I spent the weekend with a nagging feeling in the back of my mind…. ‘I need to sort out this crop rotation cover crop thing. Once it is done, I’ll never have to think of it again.’ But there were other exciting things to occupy my time, so I pushed the reoccurring thought away. But with the start of a new week and a decidedly … Continue reading Cycle one
I’ve cut it fine, but it is still technically October and I have just planted my tomatoes in the garden. This is so much more than the usual tomato planting session that happens every spring. This one is special and holds such significance for me. Last season I had to walk away from my lovingly nurtured tomato plants before the fruit had even thought about … Continue reading There ARE tomatoes in October!
It has been a massive weekend. The long Labour Weekend did not disappoint. The weather was fabulous, and the family were well aware that this weekend is the pinnacle of the gardening calendar and gardening is what is done, for the entire weekend. And they daren’t argue with me because they know well enough I’ll pull the “It’s my birthday” card and they have to … Continue reading Happy tired
This weekend is a weekend like no other – it is the weekend deemed safe for plants to be planted out without fear of frost. Having said that, it is date based on averages and so there have still been killing frosts recorded beyond that, well into November. Having said that I didn’t get a single frost in my new environment all winter, so I’m … Continue reading Will there be tomatoes in the garden this October?
This is a strange time of year in many ways. Ordinarily we aren’t here at all, but off beside the sea somewhere soaking in the summer sun and doing some well deserved relaxing after a hard year of hard yakka. Sometimes we’re in a tent – although not often. I’ve long since decided sleeping on uneven ground under a thin piece of fabric that is … Continue reading The in Between
Things are going on in the garden – well not in it exactly, as I’m still waiting for the soil to be dry enough to work. The sun came out today briefly, and there is no longer surface water above the tips of the grass on the lawn. But the ground still feels squidgy underfoot and the soil in the beds is still tacky and … Continue reading Filling in the gaps
There is something special about tomatoes. They complete a garden and epitomise summer. I’m not sure if it is the fragrance the plants emit from the moment they emerge from the seed raising mix and I love to run my hand over the small army of tiny seedlings in order to get a burst of this scent of summer in the early days of spring. … Continue reading Planning the Garden – Tomatoes
It is with great reluctance that I have to announce the season is officially over. You see a summer garden without tomatoes isn’t a summer garden at all. I thought long and hard about it, but kept coming to the same conclusion – it is better to put the plants out of their misery than drag the sorry looking plants through a few more weeks, … Continue reading Going, Going, Gone
Finally, the weather blessed us with a fabulous weekend. It was hot, blue sky amazing and perfect for time in the garden. You could almost see the plants breathing a sigh of relief as they stretched out their leaves to receive the full impact of the sun. And of course, I was out there revelling in it too, with a thick layer of sunscreen and … Continue reading Control at last
I’d love to say all is hunky dory down in my garden however – that would be a delusion. It is one thing to have a wonderful garden that is bursting into life and on the verge of delivering some goodness to our plates and larder, but to have a period of holiday smack bang in the middle is so conflicting. Don’t get me … Continue reading The festive season is encroaching on my garden!
