At last

It's been a long wait for the strawberry patch to get going - three years I think. This is our second picking so we're actually eating bowlfuls this year. Strawberrytastic.

Paint job

I forgot to take the before picture here. You'll have to take my word for it that this used to be a rather sad-looking faded green pot. Some nice, bright satin paint is going to complement the alpine strawberries (from my mum) a treat. This is an anti snail/insect/other creature attempt to actually get some un-nibbled strawberries: I'll be moving the pot to the deck.

Broadies are up

My spring-sown broad beans are now showing. Trouble is, the supporting sticks that are holding the string are also sprouting.

Strawberries

Strawberries. Hmmm. I like the idea (and the consumption bit) but never get to them quick enough. I don't know if its snails, birds or something larger. Rather than dig up the bed that is well-established and should probably be moved, I've opted for taking off runners to pot up on the patio. These can be moved to the deck, out of harm's way when they are about to fruit. That's my plan. Will keep you posted.

Broad beans - second sowing

I was glad when I read that Carol Klein's autumn-sown broadies had been washed away as well. I've sown a second lot, so fingers crossed.

Central zone

This is my central bed in the veg plot. Bulbs have been planted and there's a small bay in the middle (looks a bit poorly - I rescued it from a pot of mixed herbs where it wasn't happy). I'm going to sow some annuals here in summer for a bit of a formal show piece. It won't be that grand though. I'll call it my informal formal bit. Chris will be confused.

Big foot

Oh how dainty am I?

Best broadies

Broad beans - the best and easiest things to grow. You can totally ignore them after sowing; they may collapse and not look very neat but they still produce. No appeal for slugs either which makes them more appealing for me. I've sown two triangle's worth in my new veg plot. Seeing new growth now is the best thing to get through the barren winter ahead. The netting is cat-proofing, by the way.

Fruity

I've finally decided what to plant along the fence by the new improved veg plot. Autumn fruiting raspberries, Autumn Bliss. I already have some of these and this year they have been tasty stuff. I've also planted some Guilder Rose whips at the far end. I'm big keen on these, see how they look in spring.

Veg explosion

This was how my very neglected veg beds looked in July. Everything had gone to seed, the borage had self-seeded everywhere and the paths were overgrown and very weedy. The area just wasn't working so needed some rethinking.
I started by lifting the gravel paths and clearing the area. I decided to keep the pretty variegated sage, the golden oregano and the parsley (which was grown from seed and has been one of the few things that have been great this year),
After lots of mulling, I came up with a design and started to lay it out with canes.
And this is how things look now, not quite finished. I ditched the golden oregano in the end - spreads too much and I never use it in cooking. Felt a bit ruthless. I recycled the tiles from our shed (now dry with a nice-looking green roof) to create the beds (the sticks are cat-proofing), put membrane down over the new paths and used the old gravel to start covering them (need a bit more). I'm pleased so far and looking forward to planting.

I'm planning to sow some autumn broad beans and then have spring bulbs in the circular bed followed by annual flowers in the summer. I've up-ended some tiles against the fence to stop the grass invading (a constant battle) but am planning a small hedge all along this area. It might be a living willow screen or guilder roses. I haven't quite decided yet - my next autumn project.

Gooseberries

This is the third attempt at locating these two gooseberry bushes. They were an impulse buy from my local Co-op. Every time I move them my mum says, 'You know gooseberries don't like to be moved'. They survived the last move so fingers crossed. If they survive, I promise I won't move them again.

Frosty morn

We've already had a few frosty mornings but today's is the first that I've been able to take any shots of (well I had to go out and check the broad beans were okay - they are). This is golden oregano.

Autumn broadies

I think I sowed these broad beans in October (seed packet missing) and didn't really expect them to be showing so soon but I think it's okay. I'm not planning on covering them with fleece although my local garden centre said I could throw some newspaper over them if we have a hard frost. I'm not sure I'll remember this. So great to see new growth at this time of year.

Rosemary hedging

Oh how chuffed am I with my dwarf rosemary hedge. I grew all of these from heal cuttings and now they have just begun to join up looking like a proper tasty hedge.

Little sprout

I only put some onion sets in a couple of weeks ago and already they are sprouting. The birds successfully rearranged them for me about a day after I'd put them in neat rows (one red, one brown - I'm trying to make things look more interesting). I've covered the whole area in heavy duty netting - bit too heavy, tends to collapse after a bit of rain. Anyway, the onions are back in neat rows and looking good for it.

Full of holes

The Pak Choi I grew from seed (Joi Choi) are doing pretty well (see them a month ago) but there isn't one leaf without a few holes. My fault - been a bit lazy on the slug patrol. Might have to start a new offensive tonight...

Autumn harvest

We are picking tomatoes every day now (and keeping an eye on the forecast for the first frosts, hopefully not anytime soon). I've lost a couple of plants to blight but it's not spread. My beetroot just didn't come up this year, despite a few separate sowings. All I had were about four or five beets, very poor compared to last year. I bought some smaller seedlings which I planted a few weeks ago but I'm not sure if it's all too late for them now (weatherwise). There's plenty of lettuce; been great this year. The ones I sowed directly into the veg beds failed (eaten) but I sowed into pots (Mr Fothergill's organic salad bowl red and green), harvested small leaves and when the plants got bigger moved them into a bed. Turned into whoppers and keep producing leaves - I just take what we need, it's great.

Autumn in the veg plot

My mum helped me plant out the Pak Choi (Joi Choi) and Spring Greens (Mastergreen) that I have grown from seed. They all look a bit limp at the moment but I'm hoping a few days acclimatisation will see them beef up and stand upright. I also sowed some more spinach - my first sowing got half eaten. Slug duty is back as a priority.

Brilliant sweetcorn

My sweetcorn have suddenly taken to the skies with the recent spot of sun we've had. They looked rather stunted before but had survived the rain and wind really well. I grew about eight from seed and since they went out, I really haven't done a thing to them: no staking, weeding or feeding (I'm really bad at feeding). Tough old things.

Eaten again

These were healthy-looking mange tout (Norli). Healthy until they got eaten by those slimey things. Been a bad year for beans and peas on the veg plot (although the broad beans were brill - will do more for next year).