leedswolf
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Move to Jersey...
The "Grow Your Own" Thread
- Thread starter Hereford Wolf
- Start date
lemonjelly
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Update covering a period of a few weeks tbh, as not a lot happened, other than a ton of watering and desperate attempts to keep plants from dying!
I have, at various stages sown new lettuce seeds.
I planted out the leeks (finally, and too late, and suspect I lost some plants owing to my own procrastination!)
I put canes up the 2nd lot of cucumbers. There are fruits on both tubs of plants. The missus has become a big fan in the hot weather of putting slices of cucumber in water in the fridge and drinking it when cold.
I spent a lot of time cutting down 2 huge bushes. I dug out the roots of one, but didn’t bother with the 2nd lot. I will dig them out if things start growing again.
This gave me a space to plant out a load of rudbeckia and verbena plants that also have been sat in pots for far too long. Some other rudbeckia I planted out in another spot have really taken well though.
Someone also gave me some alium seeds which I threw into the soil when planting the other flowers. Hopefully it’ll create a nice area.
We have pumpkins appearing! One, is a fair size already, but still green. No idea when it’ll be ready to harvest or anything, or when it’ll change colour, but it’s always nice growing something new!
I have potted up the blackcurrant cuttings I took last autumn. I possibly should have thought about planting them out in the ground in summer, but now think I will keep them in pots until next spring and plant them out then.
The very first tomato is turning red.
I am wondering whether the growing season will end late this year? Spring and frosts were still evident in late April, and we have then had this really hot and dry year.
I have, at various stages sown new lettuce seeds.
I planted out the leeks (finally, and too late, and suspect I lost some plants owing to my own procrastination!)
I put canes up the 2nd lot of cucumbers. There are fruits on both tubs of plants. The missus has become a big fan in the hot weather of putting slices of cucumber in water in the fridge and drinking it when cold.
I spent a lot of time cutting down 2 huge bushes. I dug out the roots of one, but didn’t bother with the 2nd lot. I will dig them out if things start growing again.
This gave me a space to plant out a load of rudbeckia and verbena plants that also have been sat in pots for far too long. Some other rudbeckia I planted out in another spot have really taken well though.
Someone also gave me some alium seeds which I threw into the soil when planting the other flowers. Hopefully it’ll create a nice area.
We have pumpkins appearing! One, is a fair size already, but still green. No idea when it’ll be ready to harvest or anything, or when it’ll change colour, but it’s always nice growing something new!
I have potted up the blackcurrant cuttings I took last autumn. I possibly should have thought about planting them out in the ground in summer, but now think I will keep them in pots until next spring and plant them out then.
The very first tomato is turning red.
I am wondering whether the growing season will end late this year? Spring and frosts were still evident in late April, and we have then had this really hot and dry year.
Still very amateurish but sort of getting there….
Was all a bit frantic for a while but it’s easier now as growth is a lot slower. Have got all plants identified thanks to the identifier apps and now seem to have time to look at how to care for each one individually.
Have had a few successes and failures, a bit of good fortune and some not so. Really pleased with the roses which were pruned earlier as suggested despite reservations and they’ve got a second wind and are in full bloom once again. I’d trimmed the box hedge in May and the exposed leaves on the square edges all turned brown and ugly and I thought I’d completely buggered that one, but they are slowly recovering so will have to look into that to see what thats all about. Have probably been a bit of garden assassin and over-watered some plants and under-watered others, but the freakish summer might not have made things easy.
The lawn became scorched like straw with the soil itself cracking open and looking like a dried river bed with no grass at all in places. The rain over the last couple of days seems to be helping but it looks like lawncare knowledge is going to be another requirement going forward as in parts it looks too badly gone to fully recover by itself.
In summary though, loving the experience. Can’t quite believe the speed of change and just how short the chapters are. Kids are still on school summer holidays and already the big horse chestnut tree is shedding its browning leaves by the bucketload each day. I guess the autumn is just a matter of weeks away after all. That sort of exposure to nature and the heightened awareness and appreciation of the changing seasons has been the nicest thing of all.
Just about coming through the first year unscathed and the garden still looking pretty good. 5/10 for work, 8/10 for effort,
Was all a bit frantic for a while but it’s easier now as growth is a lot slower. Have got all plants identified thanks to the identifier apps and now seem to have time to look at how to care for each one individually.
Have had a few successes and failures, a bit of good fortune and some not so. Really pleased with the roses which were pruned earlier as suggested despite reservations and they’ve got a second wind and are in full bloom once again. I’d trimmed the box hedge in May and the exposed leaves on the square edges all turned brown and ugly and I thought I’d completely buggered that one, but they are slowly recovering so will have to look into that to see what thats all about. Have probably been a bit of garden assassin and over-watered some plants and under-watered others, but the freakish summer might not have made things easy.
