The great, good and not so good bits about growing your own dinner 2017

Are they outdoors courgettes ? My one healthy outdoors one is still 'thinking about it' - whereas my greenhouse ones have produced a few fruit (fruit?) but haven't gone berzerk yet

Thinking of harvesting all the spinach, lettuces, Broad beans and peas and trying a bit of a re-plant, ahead of us going away for three weeks (I know). DS will be living here, cat-sitting, watering and harvesting. I just know the greenhouse will suffer but he's cheaper than a house-sitter and completely trustworthy. I am thinking that if we minimise the stuff he has to look after, he will do it better. It is an hour a day otherwise and that is a lot for YFS chaps

smeeinnit wrote: »

Hi all

Not been around much lately, sadly my mum passed away last weekend and I have been away from home most days and often at night looking after my dad, dealing with the endless paperwork and arrangements, so the garden has been a bit neglected. Mum would have given me a right rollicking if I let the garden go so I gave everything a good drenching tonight. It was all bone dry despite some rain yesterday.

I've harvested a few things today, potatoes, courgettes, runner beans, and some more to do tomorrow morning before I am back at my dads.

Hope you are all doing ok, not had a chance to catch up on everyone's posts, but will do when I can x

So sorry for your loss. I often think of my late Dad when I am gardening. It still makes him feel closer and over 20 years since we lost him.

Ended up taking the fancy gun attachment off the hosepipe and leaving it to soak each bed and pot whilst I got on with some judicious trimming and pulling out of the largest weeds. Some small child walking past seemed quite amused that I was 'giving those flowers a haircut) - lavender that had gone over - and OH hailed me from the kitchen door with 'Do you know you've got a cat in your windowbox?' - naturally, the answer was 'no, but you hum it and I'll play it', which got me an unsolicited cuppa.

I also discovered a drillhole in the wall, which conveniently took a vine eye, so the honeysuckle out the front got tied in, which now frees off enough space in one of the window boxes for the remains of a supermarket basil - and another variety of mint to be very carefully coralled away from the wild.


Unfortunately, I've also discovered that the now ex-lodger's parting gift to me was sticking too much heavy stuff on the washing line, which [strike]is[/strike] was attached to the shed (and been perfectly adequate for myself and the OH's washing needs throughout the time he's been here).

I now have to navigate a thriving pyracantha and two occupied bee hotels to nail half the shed back together.

But the two sweetcorn plants look quite sturdy at around the four foot level - they've finally got above the height of the red clover.

Sorry to hear your news Smeeinit. Take things easy - this is tough time.

I hope you're all growing well. It's amazing how things take off isn't it?

Well I'm away - over in Essex shifting a tonne of top soil and doing a bit of gardening for my Mum who doesn't really get out in the garden anymore but she likes to sit by the kitchen door and look out. The soil over here is really heavy clay. So the top soil won't go far but a least I can plant the boarder up with flowers. Nearly finished and will be heading home tomorrow. Let's hope my neighbour and allotment friend have been in to water for me. I used Compost Direct again and once again they were very reliable and helpful.

Thoughts are with you all and happy growing.