables,tenderness and taste loses with age.Pull them when the roots are still small,golf ball size if eaten raw or about the size of a tennis ball if they have to be cooked.Calling upon successional cropping [little and often when sowing] will not have left a bunch to lift at the same time.

Pink Potentilla 3 [Name needed please]

Pink Potentilla,[3] full name seeking.

This time the picture is of the Pink Potentilla.It is placed close to the top of the shrub bed number 1.That and other shrubs have also some perennial flowers alongside them.Some heathers are also included along with 2 stone boots and three containers.In the containers i have placed some Beetroot [Beta vulgaris] and in the opposite one i have started some more Carrots [Damens carota] The boots have a selection of both flowers and vegetables.Right of the arch i have Clematis 1 in place as with some Cistus Broom and Spirea.The both types of Erica Heathers are there and i will place some pictures on one of my journals seeking the full name.The pruning is done in that area around the end of autumn and notes taken of the damage,and how they bloomed for the year.Markers will be left on any that need serious checking over.The Potentilla in the picture placed in that area that has pink flowers.Charted down as just Potentilla i would be grateful for the full name.Inside the garden gate i have an old watering can with some Hedera Ivy growing from that and also a selection of other shrubs.Overall,that holds 5 different types.The milk can holding the Ivy is given a check on every year,so not to let it over grow.Very large tubs infront of both areas have some Buxus Box and in another one some Spirea.Also in the front i have placed some containers of Skimmia,with the bed alongside the wall having a selection of shrubs and perennials there.I will be looking for the names of some of them.Getting back to the Potentilla again,if i could have the full name to chart down for the Pink Potentilla here [Number 3 ] i would be grateful.

Quite a wet morning here and gardening work will be held up.Spent two hours in the tunnel last night.

Kohl Rabi,ready for lifting.

Kohl Rabi 2010 ready to eat.

The Kohl rabi is ready for lifting in stages.When about just under the size of a tennis ball it will taste well.This is almost a cross between a Turnip and a Cabbage.This type of vegetable will not store well.If they overgrow then the taste will be poor.Once they are removed from the ground they start to fail.They will be eaten as soon as they are lifted.

Storing garden produce.Cabbage.

Cabbage [Brassica] 2010.

Cabbages are been lifted through successional cropping here and when the time comes for storing the Cabbage,first it will be washed and shred.Then blanching will take place just for about 1 minute.Next into the freezer in plastic bags.When cooking them from frozen,they will be boiled for app 7 minutes.

Work in the vegetable garden this evening.

Taking shape now with more filling needed.

Up to 9.30 this evening i managed to spend two hours in the vegetable garden.Done as planned with the legume beds,and then spent some time setting up more buckets for filling outside the tunnel door.Those planted earlier are doing well and given the last thinning out.They consist of Brassicas,and Root crops.I have to start filling the extra buckets up and have them in action as fast as possible.Another section was covered with green manure to help it along.I hope to head back to the tunnel in about 15 minutes to spend some more time there.A little later than planned.

The cool Kitten,and plans for this evening.

Resting like a cool Kitten.

This morning looks nice and bright here in this area.I hope later to attack some of the tubs alongside the hedge in the lower part of the garden.Now that some parts of the vegetable beds have been harvested,green manure has been started in  areas of them.More seeds are down in the tunnel and all the other beds there have been watered just after 7.30 this morning.Time will be spent on the legumes area this evening.Some of the wind damage stalks [a short while back] need removing,now peas have been well supplied from them,but not to serious of damage.The compost heaps will also be happy with the bits of broken stalks.If all goes well i might get to spend a while later in the tunnel from about 10 o clock to midnight.Provided rain does not return this evening and upset plans.

The picture has the real cool Kitten resting.Hopefully he will be useful to the garden and fight off the crows just like my other four legged friend does.

Looking for the name of this Perennial.

Perennial in different areas.

