Awful weather - typical Brits talk

-taff

Arb, I found it both depends on the misxture and how wet they were to start with. When I first dug mine it did crack in the first and second year [ clay soil] but as I've added stuff over the years [which is whatever comes to hand, spent tomato compost, leaves, my compost and I also leave all the stuff from dying plants on there, so the bean stuff, the tomato stuff, the pumkin and courgette stuff] , it's kept moist underneath the top layer..Also a winter of forthcoming rain will thoroughly wet what you have in there so it'll hold it better next year.

What have you got in there? Top soil? compost? mix?

Dusty, love your Gladiator picture on the end I think I'd ave eaten the whole field of beans, that's a real treat. Shame about the dog though, is this a country, it'll be fine thing?

Farway

Another scorcher on the way, sun's hot already, AFAIK I won't need to water today. But will need to keep a closer eye on my pots from now on with the heat we are forecast, could even reach summer temperatures.

Early Runner recce, still there and unchomped, that's two nights so far, yay.

Those peas look tasty Arbs, with hindsight maybe I should've sown some instead of broad beans? Grass is always greener, etc.

I have a vague memory, maybe false, about knowing when peas are ready, something to do with the bloom [dusty look] on the pods

You attempting to grow too much & overcrowding is just normal gardening round this forum, like going for loaf & coming home with an apple tree or two

Dusty, those beans, would they be what I read of as "Field beans"? I've wondered just what FB were.

Nasty with the dogs, hard to tell with strange dogs, if friendly or going for you, at least no blood but not nice.

Those hives look very industrial & functional. Any dead lions around ?

-taff said:

Dusty, that path is lovely. And between you and Farway I have grape envy, although a friend did say they'd give me a cutting from theirs. I'm on the fence about it a bit still though, i have nowhere to grow it just yet.

and the beans are now poking out [ thanks Farway] and the bought ones are still alive.

Grapes are frustrating, and never provide huge bunches like Tesco does. 

However, I have seen them work sometimes. I know Wisley grew them in pots, like a standard, but that must have been hard work and I no longer see them, so I guess even for them, it was a lot of trouble.

I'll take a pic of what should become grape bunches.

Nice to hear the beans working for you, one of those things that is so simple, one wonders why you never did it earlier.

Here's my broad beans, I've tied them up since the photo

Enough for me, I eat them in the pods when young so perhaps I'll get a munch quite soon

YoungBlueEyes

Too hot here, well it's been too warm for me these last couple of hours There was a lovely fresh smell on the breeze when I threw every window open when I got up, a damp earth and grass clippings sort of smell. Lovely I'm all closed up again now at the front. Couple more days of this summer nonsense and it's back to cool. They say. Even Cissie's got heat over there - up into the mid 20's today which is not common, even in their summer  

Double wooden seat 2p, all these ideas are racking up and I've no more room Genuinely might have to move. To a better laid out house. That's detached. With a larger garden. A mile away from neighbours. Hope the hospital talk wasn't the condescending tick-box sort, when it's such a bu99er to get there. 

I know what you're saying about people taff, and I agree. Yes I do like people, well these people and some strangers (morries gc is fast becoming a great joy in my life), and a lot of my family are good, and you lot that live in my 'puter are very acceptable. But no I don't like people in general. Good luck with your currants and water butt issues. 

Lovely dog rose Dusty, and look at the views on your walk! I'd love a row of those ram shackledy bee hives, aren't they charming If the drunkards have given cloud you'll need factor 50 and a wide brimmed hat ha haa. 

I'm a bit like you Arb, learning what works and what doesn't in these early days. You seem to be getting more right than wrong though. Those peas look tasty to me even if they are only a small portion. Mmmm fresh peas  

I'll have a look at your T+M link next time you put one up Farway, Hurst Green Shaft is now on the 'keep my eye out' list, thank you If my shield bugs were the same way round as your lily beetles I'd have got it straight away. I actually thought my bugs were kissing  

Right that'll do, laptop needs to go off for it's too hot in here now. And if you're listening St Fiacre - it's a bit mean to make my Domestic Nonsense day one of the hottest days of the week! No need! My karma must be shot to smithereens.

Dustyevsky

-taff said:

Dusty, love your Gladiator picture on the end I think I'd ave eaten the whole field of beans, that's a real treat.

You've lost me with the Gladiator comment! We were just being careful to walk in the tracks someone else had made. I estimate the bean field was about 10 acres, so you'd have had a dodgy tummy!

Farway, they were probably field beans. I thought they looked prolific. Interesting comparison here:

https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/growing-field-beans-for-human-consumption

YoungBlueEyes said:

T
Lovely dog rose Dusty, and look at the views on your walk!

