The Garden
-
When’s the most exciting time in the garden?
Just like I constantly change my mind on which is my favourite flower in the garden. Depending on which ones are flowering at that moment! Deciding when the most exciting time in the garden is, changes continuously throughout the year! Tomatoes. Is the best sowing, planting, nurturing or eating? Take right now, as I start to sow my tomato seeds. This feels like the most exciting job. Especially having done very little gardening since the autumn. I simply can’t wait for the gardening year to begin! Tapping out those tiny little seeds into your hand, and placing them carefully on the compost. It’s a lovely job that I can’t wait…
-
Snowdrops
The exact number of Snowdrop species is a disputed fact, but the general number seems to be around the 20 mark. As for different cultivars in each species, there are simply hundreds. So there’s definitely one out there for you. The correct scientific name for snowdrops is Galanthus, although you don’t often hear it. The common name really has taken over. Whatever they are called, I absolutely love them. I don’t know if it’s because they are white, as I’ve always had a soft spot for white flowers. Or it could be that they are the first flower of the year, very welcome! Mine are now finally out! Most of…
-
The Annual Holly Hedge Trim
We shouldn’t complain about this prickly annual job really, as the largest circumference of the garden is walled. But cutting the 80ft long 8ft high holly hedge isn’t our favourite gardening job! It’s supposed to be cut in November. But these days the weather just isn’t cold enough, to cause the perennials planted under the hedge to die back. Meaning we only have a small window of opportunity, between the perennials dying and the bulbs coming up. This now seems to be December most years, but this winter has been particularly mild. Even Harry, our resident hedgehog was confused, and was still bobbing around at the end of December. Obviously…
-
Snow in the Garden. Love it or loathe it?
I don’t think there’s a half-way house when it comes to snow in the garden. You either love it, or you loathe it. I’m definitely in the love camp! It brings out my inner child – but honestly, that’s never far away! It’s especially magical when you wake up to it. You know it’s snowed the second you wake up, as the bedroom’s so much brighter, and there’s that strange eerie silence. I’m transported back in time to Christmas morning. I’m five years old, and just discovered that Father Christmas has been! I jump out of bed (not my normal style), and whip up the blind! Next I root out…
-
Growing Potatoes
If you fancy growing potatoes, especially earlies. Then January is the month to buy your seed potatoes, and get them chitting. This involves putting them in a light, cool place to start them chitting – which is basically sprouting. The best container for this job is an egg box. It holds the potatoes in an upright position, and won’t sweat. Look at each potato and decide which side has the most ‘eyes’ on it, put this side facing upwards. Put them into your coolest room, where they will get plenty of light, but not direct sunlight. You’ll see the little chits start to develop. They are ready to be planted…
-
Making Compost
Before we moved here eight years ago. We hadn’t got space for a large composting area so we bought a worm hotel. They were all the rage at the time, and we actually got on very well with it. It was remarkable how quickly the worms broke down the material. There was also an added benefit of liquid fertiliser that you drained off, it was fabulously potent stuff! We brought the worm hotel with us when we moved, and set it up straight away. We throw almost no food away, but we do like to compost all of our vegetable peelings. It served this purpose well for the first three…
-
Gardening highlights of 2021
Firstly let me start by wishing you all a very happy new year. Yet again we find ourselves, not sorry to see the back of last year. Which is quite sad as life goes by so quickly, we really should be enjoying every minute! Luckily, with a love of gardening, it is easy to forget the world’s troubles. At least temporarily when you’re absorbed with the tasks in hand. Sowing, potting on, planting out and then tending to those precious plants. Not to mention all of that thinking time. Sitting looking at the borders & pots, planning what to do next. I’ve said it a million times before, but gardening…
-
Crop Rotation
The main purpose for crop rotation is to prevent pests and diseases from building up to the point where they cause problems. Different crops are susceptible to different pests and diseases, so by moving them around the pests and disease specific for each group die off. The added benefit is that some vegetables actually deposit nutrients into the soil, to benefit the next group to be planted there. The best example of this is the Legume family (Peas & Beans), their roots deposit nitrogen into the soil. Some family groups grow harmoniously with others, known as companion planting. This has been shown to prevent some pests and also improve the…
-
Late Autumn in the Garden – The big tidy-up
Late autumn is a strange season of conflicting emotions for me. To be honest it’s my least favourite time of the year. I know we have the spectacular colourful displays from the trees, as their leaves blaze with fiery reds, golds and coppers. And when they first drop to the ground, dry and crispy, I can’t resist the temptation to run through them kicking them up in the air. But once on the ground they become soggy and slimy! I find it rather depressing as the garden starts dying back and everywhere looks a mess! But it’s necessary! We all need a rest, even the garden. I’m much happier once…
-
Early Autumn in the garden – Harvests, flowers & sunshine
Still feeling like summer These days, early autumn is indistinguishable from summer. In fact we regularly have better weather in early autumn than we do in mid-summer. The only real clue to the season is the shortening day length. Initially, hardly noticeable until we head into late autumn and the time change. It was so warm in September that our al fresco eating carried on well into mid-autumn – including some breakfasts! September is the month of bounty. Back in the days when we used to go on holiday, we’d come home to courgettes transformed into giant marrows. Which resulted in stuffed marrow and marrow chutney – we do hate…