Some time back im almost sure i was given the name of this Perennial by,i think,Rachel.Maybe not,i could be wrong.I have this Perennial in a few areas on the front flower beds.The names are now started in seperate folders here,and all kept together with a pages for each areas,so none misplaced now.Not as before left in one note book,or indeed written on the back of a book.I could look back and root them out,but faster this way this way,and this time all will be at hands reach when called upon for names.In time i will know them and the folder wont be needed.Thanks again.

Potentilla name seeking.Number 2.

Potentilla 2.

This Potentilla is placed in the shrub bed opposire the kitchen window.One of the shrubs here a good many years now.I have another one similar in colour but the name not.As i mentioned with the first Potentilla [thanks for the answer to its name] this also has only been known by the shrubs name,but not the full title.Many thanks.

Fuchsia,name seeking.

Fuchsia,at the front of the house.

One of the Fuchsia family at the front of the house here.I looked through a book last night and see one similar to Fuchsia [Mrs Popple].Can i confirm this as the correct answer or am i on the wrong track.Thanks.

Potentilla.Name needed please.

Potentilla.

This is one of the Potentillas at the side bed close to the Cotoneaster in front of the house.Has been here a good many years.Noted down as Potentilla but not much further.Looking for the full name please.

Rhubarb.[Rheum rhaponticum] in the main flower bed

Rhubarb [Rheum rhaponticum] tub,pottaging.

Took a fast look at the main flower bed on the way up from the vegetable garden to check on all Fruit,vegetables and herbs.So far so good.Some of the vegetables have come to their time limit and will be replaced with similar,but also given a slight rotation. 

Rain has eased off this morning.

Salix [Willow] in the lower area.

No sign of rain this morning.After a very wet day on Sunday,maybe we have had enough.Took a quick check around the area i intend to spend some time with later this evening.The vegetable garden looks dull and the mulch more like winter time.Maybe it could be worse.Yesterday evening,a little earlier than expected i checked the hanging baskets under cover.Some tubs need thinning and more seeds down in the tunnel as planned,so all going well this will be done later this evening.The flower bed at the front of the house here is due a visit also for having some weeds removed at some stage later.

On the table this evening.

For dinner later.

Later we will have some Potatoes,Cauliflower,Cabbage,and some Peas for dinner.The complete dinner will be from the garden.Cost nothing only some seed potatoes,a little time,seeds raised here,and some manure.Apart from weeding,watering etc,and been kept an eye on for pests,that was it.The Orla earlies are up before Blight can strike.Tomatoes will be had for tea later,also home grown.The outcome from the vegetable garden has been good so far this year,but the amount of rain falling,and wind,leaves beds more like the middle of winter than our summer months.The compost heaps are getting some,destroyed weather effected vegetables,but the good weather will return.[We hope.]

Time for some more trimming.

Hedera needs a light trimming.

At the top of the main garden,some areas need to be checked on.The Hedera at the back of the kitchen needs a light trimming and the tubs,pots,containers also kept in one large tub there need cleaning.Both jobs will have to wait until about the middle of this week.

Plans for tomorrow.

Pink carpet Rose tub.[Main flower bed].

If all goes well tomorrow i hope by evening time to spend a while in the lower area of the main vegetable garden,and also to weed the short flower bed at the entry to the main garden.

The tunnel is also due another visit at a late stage.

Yesterday all Potatoes were treated for the fungus Blight [Phytophthora infestans] to keep them on the safe side in this warm damp weather.After the wind damage some more of the Potato stalks need to be tied up.

In the centre bed out in the main garden,some of the shrubs there also need checking on,after having a visit from the enemy garden weeds,and this will be included.Rain may upset plans a little,but time will tell with weather.

A wet Sunday back on top.

Carrots [Autumn King] with netting removed.

I had hoped to remove some more of the weeds from the outer area of the vegetable garden,but so far im afraid not.More like trying to remove black clouds from the sky.

