lemonjelly
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I have 2 water butts. I've had to raid half the pond too.
The "Grow Your Own" Thread
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Dennisons Wrong Foot
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I have rain barrels holding almost 3,000 litres when full. Different climate in south texas obviously, but they will be completely empty if it does not rain in the next 2 weeks.
Wolf Hunting
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Can you/ are you allowed to top them up from a hosepipe or domestic supply?
Dennisons Wrong Foot
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I can top them up, but why? I could just use the hosepipe to water everything directly instead. In fact that's what I did today.
There are restrictions here on using irrigation systems - only allowed on your designated day and at certain hours. Hand watering is allowed 24/7.
Wolf Hunting
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Do you do all of that other stuff?
My neighbour (4 doors down) has a massive tank in his garden that all the rainwater from his roof (both sides) goes into and this water (grey?) is used to flush all his toilets and washing machine. He has a big tank at the side that he uses for watering his plants and garden.
Dennisons Wrong Foot
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No. Since retirement (18 months ago) I have tried to remove all grass from our garden (front and back) and replace with xeriscape shrubs that will not only look better but also attract birds/bees/butterflies.
We have been in a drought for 6 years and there are concerns about the long term water supply for much of South-West USA. I decided to increase the number and size of rain barrels around our house - 4 × 50 gallon and 2× ibc totes. But summers here are so hot, and rain so infrequent, that the garden will inevitably use all the rain I collect.
Feasibly I could go further and have a large cistern but I would be venturing too far out of my comfort zone and permits would be required.
My goal was to water all the plants with a watering can, but back pain means I may have to install drip feeds to water more effectively and consistently.
We have been in a drought for 6 years and there are concerns about the long term water supply for much of South-West USA. I decided to increase the number and size of rain barrels around our house - 4 × 50 gallon and 2× ibc totes. But summers here are so hot, and rain so infrequent, that the garden will inevitably use all the rain I collect.
Feasibly I could go further and have a large cistern but I would be venturing too far out of my comfort zone and permits would be required.
My goal was to water all the plants with a watering can, but back pain means I may have to install drip feeds to water more effectively and consistently.
lemonjelly
Housecoat, la
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Mid July – potted on dianthus plants that are the only flower seeds that have done ok this year. That’s good tho, as they’re perennials.
I also potted on the cucumbers finally. After months of showing virtually no growth, all of a sudden there has been growth, flowers, and the first fruits on the plants. Hopefully there will be a late harvest?
I am about to harvest some spring onions that have grown fantastically well this year!
The tomatoes are finally flowering, so feeding them weekly now, with fingers crossed, as very little beats the taste of a home grown tomato.
The one solitary pepper plant has flowers too.
On the last weekend of July, after nothing happening all year, a load of gladioli have popped up out of nowhere! I wonder if they will flower? A lot of stuff is happening late in the garden this year, as the weather has been so unusual.
I noticed one neighbours tree is really struggling – it has lost all its leaves. One of ours (peris japonica?) seems to have a lot less leaves on it too. I suspect it is trying to cope with the lack of rainfall. Started watering it, as we really like it.
Cut down a load of the raspberry canes as they’ve done fruiting for this year.
August has seen the first tomatoes ripen and be eaten.
The solitary pepper plant has fruits on it that are possibly the best fruits I’ve ever managed. There are additional flowers and I am hopeful of a sufficient crop to last a few weeks.
The cucumbers are needing a lot of water, but the fruits on this are appearing, and when they do seem to grow quite quickly.
I spent august getting a bit mucky – there was a pond plant in the pond when we moved in, and we did nothing to it for 11 years. It got out of hand, taking over 50% of the pond, and there were trees growing out of the plant. So I bought a pair of waders (on sale in lidl for £20 – bargain!) and got in there only to find that the pond wasn’t as deep as feared (mainly cos it is so empty – it is probably 2 feet lower than it should be owing to how dry it has been!) and spent several days first plucking parts of the plant out, then taking a saw to the roots to get them out. There’s just one last (big lump) to get out.
We need rain, and lots of it. I’d be exceptionally happy with 5-6 days of continuous rain to be honest.
We had neglected to do much in the garden this year, as until July we were so focussed on internal decorating. We have engaged in moving a lot off stuff off the patio area to elsewhere, because we recently had the front of the house painted, and we’re hoping that we can get the back done too.
Last week of august/1st week of September – we have rain!
The cucumbers are being harvested and are lovely.
The basil is being eaten before the plants flower.
The tomatoes are finally turning red, and are their usual delight.
The pepper plant stem broke owing to the weight of peppers on it – I should have staked it earlier! My own fault. Harvested 4 decent peppers off it, however had I acted sooner, there were other fruits on it as well as flowers (though the change in temp may have meant we got nothing else from it).
Have managed to get the majority of the overgrown plant out of the pond. Last its still to do, partially as I need some help to do it.
I also potted on the cucumbers finally. After months of showing virtually no growth, all of a sudden there has been growth, flowers, and the first fruits on the plants. Hopefully there will be a late harvest?
