July 16 2012, Garden no 13

Garden 2012 no 13

This is what my garden looks like from the street. I can’t imagine why my daughters tell me it’s a mess……….I quite like it looking a little wild. The only bad thing in the garden today was the ant infestation in the compost bin, but that was sorted and I think its going to be OK.

A quick update, I’m tired and heading for bed soon. I’ve been out digging and playing in the garden all day and its worn me out. I’m sure you remember me saying I was planning on digging up the wild area behind the pond once all the bluebells had finished.

(before the big dig)

Well, they finished a while ago, and today was warm, dry, sunny and an ideal gardening day, so off I went. It took me all day but I did it. I dug up a bucket full of bluebell bulbs which have all been replanted. I also dug up a whole heap of periwinkle which is trimmed, cleaned and sitting in the bag waiting for my daughter to collect. Digging up established periwinkle is no easy task, I’m so glad it was only a small area, not sure I would have managed any thing bigger. I’ll need to give it another dig over and then dig in some of the chicken pellet manure before I can plant there, but I feel it was a day well spent.

(After the big big)

More fruit was ready today. I’m getting enough strawberries to have a couple either on my cereal or with ice cream most days.
The white currant bush was heavy with fruit and I noticed some of the currents had already been eaten by the birds. I knew I had to get them  in today because, I know from experience,  once the birds start eating currents, they don’t stop until they are all gone. I think I’ve got enough to mix with some apple and make white jam.

Tags: garden 2012, plants, fruit, garden.

Prev: Art Sunday; Cake Art
Next: Rain, Rain, Rain, etc etc etc.................................

reply edit delete

13 Comments

Add a Comment

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 17 djdx said Your garden looks lovely. We put netting over the currants. We have the black ones; they will be ready soon. I think you are right, netting is the answer, I will have to make sure I have enough ready for next year. I spent the day in the garden again today and noticed some of the red currents looking bright red and ready to be picked. When I started picking I realised how many the birds had already eaten. Definitely need netting next year.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jul 17 I love a wild garden too. Yours has so much colour and I always enjoy seeing it.

delete reply djdx wrote on Jul 17 Your garden looks lovely. We put netting over the currants. We have the black ones; they will be ready soon.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jul 17 The garden looks great!! Nice crop of white currants. Love that heron sculpture.

delete reply esoterika713 wrote on Jul 16 I love a wild garden. Mine is quite wild too. :) I love currants. I have been adding more edible things. Last year I planted a Downy Service Berry. The birds love and I tried oen they were quite good. The berries are ready early which is nice. I also planted an Elder berry for the birds and us if we so wish. No berries on that. We also planted a Concord grape vine that almost had fruit but they fell off. This is the second season so I am a little disappointed. My sister bought hers this year and hers has lots of fruit. Concord grapes are ready to eat in September. I think they like her clay soil. I am happy with the blue berry bush I planted this year. We got lots of blue berries and they are still coming. I only hope it does as well next year.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 16 hedgewitch9 said You are amazing and your garden is gorgeous. Thanks Emma. :-))

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 16 nemo4sun said love the heron sculpture by the pond lol... another of my bargain buys. I saw them for sale for £8.00 in a discount store, usually they cost more than twice that much

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 16 aaranaardvark said I got 2.5lbs of blackcurrants off my one single bush yesterday. The bush has been loving this wet weather and has produced more than double last years crop so I'm pleased about that. Jam tomorrow.....to me that is going to be a reality. My black currents are not ready yet, I think we are a couple of weeks behind you. The white currents always fruit first, then the red currents and then the black currents and I think you are right about the rain. I've never had this many white currents from one bush before.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jul 16, edited on Jul 16 i think it looks a proper and enchanting garden ~ always have love the heron sculpture by the pond :)

delete reply hedgewitch9 wrote on Jul 16 You are amazing and your garden is gorgeous....if your daughter thinks it's wild she should see mine!!! Love seeing your pics and our updates inspire me :))

delete reply artprevails wrote on Jul 16 Your blog today is so gorgeous! And your garden is so inviting. I love the story about your hard work, ant infestation, etc. And yea, birds probably bring all of their extended family to have a go at those delicious currants too! I adore these photos. How wonderful to have fresh fruit that YOU grew yourself...

delete reply aaranaardvark wrote on Jul 16, edited on Jul 16 The garden is looking great, I don't know what your daughters mean either. I got 2.5lbs of blackcurrants off my one single bush yesterday. The bush has been loving this wet weather and has produced more than double last years crop so I'm pleased about that. Jam tomorrow.....to me that is going to be a reality. I bet your white currant and apple jam will be delicious Loretta, I've never had white currants, they look very appetising to me.