Notes taken earlier in the week need checking,so im afraid that will be the plan.Took a quick walk around the garden earlier this morning after collecting the Sunday papers,but the raincoat was needed.Hopefully not for to long more.We need good weather.

Time for boots and a raincoat.

Clematis outside the herb house.

Need i mention rain and wind,i guess not because we all have got a visit from the stuff.Quite a poor night here with weather.On arrival back to the house last night the wind would almost cut you.Had a fast look around the garden but that was all.

I hoped to spend time for the first half of today in the main garden with some hedge trimming etc,but that will have to wait until the afternoon.The grass will be fine.

In the tunnel earlier this morning i started some more seeds on the vacant ground where the potatoes were harvested from.Some more tidy up work was done there also,so the morning was not lost to wet weather.

Starting to brighten up a little now just before 10 am so all is not lost for the early part of today.

In the vegetable garden,weeding needs doing and some netting to be repaired in places after the wind visit.I hope to spend time with another of the compost heaps to give it a fast turnover.Those are the plans for today,now the weather has changed things a little.

Harvesting Turnips [Brassica napa].

Turnips [Brassica napa] 2010 in the outer bed.

Fast growth with no set-backs are vital for the summer lifting of Turnips.Leave them to long and they will become tough.Sow seeds of the winter Turnips late in this month.Water the drills if the ground is dry for those seeds and do not sow them until the water has drained away from that.

Plans for tomorrow in the garden.

Legumes [Peas] 2010.

Early in the morning i hope to pay another visit to the bottom area of the hedge for trimming.The grass will get by until another time.Weather will decide that.

I have to do some weeding in the upper flower beds.Parts of the Clematis on the arch needs checking on for any loose ends.

In the lower area of the garden just inside the exit gate i have to give there a hose out.Despite the rain it still needs a quick sweeping out.Some of the tubs there also need sweeping and a little trimming to the spearmint herbs.

Another late visit to the tunnel.

Ready for further planting.

Late last night despite the rain i had no problem getting some more done in the tunnel.

Now all first earlies have been harvested and the beds are prepared for further usage.

Fast growing veg will be started there.Some more moving on of winter cabbage needs doing but that will have to wait until better weather.

Begonia 2 in the main flower bed,pottaging.

Begonia 2 in the main flower bed,pottaging.

Watering outside is fine,but not inside thre tunnel.I shudder to think about Leaf spot,and Potato blight.On the bright side this morning but ground not.Even some wind called to leave the rain visit worse.No thunder and lighting.Reading back to 8.5 deg last night in the tunnel.

The picture is another Begonia in the main flower bed with flowers,fruit,and vegetables.[Pottaging].

For Liga.

Geranium at entrance area.

Just wondering Liga about the Geraniun here.If i can recall back you also had similar to the picture.I know it is Geranium but the name is a stranger to me.That is placed in a small tub and was in behind others so i passed no remarks of it.I have since moved it out now in front of the others.The tub is only app 30 cm wide.Stands about similar in height with the flowers.Purple flowers with dark leaves.Thanks.

Sunflower in the vegetable garden.

Sunflowers.

The sunflowers are all showing well in the vegetable garden now.Two of them are placed down at the legumes bed and also at the legumes row in the main garden.Summer brings so much colour.Rain brings so much trouble.Potatoes are due to be sprayed this evening.Very cloudy this morning with light drops falling,so not the best of a day.No plans for later in the vegetable garden,but tomorrow evening without fail.

Last nights check in the veg garden.

Last night check over the vegetable garden.

On return home late from the cards i spent just a while looking through the vegetable garden.1 for slugs and 2 for checking the nets.Quite suprised with the wind that was out at stages yesterday.Readings are back to just under +9 in the tunnel and could have been better.Now that some veg has been harvested a mad rush is on to get down more seeds.Thinned out the buckets outside the tunnel door and checked on all.Buckets that size will be fine for 4-5 young Turnips.The final thinning will be done about the middle of next week.Inside the tunnel i had a fast walk through,for one further check and no more done there.

