We were so excited when we finally harvested our very first batch of tomatoes this week. It was such a rewarding moment. There weren’t that many, just a handful, but it still felt like a significant accomplishment. Surprisingly, they ripened a bit earlier than we anticipated. It’s interesting how nature sometimes works in mysterious ways,…… Continue reading 2023 – First Tomatoes
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June 2023 – How things are progressing
Until now, June has been hot & dry meaning that the tomato plants in the greenhouses have got away well. Most plants have now got fruit set and, my guess is, we will start to see fruit ripening over the next few weeks (my records show that we get ripe fruit starting mid-July). The dry…… Continue reading June 2023 – How things are progressing
Tomatoes in Pots – 2023
A little early this year, I’ve potted up my tomatoes into their final pots. I grow my tomatoes in what’s known as “Morrison’s Flower Buckets (MFB’S)”. MFB’S are sold cheaply and, with holes punched through the bottom, they seem to be an ideal size. The benefit of growing them in individual pots is that there’s…… Continue reading Tomatoes in Pots – 2023
Apple Blossom Time 2023
This time of year I’m always pleased to see that the trees look like they’ll produce a reasonable harvest (the optimist in me, the weather always makes a difference). Anyway, the eater is showing a good helping of blossom. The cooker is always a couple of weeks later so that is yet to come. Surprisingly,…… Continue reading Apple Blossom Time 2023
Starting to sow other vegetables
The weather is certainly on the up with bright sunshine for the past couple of days. However, its still wet underfoot and the ground is quite soggy & cold. So, for that reason, I have decided not to plant out my potatoes yet, despite the fact that the tubers appear to be well chitted and…… Continue reading Starting to sow other vegetables
Tomato Seedlings on the way
Tomatoes, Peppers & Physalis Despite the relatively cold weather over the last two weeks, the seedlings are beginning to push their way forward. Of the seeds I sowed, only one variety failed to germinate at all, the seeds were really quite old but I think I might have another go. The peppers and physalis are…… Continue reading Tomato Seedlings on the way
2023 – The Gardening Year Starts
Start of the Tomato Season
The Role of Mushrooms in Gardening: Why Grow Your Own
Mushrooms and slime mold growing in the garden? Some might think this spells bad news for their plants, but this isn’t the case. In fact, fungi play …The Role of Mushrooms in Gardening: Why Grow Your Own
The Birds think spring is on the way
Despite the cold weather (heavy frosts for the last few days) the birds seem to think that spring isn’t that far away. The days are starting to get longer and the birds are starting to look for nesting sites with the blue tits and great tits taking a look inside the nestboxes. In the last…… Continue reading The Birds think spring is on the way
Tomatoes for 2023 and other things
I’ve been sorting through my tomato seeds and trying to work out what to grow in 2023. As ever, its a balancing act, trying to select a range of cultivars that meet the conflicting needs of an amateur grower with not a lot of space. I have seeds for around 200 different cultivars and (as…… Continue reading Tomatoes for 2023 and other things