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Jul 16 wow, you have had quite a busy day! lots of accomplishments, i know you will enjoy a well-deserved rest tonight. tasty strawberries and currants....it is much too hot to grow currants here. happy jammin'. ♥

July 13 2012, Garden no 12

Garden 2012 no 12

Yesterday I said I intended to spend the day in the garden. It didn’t quite work out that way. The weather wasn’t good and I still had a bit of clearing away to do after the decorating.
When I did eventually get out there, every thing looked so overgrown I didn’t know quite where to start, and so instead of getting stuck in weeding, digging, tidying etc………..I decided it was time to have a bit of a harvest.
I’ve emptied out all three potato barrels, harvested the potatoes, mixed the compost with chicken manure pellets and then refilled the potato barrels ready for the next seed potatoes. I now have three trays of new potatoes drying out on my windowsill over night ready to be packed in paper bags and stored.
I harvested as many broad beans as I could see, what I didn’t eat tonight are packed away in the freezer. I also took some salad and spinach for use over the next day or so.
There is still one rhubarb pie left in the fridge made from the rhubarb I harvested last week. Todays rhubarb was cleaned, cut and packed away in the freezer.
And this is what I will be harvesting tomorrow, white currants………delicious and it looks as if I have a bit of a bumper crop this year.
A Question;
Does any one know if I can use some of the very tiny potatoes that I dug up today as seed potatoes for next time??

Tags: garden 2012, plants, fruit, vegetables

Prev: Decorating; Another room finished
Next: A birthday, grandchildren staying and some music.

reply edit delete

14 Comments

Add a Comment

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Jul 14 forgetmenot525 said they look like grapes don't they? but they are white currants, just like blackcurrants but sweeter and white, they tend to fruit a bit earlier than the blackcurrants. i know you will enjoy all the tasty goodness! ; )

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 14 Just to let you know .................I made a tasty potato salad for the family this evening. I used the home grown potatoes, cooked with mint fresh from the garden and mixed with plenty of fresh chives. I had to use shop bought mayonnaise but I'm seriously thinking of making my own next time.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 14 brendainmad said I knew Frank would come up with the answer to your question. I always have potatoes with eyes and usually lots of them! yep I knew he would know................the potato barrels are all sorted ready for the next seed potaotes but it will have to wait now till I get the chance to go to the garden center.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 14 greenwytch said what an impressive crop...! WOW i need to try the potatos, too! your garden blogs always inspire me.....gosh that Rhubarb looks awesome, and so do the grapes! they look like grapes don't they? but they are white currants, just like blackcurrants but sweeter and white, they tend to fruit a bit earlier than the blackcurrants.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jul 14 I knew Frank would come up with the answer to your question. I always have potatoes with eyes and usually lots of them!

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Jul 14 what an impressive crop...! WOW i need to try the potatos, too! your garden blogs always inspire me.....gosh that Rhubarb looks awesome, and so do the grapes!

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jul 14 That's an excellent crop you have there, Loretta!! It gives a real sense of satisfaction to producing your own vegetable crop. It's something I've done in the past, although where I live now it isn't possible.

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Jul 13, edited on Jul 13 Quite a nice haul, err harvest. Also a nice variety of vegetables. I would recomend certified seed potatoes for a second planting, rather than waiting for the new pototes to be ready. Seed potatoes are disease free, and have been selected to give you the best results with the highest yields. They are ready to plant and will give faster results since they already have their "eyes". Each seed potato part should be approximately 1 1/2-2 inches square, and must contain at least 1 or 2 "eyes" or buds. The smaller potatoes may be planted whole. Your new potatoes will take awhile to develop eyes or buds. If I remember correctly it takes 2-4 months from planting to harvest, depending on the variety.

delete reply kathyinozarks wrote on Jul 13 what a fabulous harvest of veggies Loretta, I think the potatoes have to have an eye on them to grow as seed potatoes

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 13 sanssouciblogs said You are amazing!!! And it is so early in the season. i am so proud of you. I have some tomatoes going and they have a long way...but we did get a lovely green pepper. :) Bumper crop! Hi Sue :-)...........and thanks, I think out seasons may be a bit different, these are early potatoes I hope to plant some more now for later in the year. This is the first time I've grown beans and the Rhubarb grows like a weed. Once Rhubarb gets started you can take from it all season.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 13 artprevails said GORGEOUS post! How lovely to have such healthy food growing right outside your door! I would love to grow potatoes on my patio. I have book on Container Gardening from the library. It is inspiring me to grow food in containers... thanks :-)..............I like growing food but any one who thinks its cheaper to grow their own is mistaken, but its worth it, food you grow yourself always tastes better. I love growing radishes ( not shown here) Radishes were the only vegetable that I didn't like until I grew my own, and now I love eating them fresh from the garden and they are really easy to grow.

delete reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 13 You are amazing!!! And it is so early in the season. i am so proud of you. I have some tomatoes going and they have a long way...but we did get a lovely green pepper. :) Bumper crop!

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jul 13 good haul :)

delete reply artprevails wrote on Jul 13 GORGEOUS post! How lovely to have such healthy food growing right outside your door! I would love to grow potatoes on my patio. I have book on Container Gardening from the library. It is inspiring me to grow food in containers...