Time is short in the veg,garden this evening.

Begonia,with flowers fruit and veg..[pottaging]

The leaf mould area will have to wait until another evening.Just time to look over the seeds and a few of the vacant places in the vegetable garden.Some of the vegetables harvested leave gaps that need filling.Feeding is due on some of the tubs,but that will wait.No panic there.

The cards are on tonight as usual and i will head off there after a quick wash when i return from the vegetable garden,in the next hour.

I will reply to all journals in the morning.

The Begonia in the picture is one of the members from the pottaging group with flowers fruit and vegetables in the main flower bed.

Yesterday evening in the garden.

My four legged friend,on the mend.

I attacked the rose bed as planned and removed leaves etc,from that area.When i had that complete not much time was left only to visit the vegetable garden to check on watering needs with the outside beds.Four of the Potato ridges needed a wetting,and though knowing rain was on the way,no chances taken.Fine for some but no goog if not enough water gets to them.The tunnel was fine for watering this morning.The leaf mould bed is due a clean up and time will be there this evening for a short while.Hedges need trimmimg in the centre of the garden but later in the week.Some more seeds will be started later,on any vacant areas.

My four legged friend came down to the garden with me yesterday evening and looked on.Slow,but he was there.On the mend again.The crows up in the trees had it to handy,but not for much longer.

Spraying Potatoes again blight.

Potatoes [Solanum tuberosum] 2010.

The spraying of Potatoes has already been mentioned in an earlier journal,but this is a crucial time the fungus [Phytophthora] will visit.Mid to late summer is vital.The fungus disease is wind-bourne and humid,sultry,thundery weather is loved by the spread of blight.When spraying Potatoes do not forget to spray outdoor Tomatoes as well.Both of them belong to the Night shade family and suffer from blight.

Planting out Rhubarb crowns.[Rheum rhaponticum]

Rhubarb [Rheum rhaponticum] 2010.

The time to plant these out is either in late autumn or also early spring.Plant the crowns firmly at either times,and with the topmost bud showing above the surface of the soil.Firm the soil round the plants,water them if soil is dry,and spread a layer of well rotted manure over the bed.

Cleaning up the rose bed later.

Neighbours leaves for the compost heap.

More time was spent in the tunnel yesterday evening than expected.I washed out the floor as planned but also stayed for a while getting down more seeds.Two of the pots at the top end of the tunnel have now become empty and with new seeds in them.This time,some more Carrots [Early Nan] are in.Will be small but will also supply a meal.

The rose bed needs cleaning and light pruning to remove old leaves and i will focus on that area later this evening.Some at the entry flower bed need similar.The bed needs a raking out and hopefully in a short while a second flush will appear.While i am in the rose bed i will get at the outside of the greenhouse window in that area so can also now,give that a clean down.No plans for the vegetable garden later as yet.It will take a few hours to complete the cleaning on the rose beds and i will remain there until the job is complete.

Yesterday evening my neighbour left me in a large sack with some leaves for the compost heap.They are small and will suit the job.

Kohl-rabi in the arch bed 2010.

Kohl-rabi 2010,develops well.

This vegetable looks quite strange,but is almost similar to a cross between Turnips and Cabbage,but taste well.It is the swollen stem we watch out for,as this is the part eaten,rather than the leaves.I pull the roots for food during summer time so as not to let them get to big,and a poor taste.About 3 inches in diameter does fine.When storing them only do this for a short time as they wont keep to long.

Beetroot [Beta vulgaris] 2010.

Beetroot for tea,2010.

This is a summer vegetable and has been eaten while young.About golf ball size for the sweet taste.I store autumn crops with this vegetable.Never let the roots grow to big or face them getting woody and not tasty like the young Beetroot.The main crop size are lifted up when about the size of a tennis ball,to store over winter and to supply the table.

Help wanted on Conifer trouble.

Picture about 120 cm from the ground.