The lawn became scorched like straw with the soil itself cracking open and looking like a dried river bed with no grass at all in places. The rain over the last couple of days seems to be helping but it looks like lawncare knowledge is going to be another requirement going forward as in parts it looks too badly gone to fully recover by itself.
In summary though, loving the experience. Can’t quite believe the speed of change and just how short the chapters are. Kids are still on school summer holidays and already the big horse chestnut tree is shedding its browning leaves by the bucketload each day. I guess the autumn is just a matter of weeks away after all. That sort of exposure to nature and the heightened awareness and appreciation of the changing seasons has been the nicest thing of all.
Just about coming through the first year unscathed and the garden still looking pretty good. 5/10 for work, 8/10 for effort,
lemonjelly
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90% of grass is below surface. Honestly I do nothing to my lawn except cutting it. I never water it, & it will always recover.
Like you almost everything I do is with my fingers crossed, & in worse case scenarios I learn something.
It's amazing how observant it makes you!
Worth thinking about collecting leaves to make leaf mould if you have trees! Plus if you leave the leaves, they kill off whatever is underneath them. Leaf mould is fantastic mulch!
Like you almost everything I do is with my fingers crossed, & in worse case scenarios I learn something.
It's amazing how observant it makes you!
Worth thinking about collecting leaves to make leaf mould if you have trees! Plus if you leave the leaves, they kill off whatever is underneath them. Leaf mould is fantastic mulch!
Funnily enough was literally sweeping leaves which has become a daily routine just a moment ago! (brown leaved/recovering box hedge in background):
Thanks for your comments on the lawn too. As the lawn got baked by the sun the soil started shrinking and breaking up. Through one hole that appeared I could see something that looked like a bit of an old slab. The soil receded to the point it needed investigating and some digging uncovered a whole series of old stepping stone slabs that I never even knew were there. Bloody hell, felt like something from the Time Team. Had no choice other than to expose them all as there was little-to-no useful soil left on top so will have to address that with a bit of turf or suchlike at some point.
Other bits that are in a sorry state:
I’m sure efforts will be rewarded eventually but it seems a bit one-way at the moment!
Seems the leaves are dropping early due to a ‘false autumn’:
UK drought: Why do the trees think it's autumn already?
Experts say the unusual weather has triggered a 'false autumn' as trees struggle to cope with drought.
www.bbc.co.uk
lemonjelly
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There has been some small activity in recent weeks.
I have potted up the bonsai trees I am trying growing from seed. They’re pines, and they look like they’re struggling a bit. I first it was the heat/dryness, but I suspect after potting up they’d got a bit waterlogged in the roots.
Have been observing the lettuce, and a lot of it seems to be struggling. Gets to about an inch to an inch and a half, then seems to die off. Very odd.
Harvested a load of spring onions (in saying that, the next lot is due to be harvested soon. Have sown new spring onion seeds to keep the supply going.)
Pruned excess branches from the tom plants and am eating them now. Fruits still appearing, and each day there are more red ones. Loving them!
Am trying to avoid monitoring the pumpkin every day. There’s at least 2, doing well.
Observed in late august that after a year of little happening, the fuscia plants have suddenly burst into flower. Very odd.
The agapanthus plants we have are glorious! When we moved in there was a single plant. We dug it up, moved it, it struggled, so we dug it up again and potted it, then split it, then split it again, so we now have 3 big pots with them in and the flowers are awesome.
The wisteria we planted out looks strong now. Hopefully the damage to the stem when we planted it out has healed.
One lot of clematis cuttings died off, so we planted out some others in the same place and have been watering them regularly. Hoping they’ll get to a decent size before winter. A new clematis plant bought in spring has suddenly developed new growth from the base, which has to be a good thing.
Our dahlias have started flowering. Again to me they seem really late compared to previous years.
We have possible flower buds on a camelia plant for the first time ever.
The recent rainfall has resulted in the sprouts, cauliflowers and leeks I planted out developing a bit. Fingers crossed they turn out ok.
All in all, it seems like a lot of growth on several plants halted, almost like a form of hibernation in all the heat we experienced. I am hoping thie growing season has a while to go, as the frosts were still happening in April, but despite the deniers, this looks to me like local evidence of changes within the climate.
I have potted up the bonsai trees I am trying growing from seed. They’re pines, and they look like they’re struggling a bit. I first it was the heat/dryness, but I suspect after potting up they’d got a bit waterlogged in the roots.
Have been observing the lettuce, and a lot of it seems to be struggling. Gets to about an inch to an inch and a half, then seems to die off. Very odd.
Harvested a load of spring onions (in saying that, the next lot is due to be harvested soon. Have sown new spring onion seeds to keep the supply going.)
