Archive
Garden – May 2023
May started off with it being two to three weeks behind the normal growing season. Two varieties of Tomatoes, one of Peppers and one of Cucumbers were all planted on the indoor window sills. Bags for life over them to create a warmer, damper micro climate. So far only three pots have germinated. The rest of the growing was planting Potatoes, earthing up Potatoes and water Potatoes. They, however, are a striking success. Casablancas and Dersiree. The lawn after it’s seaweed feed and two mows, is looking much better, however, the reseeding, not so good. Onions of varies types are all growing well, as are the Radishes. Drought now.
Garden – April 2023
Was April March or was April February? Cold, damp with at least two frosts and daytime temperatures about 10c. So, the growth and the planting are way behind schedule and the growth has been slow. That’s both indoors and out. I have nine Casablanca tubers left to go in and all the Desiree. I have been earthing up my first planted Casablancas and have been lucky that the frost didn’t get them. The lawn had moss killer and feed put on it and has had its second mowing of the year. Strawberries, I’m just going to capture the runners for the plants that didn’t make it through the Winter. Spring Onions, Radish and Mint are all growing indoors but slowly. Here’s to a warmer May.
Garden – March 2023
Was March 2023 the start of Spring? No! It started off very cold and frosty and when the cold eased, it turned very wet and windy. Which it still is. However, there are now buds on the hedge. The lawn has had it’s first mow and feed of the year. I have filled the four bags, next to Derek, with home made compost and Potato Feed. The early Casablanca’s will be going in these bags in the next fortnight. The Summer Onions are growing well but I’m not so sure about the Strawberries. Meanwhile, in doors. chitting, Spring Onions and Garden Mint.
Garden – February 2023
he driest February since 1993. During the month I strimmed the edges of the lawn and then spiked it. It seems to be growing well despite the end of month coldness. On the Potato Chitting front all the seed Potatoes now have eyes and they are growing well. The first Casablancas will go in at the end of March, weather willing. I have some Spring Onions, now growing well on the window sill. The Tesco Bag for Life has come off them and they are lapping up the late winter sun. During the next month, I will be mowing the lawn, putting moss killer on it and prepping Potato bags.
Garden – January 2023
Usually, January and also February are months when you mainly complain about the weather really than do real gardening. However, the seed potatoes have arrived (Casablanca and Desiree) and they are are now chitting like the wind. I have also bought some potting compost and I have mint and spring onions in chocolate tubs on the window sill. The spring onion tub has a clear Tesco bag over it to create a slightly warmer micro climate. Outside I still have spring onions and the summer onions are doing well despite the recent frosts. So, the growing season has already started.
Garden – November 2022
Very mild right until the end of the month. Still get Potatoes from bags, containers and even Derek. The last Summer Onions I planted are now showing Green Tips and the early ones are still growing strong. The lawn has patches of compost from Potato bags to fill in the depressions. Still a couple of pots to empty. Festive seed ordering a month from now. Winter now, so everything slows down.
Garden – October 2022
An early morning update just as British Summer Time slips out of the door and Greenwich Mean Time comes in to replace it. The Tomatoes have gone. I had my last Strawberry just the day before and I did with the last Pepper. My one and only Cucumber is still growing. Growing amongst the Mint. There are still some Red Spring Onions growing and the lawn is now getting covered with leaf fall. However, on the growing front, due to the exceptionally mild October my Summer Onions are growing well. Especially the white. I am still lifting Desiree, which have thrived in the small black plastic Potato bags. Still no frost.
Garden – September 2022
Post Equinox and the nights are getting colder. With what little rain we have had the lawn is definitely looking better. Some of the older Strawberry plants are dying back but those I planted this year are still doing well and producing fruits. The Lettuce are dying back and going to seed. They garden has gone crazy with now red Tomatoes and I think they will be around until the first frost. I still have some potatoes in the little black plastic bags. I thought that they wouldn’t be very good but they have been a revelation with much bigger crops than the bigger bags. It will soon be winter and the process will start all over again.
Garden – August 2022
August was more heat warnings, more rain, more Thunderstorm warnings and most recently, a drought warning for the whole of Wales. Potatoes, I’ve eaten most of the early Casablanca and I’m now starting on the maincrop Desiree. Finally my tomatoes have started to turn Orange and Red after spending weeks on just being Green. No sign of any of the cucumbers yet, however I have some Peppers albeit still green. The Strawberries are still coming and will do until the first Autumn Frosts arrive. The month ahead (September 2022) will be bringing the harvest home. And the Summer just rolls away.
Garden – July 2022
July was the month when we had an Amber Heat Warning, the threat of a hose pipe ban and everything bar the Strawberries being approximately a month late. However, as I write this it’s been a rather damp weekend. Enough to fill the reservoirs? No, but good enough to stop going out with a watering can for the next couple of days. Casablanca are my new favourite potatoes, I have had a really good crop from them this year and they make great chips. My Japanese Summer Onions Senshyu are ready and I have been eating them for the last week. Not too strong and really crunchy, the only thing is that they do not store well. Pull them up and eat them straight away. Having slightly better luck with Spring Onions and half of my Tomato Plants are finally flowing.
The R W Nash Blog 