At the arch entry i have noticed damage in different areas of the conifers.Have been put in that area app 3 years now and were fine.I passed no remarks of it but now that i have seen plenty of the same problem in other gardens i was just wondering was the problem down to weather and shall i remove the sections damaged or leave it and wait,or will i remove them all together from there.Has been like that a few weeks now with the damage,but were fine before that. 

In the polytunnel.

Needs washing out.

Earlier this morning i watered the polytunnel area.Should have been completed yesterday but was not to serious then.Had to be done now.Weeds need lifting and areas of the harvested beds also need a visit.Some more brassica are due there.Today for dinner we will have Turnips [Brassica napa] Cauliflower [Brassica oleracea]-[veg garden] and some more Potatoes [Solanum tuberosum] to make a large percentage of the meal organic and fresh from the vegetable garden.The tunnel floor is due a washing out and will have that done this evening at some stage on return.

Back thinking again for the garden.

So much to have a bright day.

Will it rain or will it not.Thats the question.Is it summer or has the autumn called.Sounds negative,but at this time of the year its sun that is expected,not rain and wind.To h;ll with it,could be worse.We will get over it.This evening i have to check on the grass as it was not cut at the weekend.Rain held up play.I have to move on some more of the winter veg plants as it is important for this month with them.Today is nice and bright looking but for how long.

Raincoat off,we hope today.

Yesterday rain in the vegetablen garden.

Work was done undercover for a large portion of yesterday.Not just as planned, but weather wins again.Some work on the beds at the Legumes area was done thanks to the raincoat.Part of the lower section of the stalks needed harvesting to encourage more.If left on,growing stops.This morning around 1 am i took a quick check around the vegetable garden to see if any of my undercover,disliked slug friends called to attack the vegetables.No sign at that stage.The tunnel was similar with the temperature back to just under 9.5 deg.Meath play in the final against Louth today and we will hope the men in green will do well.

Cabbage [Brassica oleracea capitata] for dinner.

Brassica also coming for a walk today.

Later we will also bring a bucket of home grown Cabbage [Brassica] for dinner at my friends house as a gift.They also love organic vegetables.

Checking on some of the young Brassica areas earlier,some need thinning and will be done later this evening.Provided the rain does not put a stop to things.

Orla early Potatoes [Solanum tuberosum] for later.

Todays dinner visit.

Around 4 this evening we will be heading for an evening meal to some friends.My gift will be some home grown Potatoes [Orla earlies].

Kept us well supplied for the last few weeks,and still some more to dig.The ridges they were in have new veg in the early stages to replace them so not to leave the space bare to long.

Rain is back on top again to spoil things.

One area of netting checked on for damage last night.

All grass cutting has been left to one side this morning.The garden is a mess in places.This week quite a bit of damage has been done between wind and rain.The clouds are black this minute and waiting to pay another visit.Some Potato stalks have been broken at the clay and netting removed in places.Slugs are full up and all they want now is somewhere to hide and return for another feed.Weather is strange but we will get over it.The weather man said it all last night.Plenty of black cloud and lots of rain.We will survive.All the gardeners want are blue skies,plenty of sunshine,lots of water [then],and no garden pests,diseases,or weeds growing everywhere .

Where has the sun gone,yet again.

Hypericum [St Johns Wort.] in the main garden bed.

Wet,windy,and cool yet again this morning.The greenhouse is back to 17 deg,from 23 deg yesterday so quite noticable.That dalm Potato Blight problem and Leaf Spot are really warming up to attack now.I intended to spend time cutting the grass later but that is swept under the carpet now and i will have to be happy with a visit to the tunnel on return this evening.I have to also pay a visit later for an overdue call to my garden friend,at the young age of 73 years old.Tomorrow i will get back to attacking the grass if possible.Some more of the vegetables have to be checked for weather damage done earlier this week.

The Hypericum [St Johns Wort] shrub has not flowered yet but is on the way.

Beetroot [Beta vulgaris] 2010.

Beetroot [Beta vulgaris] 2010.

