2022 - What I did today

Why don't you get a couple of chooks of your own. They love blackberries and turn them into eggs using chicken magic.

I've tried.....and failed. P 's excuse is always rats. The chook we've looked after is free range and needs to be let out of the coop early morning, I don't do early mornings, although I am sure there are ways round that, I don't think I'm starting having chickens now. I'm happy with a borrowed chook. I got three eggs too.

Went round Torosay gardens today.

   

   

   

   

I went with the fella to the hospital for a scan today, then we went shopping and I came across a pair of beautiful dahlias that just had to come home with us. I bought a couple of tall pots for them too.

I got home and figured they'd look really nice either side of the front door. Only one problem with that - there is a massive log raised bed on the left side, mostly rotten, with only a few succulents in it. Well... it had to go! I pulled it apart and agreed with the neighbour that the pea shingle in the planter could go across his drive, as his shingle is uneven. I lugged it across and filled the car up with all the waste, and took the useable logs to the back garden, cleaned up and put the flowers in place. Lovely job

I've managed very little in the garden since Covid II. Even though I haven't been as unwell as last time, I'm still pretty shattered. I had a walk up and down the garden yesterday. Basically anything that is okay with neglect is doing fine, particularly my squash patch which is looking very impressive. However, only the Blue Hubbards have good size squash (two big ones and at least one more decent size one). I have one Rouge Vif D'Etampe pumpkin that looks okay, but the Galeaux D'Eysines and plants from the random seed from a Lidl squash don't seem to have produced any fruit yet. Unless they taste horrible or store terribly, I will definitely grow the Blue Hubbards again,but I'm not sure about the others. My Uchiki kuri seeds never germinated, but I would like to give them another go next year.

I've been out and done some much needed weeding this evening. It was a bit warm for me during the late afternoon, and I slept from half one until four after a trip to the supermarket this morning.

Water GH and poly, pulled up peas, fed courgettes. Tied up some aubergines and capsicums and did some maintenance on the tomatoes. Some are hitting the roof despite the voles burrowing underneath and having an infestation of spider mites. I think the yield will be much reduced this year.

Yesterday we took down the pea frame and netting composting the vines then weeded the bed.

Beyond watering I don't feel as though I've gardened properly for weeks - too hot and the ground is like concrete.
Today I thought I'd just fill in the gaps in the leek patch with some spares and ended up planting another 35! That's a lot of gaps. Planted out some chard, celery & fennel and gave them the parasol for the day
Tidied up the tomatoes - still blight free and cropping pretty well, considering.

Watered, pruned and tied-in various GH plants. Don't get excited but there may be a fruit on one of the Carosello.
The Wautoma cucumbers (Real Seeds) are trying to take over GH2. They're up to the roof (gable end) and I have to keep pulling them down to attach to the wires . There are a few cucumbers - not sure what size to pick them - and lots of flowers.
Very hot everywhere - too hot to do anything strenuous - don't think I ever do that, whatever the temperature!
Picked more Bijou pea pods to seed saving. I'll soon be taking down the vines and replanting with more Bijou that are waiting in the wings.

Topped up my weed tea bucket. Adding more weeds & water.