The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2024!

FreeBear

Try limiting the resolution and file size - I usually aim for 640x480 or 800x600 resolution and a max size of ~100kB.

alicef

@FlorayG jpeg files should be fine - @FreeBear is correct about re-sizing (something I'm guilty of not doing) as that speeds up the loading of the picture for anyone viewing your post and for loading the picture when creating the post. I do make collages of pictures, (lots of online free sites that enable this), but again I should take time to do the extra step and resize.  

FlorayG

Ok second attempt with reduced quality picture...I think these look really nice and they seem substantial. I bought four of these and two round ones for next year's peas and beans Modular Steel Raised Bed - Harrod Horticultural

alicef

@FlorayG I'm thinking that your raised beds will last a lot longer than mine have!  The website has some gorgeous structures. 

I've been rather lazy loday, and have only picked plums so far and hoiked out the dehydrator as I shall make fruit leather. 

FreeBear

alicef said: @FreeBear I didn't know about plumcots until you mentioned them - I've been reading up, on wiki, about them, (and pluots; apriums) - some fascinating sounding cultivars; I'm wondering if I can shoehorn another fruit tree in.  The plant nursery should replace your tree without quibble I would have thought. 

The nursery haven't replied to my email, so called them this morning. Been promised a replacement tree that should be delivered on Tuesday.

The tree I have growing is probably a Royal Orange apricot - Not quite what I wanted, but will do as a cross-pollinator for the plumcot.

alicef

This week:  Potted up the melons and transferred to polytunnel.  Potted up some herbs.  Harvested stuff, picked sweetpeas and watered the polytunnel.  Cleared the potting shed of pots; tidied the drip trays and replaced the capillary matting.  Today I will have a look through my seeds. Tomatoes are starting to ripen; the climbing beans have tiny beans and the chillies have small fruit. 

I need to thin the apples and clear the broad beans/first pea sowing as they have finished.

@FreeBear hopefully the second tree is the right one!   

Sweetbriarrose

Morning all, 
FreeBear, I find speaking to a person seems to resolve matters much quicker,  glad it was sorted.
alicef. I like your Hazel raised bed, I might give it a go as I have a Hazel tree, I live near a park so lots of squirrels, eat any hazelnuts even before they are ripe.
One of my pear trees has brown leaves and looks dead, no obvious signs of disease, the other one is in another part of my garden and is still looking healthy and green, so far.
I grow a few herbs, sage and oregano have grown very well this year.
 my first cucumber for this year is growing (still tiny) and another on the other plant, which is better than last year as none of the seeds germinated.
strawberries In pots still producing lots of flowers and A few berries a day.
runner beans three plants in a pot, lots of flowers only a couple of beans set so far.
Black currents have nearly finished and while clearing weeds from underneath I found a pot with two bay trees cuttings I took last year that have rooted.
I was late putting my tomatoes out so no flowers yet.

alicef

@Sweetbriarrose - we harvest hazelnuts when they are still in the green (when the husk is just starting to go brown) as this is before the squirrels become enamoured of them. We dry them on racks in a rodent free place.  The nuts will continue to ripen.   Depending on the quantity we have, we shell and freeze the nuts, take out what we need and toast them.

 

I don't have a bay tree;  I might treat myself to a small plant!   

FreeBear

Potato harvest -

Pretty sure I planted a lot more than that.

alicef

@FreeBear - they are very beautiful potatoes - what is the variety?

In response to our plum glut I actually made a plum & almond cake today!