Beetroot can be pulled fresh from the vegetable garden from early June,so plenty of taste has been had by now.This can last up to late Autumn.The roots are best used,young and tender.Leave them to long and they get tough.They can also be stored when the time comes in late autumn.Successional sowing [little and often]of Beetroot has been done in the beds here for a continuous supply of good quality beet.They need to grow fairly happy so the aim with any watering done,should be to prevent soil from drying out.

Chinese Cabbage[ Brass,var pekinensis] 2010.

Home grown Chinese Cabbage 2010.

Watch out for low temperatures with the Chinese cabbage as this can trigger bolting.[Run to seed] Straight to the compost heap it will go if that happens.The Chinese Cabbage has been sown here single,in pots and moved out.One thing about this cabbage is that it hates having the roots upset at all,and will fail in most cases if pricked out [moved on] from a bunch in the one pot.Planted single will avoid this. Late summer is a good time to plant out,so to avoid bolting.Water is vital.

Home grown Chinese Cabbage in the picture is forming well.The leaves are almost complete and will grow on to full size.Slugs are quite fond of this Cabbage also as with other Brassicas.

Checking time on the main crop Potatoes.

Baby Potatoes this morning.

This morning the marked bag of Potatoes that was used for checking yielded 31 baby Potatoes from half a bag full of compost and the good old friend,some well rotted manure.This had to be done to make sure all is going well and that none of them are cracking or any other set-backs.When the stalk was removed from the bag and the baby Potatoes counted,the total was 31 Potatoes from that place.All from an old compost bag and the help of 2 seed Potatoes.

The rose bush,at the arch.

More name seeking for this rose..

Another one of the roses here,this time at the arch.It has always been known as the memory rose.Planted some years back and is kept pruned well every year.The rose has few thorns except for about 12-15 cm under the flower.It is also scented and stands about 90 cm high.I have often thought about moving it down to the rose bed but that thinking about the move has been going on some years now.

A rush this evening in the vegetable garden.

More seeds due in the new prepared buckets. .

Time to attack the compost heap etc as planned,and then a fast clean up to head off to cards.Not on until 9 this evening so all the better.On the way home this evening i picked up a discarded wheelbarrow.A repair to the flat wheel and a few touches more and i will have another hand in the garden.Thrown out but not for long more.I have a place for it already to suit one section of the vegetable garden.

As the cards are on tonight time is short with the garden,so i will reply to journals in the morning.Maybe later on tonight when i return home,i may get to the tunnel for an hour but if that fails i will be there first thing in the morning.

Later this evening among the vegetables..

Todays dinner.

The first place do a visit later on this evening will have to be compost heap number 1,as this is due a turn over.That is due a watering in the compost area and all the rain falling is not much to undercover food for the vegetable garden.I also hope to spend some time in the area beside the garden log as weeding is due with that small shrub bed.

So far this year we have harvested some different Cabbages,Turnips [3 types]Potatoes [Orla earlies] Peas [3 types] Spinach [Per] Beetroot [Bol] Carrots [2 types] Spring Onion,Shallots,Tomatoes,Rhubarb,Lettuce with 6 of the vegetables above been sowing through successional cropping and used at different times.

All going so well,then the rain came.

Rhus [Sumach] in the main garden last night.

Yesterday evening i spent time in the vegetable garden as planned,from seed sowing to moving on and then up to clean in the greenhouse.At the end of the garden shed where the liquid bins are placed i gave them a check on and started some more nettle and comfrey feed for fertiliser in sealed bin 2 in that area.Strict safety is kept with all lids sealed.Around 9.45 the rain called back and i went to the garden shed to study and check over charts.

 .

Picture for Sallykinos as requested.

For Sallykinos.

Sally this is a picture of the tree.The details i answered on my journal earlier this morning.Hope it will be of some help to you.

Plans for later in the garden.

Cabbage [Brassica] 6/7/10 from the main vegetable garden.