Pruned excess branches from the tom plants and am eating them now. Fruits still appearing, and each day there are more red ones. Loving them!
Am trying to avoid monitoring the pumpkin every day. There’s at least 2, doing well.
Observed in late august that after a year of little happening, the fuscia plants have suddenly burst into flower. Very odd.
The agapanthus plants we have are glorious! When we moved in there was a single plant. We dug it up, moved it, it struggled, so we dug it up again and potted it, then split it, then split it again, so we now have 3 big pots with them in and the flowers are awesome.
The wisteria we planted out looks strong now. Hopefully the damage to the stem when we planted it out has healed.
One lot of clematis cuttings died off, so we planted out some others in the same place and have been watering them regularly. Hoping they’ll get to a decent size before winter. A new clematis plant bought in spring has suddenly developed new growth from the base, which has to be a good thing.
Our dahlias have started flowering. Again to me they seem really late compared to previous years.
We have possible flower buds on a camelia plant for the first time ever.
The recent rainfall has resulted in the sprouts, cauliflowers and leeks I planted out developing a bit. Fingers crossed they turn out ok.
All in all, it seems like a lot of growth on several plants halted, almost like a form of hibernation in all the heat we experienced. I am hoping thie growing season has a while to go, as the frosts were still happening in April, but despite the deniers, this looks to me like local evidence of changes within the climate.
lemonjelly
Housecoat, la
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Noticed that the leaves are starting to change colour on trees yesterday.
Couldn't decide whether that belonged on the happy or annoy thread, so settled on here.
Couldn't decide whether that belonged on the happy or annoy thread, so settled on here.
lemonjelly
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Covering the past 3 weeks I guess….
Harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers began. The tomatoes are lovely, and the first cucumbers had such flavour. Picking the tomatoes seems to be encouraging further growth and flowers, as well as new fruits which is mad!
I harvested another batch of spring onions, and planted more seeds to have some more in autumn, in the hope they will grow/appear. Hopefully there will be enough warmth, as the volume of daylight is reducing.
The sunflowers are done, and have been taken down this year. This was the worst year for sunflowers – every other year they have been magnificent, and huge. I guess the heat and lack of water has affected their growth.
After months without rain, we saw heavy downpours for a few days running. This has kick started the dahlias into flowering, after a summer of minimal activity.
Many of the marigolds I sowed are coming to an end, so I have been collecting marigold seeds for next years sowing/plants. My folks were very jealous of our marigolds when they visited.
I bought some perennial sweet pea seeds, and sowed 1 pack in autumn, as lots of people suggest sowing them in autumn to give them a head start. We will see if this is effective… scientifically I kept a separate pack (in case they autumn ones all die off in winter) to sow in spring.
Related to the above comment on the rain affecting the dahlias, I noticed the digitalis plant I planted out in spring suddenly has new growth and flower buds appearing since it rained. Again it appeared to struggle much of the year.
I also have noticed that (again since the rain) the lilies are trying to regrow, yet were dying off.
I painted a fence I repaired, and was out the other morning giving it a 5th coat (don’t ask!) and a nearby tree and bush were full of blue tits, and they weren’t frightened off by me being there. It was lovely pausing and watching them for a while.
I was going to split our Asian lilies, but only split one, and potted a few up into bigger pots instead, thinking I will split them next year instead.
I spotted 3 more pumpkins which have appeared and are growing.
Another odd event – where I moved the hostas to, one of the hostas is trying to flower now.
I ended up taking most of the cucumbers off the plants the weekend just gone, to encourage the plants to put all their efforts into the remaining fruits. Definitely a really good crop of these this year!
Have spent the past week harvesting apples. We have LOADS! Eating as many as possibly, but we are also stewing and freezing a lot of them. Crumble ahoy!
The tomatoes continue apace, but I am loving how, so far, we only have a few available at a time, and they are ripening gradually, so we’re not overwhelmed with tomatoes. That’ll happen next month I reckon!
I moved a load of Gladioli that were exposed by me taking down a fence. They’d finished flowering, and hopefully they will come good in their new spot next year.
Harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers began. The tomatoes are lovely, and the first cucumbers had such flavour. Picking the tomatoes seems to be encouraging further growth and flowers, as well as new fruits which is mad!
I harvested another batch of spring onions, and planted more seeds to have some more in autumn, in the hope they will grow/appear. Hopefully there will be enough warmth, as the volume of daylight is reducing.
The sunflowers are done, and have been taken down this year. This was the worst year for sunflowers – every other year they have been magnificent, and huge. I guess the heat and lack of water has affected their growth.
After months without rain, we saw heavy downpours for a few days running. This has kick started the dahlias into flowering, after a summer of minimal activity.
Many of the marigolds I sowed are coming to an end, so I have been collecting marigold seeds for next years sowing/plants. My folks were very jealous of our marigolds when they visited.