I am about to harvest some spring onions that have grown fantastically well this year!
The tomatoes are finally flowering, so feeding them weekly now, with fingers crossed, as very little beats the taste of a home grown tomato.
The one solitary pepper plant has flowers too.
On the last weekend of July, after nothing happening all year, a load of gladioli have popped up out of nowhere! I wonder if they will flower? A lot of stuff is happening late in the garden this year, as the weather has been so unusual.
I noticed one neighbours tree is really struggling – it has lost all its leaves. One of ours (peris japonica?) seems to have a lot less leaves on it too. I suspect it is trying to cope with the lack of rainfall. Started watering it, as we really like it.
Cut down a load of the raspberry canes as they’ve done fruiting for this year.
August has seen the first tomatoes ripen and be eaten.
The solitary pepper plant has fruits on it that are possibly the best fruits I’ve ever managed. There are additional flowers and I am hopeful of a sufficient crop to last a few weeks.
The cucumbers are needing a lot of water, but the fruits on this are appearing, and when they do seem to grow quite quickly.
I spent august getting a bit mucky – there was a pond plant in the pond when we moved in, and we did nothing to it for 11 years. It got out of hand, taking over 50% of the pond, and there were trees growing out of the plant. So I bought a pair of waders (on sale in lidl for £20 – bargain!) and got in there only to find that the pond wasn’t as deep as feared (mainly cos it is so empty – it is probably 2 feet lower than it should be owing to how dry it has been!) and spent several days first plucking parts of the plant out, then taking a saw to the roots to get them out. There’s just one last (big lump) to get out.
We need rain, and lots of it. I’d be exceptionally happy with 5-6 days of continuous rain to be honest.
We had neglected to do much in the garden this year, as until July we were so focussed on internal decorating. We have engaged in moving a lot off stuff off the patio area to elsewhere, because we recently had the front of the house painted, and we’re hoping that we can get the back done too.
Last week of august/1st week of September – we have rain!
The cucumbers are being harvested and are lovely.
The basil is being eaten before the plants flower.
The tomatoes are finally turning red, and are their usual delight.
The pepper plant stem broke owing to the weight of peppers on it – I should have staked it earlier! My own fault. Harvested 4 decent peppers off it, however had I acted sooner, there were other fruits on it as well as flowers (though the change in temp may have meant we got nothing else from it).
Have managed to get the majority of the overgrown plant out of the pond. Last its still to do, partially as I need some help to do it.
Wolf Hunting
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Ok, here's what I've got.
My back garden is about 30 feet from the house to the wall, but it's about 80 feet wide!
So from the house far right is the shed then a massive fuschia that absolutely thick with red and pink flowers because that exactly where the chickens used to roam. then moving left is a clear area where the trampoline used to be, and now there's a new big swing with gravel, then, it's a bit of a mess. What's left of a Rosemary bush, a small budlea A decent bay leaf bush, a problematic Hawthorn tree and a far too healthy bamboo. Then there's my big 14 foot workshop and in front of it either side of the door is a big Fuschia with gorgeous (at long last) white and purple flowers then last is a big beautiful Orange Orchid.
The hawthorn is coming out. It's a shame because we've grown it from a little thing but its constantly diseased, apparently from the fallen leaves off the bamboo. It's completely covered in brown spots, the branches are very thinly covered and we've treated it and tried to keep on top of the fallen bamboo leaves, and we've even pruned it back, but to no avail. It's shouldn't have been put so close to the bamboo.
So my question is, once the two Fuschias in front of my workshop have stopped flowering when should I dig them up and put them to the left of the swing, ie, where the Budlea and Bay bushes are. It'll balance up nicely with the massive red one on the right.
What's the best month to do that move?
My back garden is about 30 feet from the house to the wall, but it's about 80 feet wide!
So from the house far right is the shed then a massive fuschia that absolutely thick with red and pink flowers because that exactly where the chickens used to roam. then moving left is a clear area where the trampoline used to be, and now there's a new big swing with gravel, then, it's a bit of a mess. What's left of a Rosemary bush, a small budlea A decent bay leaf bush, a problematic Hawthorn tree and a far too healthy bamboo. Then there's my big 14 foot workshop and in front of it either side of the door is a big Fuschia with gorgeous (at long last) white and purple flowers then last is a big beautiful Orange Orchid.
The hawthorn is coming out. It's a shame because we've grown it from a little thing but its constantly diseased, apparently from the fallen leaves off the bamboo. It's completely covered in brown spots, the branches are very thinly covered and we've treated it and tried to keep on top of the fallen bamboo leaves, and we've even pruned it back, but to no avail. It's shouldn't have been put so close to the bamboo.
So my question is, once the two Fuschias in front of my workshop have stopped flowering when should I dig them up and put them to the left of the swing, ie, where the Budlea and Bay bushes are. It'll balance up nicely with the massive red one on the right.
What's the best month to do that move?
lemonjelly
Housecoat, la
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Spring would be your best bet.