If all goes well i hope to spend some more time in the main garden,this time at the flower bed beside the seat.Leaves etc need removing from there and the chippings have an odd small weed appearing.Should not take to long to do this later in the evening time.In front of the tunnel door 8 more buckets have been added and they will be also have a visit from new seeds.Successional sowings of Turnips,Spinach,and Beetroot will be used.Time is close but they will make it.The path outside the tunnel door is due a hosing down and a good sweeping.Some more of the Potato stalks in the main garden need tying as the wind has brought more trouble.

Looking for a name from the main garden.

Name needed please.

Here we call this tree one of our varigated friends in the garden.I have never got the full name for this tree but would love to know it.One of the trees has found it very hard to recover from weather damage.That has not been removed and will be left in hope that some new leaves will appear.No sign of any this year so far.The tree in the picture was some of earliest planted here.

From the plot to the fork.

Carrots [Daucus carota] Autumn King,successional.

The vegetables below lose texture and energy with their sugars in about 20-24 hrs after you pick them.The moment they have been picked it is important not to leave them to long.Timing is important if you want the best from them.Some are fine but the likes of,

Peas,New Potatoes,Sweetcorn,Carrots [summer] and the fruit like Tomatoes are some of the plot to fork members within 24 hrs at the latest for the best taste.

This evening in the top area of the garden.

Astilbe in the main flower bed doing well.

Hopefully this evening in the top area i hope to do some weeding with the two  shrub beds.Has not been done for a while now [app 2 weeks] but a quick visit to remove some will be no harm.All going well about 2 hours should do the job.The large tubs need similar as does the green area.Alongside the first ever roses here in the garden [app 45 years back] the flower and shrub bed near hand is fine.Some of the long tubs on top of the wall are due some more lettuce seeds there so to have a mixture of flowers and vegetables.

Astilbe is doing well in the main flower bed.

Earlier in the main Garden.

Sunflower in the main garden this morning.

The first on the plan this morning for a while was to tidy up where the broken branch had been removed from the main bed in the garden.Some of the tubs had the leaves etc in them and the wind payed a visit to some others.Nothing serious there.All areas are now filled,but for just two more buckets.A mixture of flowers,fruit,vegetables,and herbs [pottaging ] has been used.Some weeds and pests are paying a regular visit but are been removed just as quick.

Some of the sunflowers are showing well despite the wind.Were checked on yesterday to make sure all supports for them were still in place.

Sunday morning reading.

Wind leaves a mark.

Earlier this morning i picked up my Sunday papers and also the monthly copy of the Grow it magazine.With the weather we have,then that [mag] will be given a look over for the next hour or so and then to hope for the best with the rain etc departing.Has brightened up just a little but the hedges are showing good signs of wind staying around and the clouds are a very dull grey.Time for some breakfast and a read.The tunnel was given a walk through between 7.30 and 8 earlier this morning.

The damaged tree in the centre of the garden [yesterday] will have the branch removed later.

Another wet day.

Home grown [Orla ] Potatoes 2010.

Plenty of rain has fallen overnight and this morning.One good thing about it is no watering outside but the greenhouse needed a drink.The tunnel was done yesterday and that is fine.The wind was also quite strong and some of the potato stalks have suffered.Not broken at the base,thats the main thing.Others suffered worse but we will get over that.The beds that have the protection around them are fine.In the legumes area  ther are also payed a visit with wind.Quite strange weather for this time of the year.I was called out  to look at neighbours wind damaged tub of home grown potatoes and brought it with me to check on it.Plans for later today will be to maybe get down some more quick growing veg in some of the places that are vacant now after harvesting.

The Potatoes in the tunnel have been keeping the house going for app 2 weeks now with one ridge left to be removed.Some of the ground has been worked on and prepared on,so to not leave it idle to long.Part of it has been used up already with more fast growing veg like beetroot,and carrots.

Leaf spot.[Mycosphaerella brassicicola]

Brassica 2010.

