figrat

Fork Handles

Wood burning stove is lit and PennyDog snoring gently away in front of it. Waiting for the storm to make its way up from Pottiepam's. Not really my idea of a June evening.

What's the weather like in your area?

Some squalls here, sky looking ominous, tempest forecast for later on. But at least it will be coming from the SE, not NW like last week's, so maybe the foxgloves etc will be be blown upright...
A friend turned up who's been in southern France for the last month. He was enchanted by the green chaos...and I must admit, it does look like the Secret Garden at the moment. He took some pics which I'll post later. Good news is that I should be picking broad beans and courgettes soon...

Fork Handles

First year I've grown ordinary peas and now see they're going to grow way higher than the mesh support I put in for them. Tried to tie up huge branch of blush Noisette Rose which got blown down in that storm last week. Sort of bodged it, but think will have to call on Bloke for a bit of help. Saw the Chieftains in the Albert Hall on Friday, we had a box bang opposite the stage. I hoofed all the chairs out so we could dance. Great fun.

When do you buy your seeds?

At the moment they're stored under categories - flowers, veg, salads,herbs etc. But I find I have to rummage through them all to get what I want, and usually miss some in the process. So I'm going to reorganise the boxes into months - probably! Sarah Raven has a lovely seed box which has monthly dividers, but I thought I'd save a couple of bob and reorganise the Tupperware. Regarding my previous post I'm currently harvesting salad leaves grown from a packet of seed that should have been used by 2004....

Solar Wind-up Radio

Mine went phut last year, after about 5 years. I kept it in the gh which probably wasn't a good idea. I should really replace it, and have been eyeing up the expensive DAB ones. Mind you, it's my birthday soon...

When do you buy your seeds?

As above, there are loads of good and economical sources of seed. I'd also like to add that how you store them can vastly improve how long they remain viable. I keep mine in airtight plastic containers in the fridge with those little packets of silica gel that seem to come with a lot of things these days. I also reseal the packets as tightly as I can with paperclips after I've sown what I need. At the very least, I'd advise you to keep seed in a cool, dark dry place. I do need to reorganise my collection though, so they are in some sort of calendar sequence.

June in Your Garden!

Been away for 4 days, have come back to green chaos here. Peony has finally started to flower, along with Albertine rose and honeysuckle. Some glorious foxgloves gpt hammered flat in the storm just before I left, others have survived. If it's not raining tomorrow, will try and get out do do some maintenance and repair. Lovely inspiring garden photos - love Salino's rose/clematis combo.

Fork Handles

He's made it to Devon...

What is horticultural grit?

Or even better, post above in Swedish...

What is horticultural grit?

You could repost...'Calling Swedboy'!

Bay tree root eradication

Best way to do it! 

Plan bee

One of the more uplifting news stories... 

Overwintered runner bans

Left the roots in after clearing last year's crop, they've survived the winter and putting up new growth. 

Red rhubarb leaves

I've got a bad feeling about this... 

What can I use as green manure?

Landcress just about to go to seed