I bought some perennial sweet pea seeds, and sowed 1 pack in autumn, as lots of people suggest sowing them in autumn to give them a head start. We will see if this is effective… scientifically I kept a separate pack (in case they autumn ones all die off in winter) to sow in spring.
Related to the above comment on the rain affecting the dahlias, I noticed the digitalis plant I planted out in spring suddenly has new growth and flower buds appearing since it rained. Again it appeared to struggle much of the year.
I also have noticed that (again since the rain) the lilies are trying to regrow, yet were dying off.
I painted a fence I repaired, and was out the other morning giving it a 5th coat (don’t ask!) and a nearby tree and bush were full of blue tits, and they weren’t frightened off by me being there. It was lovely pausing and watching them for a while.
I was going to split our Asian lilies, but only split one, and potted a few up into bigger pots instead, thinking I will split them next year instead.
I spotted 3 more pumpkins which have appeared and are growing.
Another odd event – where I moved the hostas to, one of the hostas is trying to flower now.
I ended up taking most of the cucumbers off the plants the weekend just gone, to encourage the plants to put all their efforts into the remaining fruits. Definitely a really good crop of these this year!
Have spent the past week harvesting apples. We have LOADS! Eating as many as possibly, but we are also stewing and freezing a lot of them. Crumble ahoy!
The tomatoes continue apace, but I am loving how, so far, we only have a few available at a time, and they are ripening gradually, so we’re not overwhelmed with tomatoes. That’ll happen next month I reckon!
I moved a load of Gladioli that were exposed by me taking down a fence. They’d finished flowering, and hopefully they will come good in their new spot next year.
Newbridge Wolf
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That looks like a Cyclamen if I'm not mistaken
BillyDee
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It does! Cheers for that.
Wolf Hunting
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Recently acquired a banana plant, it's now doing ok and recovering from its sick state, has a new leaf growing out of the centre I measured it on Sunday as 9" long. It's now Thursday and its 12.5"!
Anyone know how long it should stay in it's pot?
Is it likely to offer up a bunch of bananas at all?
Anyone know how long it should stay in it's pot?
Is it likely to offer up a bunch of bananas at all?
lemonjelly
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Didn't think we had the climate to grow bananas?
Paddingtonwolf
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We don’t.
Wolf Hunting
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Well the damn thing is pushing this new leaf out at nearly an inch a day!
Whether it'll yield any fruit I don't know, it's not that important, more like novelty value, but its a lovely big leafy thing,
That's why I rescued it. It's about 4 foot tall and has 4 or 5 big fat leaves on it, Cost me a tenner.
Wolf Hunting
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Oddly, there are palm trees all over this neck of the woods.
I live on a road with 12 bungalows on it and 6 of them have big, mature palm trees in them, must be the remnants of the gulf stream washing up around here, but then I'm only about 400 yards from the beach.
I live on a road with 12 bungalows on it and 6 of them have big, mature palm trees in them, must be the remnants of the gulf stream washing up around here, but then I'm only about 400 yards from the beach.
lemonjelly
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Well the weather at least was lovely this weekend, so managed to do some tidying jobs.
Harvested the pumpkins! Still waiting for a couple to ripen/turn orange.
chopped down the tomato plants, plenty of them are green and on windowsills.
Spent more time than I'd like weeding the veg patch. Covered it with leaf mould to act as a mulch and suppress weed growth. There will still be loads of weeds sprouting when I come to plant next year!
Mowed the lawn etc - in the nick of time it seems!
Spending more time than I'd like to raking leaves. What annoys me about this is there are 2 tall trees at the end of our garden (though not in our garden). And one waits for the first to shed all it's leaves, before it starts shedding!
Harvested the pumpkins! Still waiting for a couple to ripen/turn orange.
chopped down the tomato plants, plenty of them are green and on windowsills.
Spent more time than I'd like weeding the veg patch. Covered it with leaf mould to act as a mulch and suppress weed growth. There will still be loads of weeds sprouting when I come to plant next year!
Mowed the lawn etc - in the nick of time it seems!
Spending more time than I'd like to raking leaves. What annoys me about this is there are 2 tall trees at the end of our garden (though not in our garden). And one waits for the first to shed all it's leaves, before it starts shedding!
Wolf Hunting
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Update on my Banana Plant. One leaf was going brown and the weather started to cool, so I brought it indoors into a bright corner, trimmed the brown leaf off as it was no longer able to photosynthesise, but that last new leaf has full extended and is now about 30" long and yet another new one is shooting up!
Of course the weather is warm at the moment and I don't want to shock the thing, so I'll leave it where it is for this winter...
Of course the weather is warm at the moment and I don't want to shock the thing, so I'll leave it where it is for this winter...