Weather like today reminds me of visits from our hateful friend Leaf spot.A bit soon for it yet but with weather like this and the temperature up on 15 deg,anything is possible.Leaf spot [Mycosphaerella brassicicola] is noticed by round black spots with rings of pinpoint bodiesand these produce what is known as spores of the fungus.As Leaf spot is plenty of trouble in wet seasons anything is possible.If brassica plants are grown to close together further trouble will visit.One thing about the brassica [cabbage etc] trouble with Leaf spot is to make sure the plants are grown in a different part of the garden the next season.

Grass cutting first off this morning.

A sunny Saturday.

From early morning i started mowing the grass in the main garden and will finish the 2 lower areas before lunchtime.The grass collected has been used as layers on 2 of the compost heaps with a very fine amount added to the compost bin at the tunnel door.Edging needs doing and maybe do some,for a while in the afternoon before heading to the vegetable garden..

For Monkells as requested..

Arthur Bell rose.

Monica this is a picture of the rose i spoke about with the 2 colours.I feel better now that im not seeing things,and it is possible to have different colours on the same rose branch.

The vegetable garden in early July.

The best of friends [Tomatoes and onions]

As we are now moving from sowing and planting,the emphasis will be on harvesting in the vegetable garden in some areas.Some more vegetables will be fitted in successionally like Lettuce,Beetroot and Carrots.Some spaces are fill up with fresh seeds to avail of the ground as much as possible.The winter tubs need more thinning out.Vegetables are coming to maturity and a daily inspection is done especially with the likes of Peas whice ripen over a period of several days or weeks.It is very suprising how fast some crops will mature.

The cold frame came in handy to fit in the last of the Onions and Tomatoes.The water supply to them will be done along with the greenhouse at similar times.

Pottaging in the main flower bed.

Rhubarb [Rheum rhaponticum] in the main flower bed.

The  shrubs and flowers etc,are coming on well now in the main garden bed with the vegetables and herbs also showing well.Some weeding is due there and will be given a visit tomorrow for a while in the afternoon.Grass cutting is also due and will be done in the morning.In the vegetable garden some more thinning in the top section especially is also due a call.Another area in the tunnel needs tying up and the beetroot and cabbage on the right side [lower area] is also due thinning and harvesting.Cabbage there is done successionally and will be harvested at different times to avoid a glut,so not to end up having some heading for the compost heaps.

More wind problems pay a visit.

Wind damaged Allium cepa [Onions] during the week.

Earlier in the week some more damage was done to the main garden and the vegetable garden especially.One of the trees had a large branch blown down [picture will be added] and some of the Allium cepa [Onions] in different areas were also payed a visit.I tied up some of them and hope for the best.Took a walk around the vegetable garden just before 7.30 this morning to check on all and the tunnel doors were opened.

Harvesting Peas.[Pisum sativum]

Home grown Peas [Pisum sativum] 2010.

When harvesting Peas,part of the Leguminosae family this should begin about a month after full flowering.The boost from Peas with regular picking is that this will encourage more pods to develop.I always remove pods from the base of the plant as they are ready for picking first.With the Pea plants when finished harvesting, they will have roots dug back into the soil, and also some to the compost heaps to help out in both places.

This evening time will now be spent working on the coldframe.The lids have been removed now and some final Tomato buckets will be added to join their companions the Onion tubs.

Washout is the word with the weather.

Allium rows doing well.

What a start to this morning.On with the raincoat and down to water the tunnel.If any person saw me with a sprinkler in my hand in the tunnel and it spilling outside, they would think i was rather strange.Every gardener in the World understands the use of water for all plants under cover etc so all is not lost.Spilling here this minute,but the sky will clear.Took a quick walk down the garden late last night on return home and a light shower payed a visit but that soon changed to heavy rain.Forget about that now it is summer and the sun will shine.

The onions tubs in the three rows [15 tubs] are doing well.Hopefully they will stay like that.Some shallots have been lifted and added the splender of summer to the table.