There were better ones, but as it's not strictly gardening, I don't post too many pictures. Besides, we don't want everyone knowing how good this 'cheap' area is!

Dartmoor in the background.

LessImpecunious

I've been growing Field Beans for the past couple of years (decided to try them when a few pods and fallen beans fell into our pockets on a similar walk to yours Dusty, but later in the year, when they were ripening...). That was a useful article - pretty much replicates our experience - and inspired by that think I will try to grow them overwinter from an autumn sowing this year - I've given up trying that with ordinary broad beans, as they rarely make it through, and spring-sown ones always seem to catch up anyhow...

-taff

Dusty, there's a scene where he's walking through a field running his hands over the top of the wheat.I am officially intrigued now, I used to sow red clover but field beans sound better.

pink_poppy

Russell Crowe (of the Gladiator variety)... swoon...

Another scorchio chilly day here, plus it was raining (forecast was for a bit of drizzle, but this was proper wet rain) when I was leaving the hairdressers and guess who hadn't taken a coat...

I've done something to my back and hip, so haven't done much over the last few days. Actually, that's probably what's wrong with me, too much sitting around on my erse (ha, finally got to write that )...

I did take a couple of pics of the philadelphus yesterday when it was sunny. It's looking very pretty atm, but the pics are not very good. The ceanothus is also still looking gorgeous, considering it lost quite a big branch in the winds. The bees love it when the sun is out. Still no tattie flowers, but loads of buds on the one plant.

Philadelphus


I'm waffling now, I think my new rain-flattened hairdo has gone to my head   

twopenny

I was once told or heard that our skin is waterproof so no worries about rain

Bluey I got a nice lady for the interview - no it was the fact that I wanted to delay/ignore a test result because the investigation was going to set me back again with the recovery of my back/leg/hip. It's self diagnosis as we have no doctors now - you get someone, who knows who and they know nothing about you. Tough call to go against the advice. I have to think my way around what I know and the system. C'est la vie at the mo.

Of course the question about your alchohol intake was embarrassing   

Interesting about your weathers. The news said take care of raging heat wave all over the uk.

Well here was cool, lazy cloud hanging down to the ground almost and giving some mizzel. High of 17c this morning and 20c now but dull and cloudy. Don't think there's any danger of over heating or sunburn.

I stopped by an Otter garden centre for lunch ie scone and coffee and looked at the sales. Lots of Clematis, very big and healthy for £8 reduced from £25.

Interesting that now they produce flowering plants earlier than they should be they are also selling off those that are too late to put in. Some real bargains to be had. They'll notice sooner or later that they could organise it better.

Photos, hmmm, I have one Sweet Pea flower. Planted loads but the dry I think has meant that they haven't grown hardly at all.

I used to have a neighbour who did Somerset Sweet Peas. As a competition grower he used to sell of massive bunches of flowers to keep the best for show. I so miss that.

https://www.somersetsweetpeas.com/

Going to have to go back to planting them in a pot. This was the result

I also have been watching someone new down the road having massive tomato plants in plastic pots and a Lidl 'green house' set up. I'm thinking that's my go to next year.

pink_poppy

Very pretty sweetpeas, twopenny. It's not something I've ever grown - maybe next year. Hope you find a solution for your back/leg/hip that you're 'happy' with.

I have my first baby tomato...   

Dustyevsky

-taff said:

Dusty, there's a scene where he's walking through a field running his hands over the top of the wheat.I am officially intrigued now, I used to sow red clover but field beans sound better.

Ah, I wondered. I don't watch violent films, and I'd guess anything called 'Gladiator' would have to be! 

I'm determined to grow some now. Dual purpose is good. The previous owner here used a strain of mustard as a green manure, but it got away from him and seeded everywhere. They're still coming up 15 years on!  Blimmin' life cycle's only about a month!

Yay! A tomato, pp! And where there's one, there'll soon be more. I don't think I've shown any of mine yet, so that will be tomorrow's photo. I can almost smell that Philadelphus from here! Same goes for 2p's sweet peas.

Even if you get a regular doctor 2p, they often just look at a chart of test results and say something like "Your xxxx index has increased 14%, so I think we'll double your dose of xxxxx and put you on xxxxxx as well." They never imagine a lifestyle solution might make better sense. That's probably because they don't trust patients to make lifestyle changes as an alternative to 'more pills.'

pp, I get relief from back/hip problems by lying on the sofa and waving the affected leg in a wide circular motion, clockwise, and then anticlockwise. I'd add not to do this before checking for nearby ornaments, or if an excitable cat or dog is present!