Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

2p: Wow those tomatoes!

I've always grown Cherry Falls, in pots before, and I won't make the mistake of having them in a deep bed again! 😐️ While the others didn't like the hot conditions so much, they fairly romped away. At first, they tasted OK, but the longer they've stood, the more watery and tasteless they've become. The hens don't care, though! 😃

I didn't know Greencombe closes early, but I'd not go there late, because it's primarily a spring/early summer garden. For various reasons, this hasn't been a year for walks, and it remains to be seen if I can get my knee stamina back without an op.🤔 It's better, but not 5 miles up and own the coast path better!

Yesterday's Show went off well. The judges commented that our standards were better than many they'd seen in this year of the big drought.😇 Mine weren't. 😥 Without Mrs Dusty's input, especially in display, the best I did was seconds and thirds. People often commented that their gardens not only been parched, but also wind buffeted. Those with shadier, sheltered plots had probably fared best.

We did have a few show entries from new, younger people, which is always good to see, but it's the old stalwarts who are holding things together. When it came to the job of packing-up, there wasn't anyone in the room under their mid-seventies to be seen! 😂

Oh, and the chap who should have had a first for tomatoes last year, didn't succeed this year either. He's moved to a property where grow bags are his only option. As for mine, the judge said their dry calyxes showed they'd been picked days ago. They were picked the evening before, but I forgot to put them in the fridge. Detail! 🙄

Something different today. These are the flowers on my Melon Pear, grown from a seed. I also have a smaller one from a cutting of the original. There won't be any fruit this year, but the family connection to toms and potatoes is obvious!

Farway

Sunny & warm day ahead, should help the melon Pear, which I had to look up. Now I'm wondering if I could / should grow one in the conservatory instead of tomatoes. Something for me to ponder over winter. But the fig I have in there remains fig-less despite being in what I would think are good surroundings.

I did wonder about the Cherry falls toms, why chucking away? But now I see why now. This year I tried Tumbling Tom in wall baskets in the conservatory, Sort of worked but suffered from the heat. I won't bother with those in there again.

Glad the show went well Dusty, but it shows how difficult it is to win even at a small local show. Those of us who have exhibited, and failed, realise the effort some winners put in, Except photography where it is smoke & mirrors, fad flavour of the month etc

Wort Champion apples look good Farway will you be picking them before the birds get there? No, I usually leave them, last year I tied fruit net bags over them, which stopped the birds but made useful suitcases for the rats to carry off 😂. Now you have put the thought into my head, If I get round to it I may chuck some fleece over later today. The fleece saved my cherries last year

Gardening today, maybe fleece over the Champion apple, and garden waste bin trundle round front for Tuesday collection