The Frantic Gardeners’ Blog

Twitter is a fantastic thing. Reminded me to make some elderflower cordial. We have lots of elderflowers in the garden [pernicious weed!] and usually make elderberry jelly. There are lots of recipes on the net. Here is another one

first pick 20 elderflower heads

Then add 1.6kg of sugar [preserving makes it clear but granulated or caster will work] to 1.25l of water. Heat gently until all the sugar dissolved and then boil.

Whilst you are doing this, get 2 oranges and 2 lemons. If you are keen, you can zest them first, or if not just cut in half and then thin slices

When your syrup has boiled, add it to the bowl full of elderflowers [with most of stalks removed] and sliced citrus. Add 50g of citric acid and then give a good stir.it smells fabulous [though DD1 who was making it doesn’t agree]

Leave it to stand 24 hours and then strain it through a jelly bag [or a sieve with a muslin so fine enough] into sterilised bottles to sit in the fridge. hadn’t thought of freezing some before, but I might try that this time to see how it works out.

Hmm, we have still been v much lacking in the rain department. however, have spent a little while frantically watering, plus a bit of good news about the germination of squashes and not so good re bean numbers!

Sowing

T and M had a half price seed sale, so I bought and sowed some runner beans moonlight, direct into the ground [eek!]

Germination

All the brassicas sown have germination. 1 pumpkin of those sown with old seed has germinated, and 2 of the new butternut squash. waiting for the winter squash and any others. so tiny and so far behind . the carrot sugarsnx [or something similar] has germinated well, but the purple variant hasn’t [both sown direct in rows] so wondering whether to resow or not.

Potted on

not quite potting on, but the side shoots of the toms had rooted, so potted on 4 for my mum to take home with her she has no greenhouse, so the perfect size for her to have on windowsill a bit longer and then go out.

Planted out

4 courgette plants [2 parador and 2 parthenon] , DD2’s 2 gourd plants [poor germination] and all the climbing bean cobra and blauhilde. There should have been 30 of each, but 5 destroyed detangling and a further 5 looking v sorry so a quick bit of resowing to plant in gaps if they appear, and the above runner beans, as our bean hedge has space for 70 plants. The early purple sprouting and normal brocolli has also gone out.Next year i need to sow the blauhilde 2 weeks later than i did, and cobra prob 1 week later than i did, and remember to sow so I have 25 of each of cobra, blauhilde and the runnerbean.

Pests

the rabbits have managed to decimate the leaves of the strawberries, so are confined to their pen currently, pending some fencing.

Maintenance

the pots have been emptied of dead stuff, yew and bay trimmed and we are ready to plant up the flowers again.

Jobs

1. tomatoes pole and strings

2. plant out sweetcorn [have to dig over the bed first]

3. pot up flowers into patio pots

we are on a water meter here, and i think the garden is getting more than we are! it does really need to rain. SO v british that weather thoughts are at the top of my head! it also needs to not go below 0 again! last night it was -0.5 , and although there are no tender veg in the garden, the girls have all their flowers out, and actually i don’t want any checks to growth. so there you are, i would like warm sunny days and showery/rainy nights please The gooseberries are really starting to swell now - and no sign of sawfly, there are fruitlets starting on the raspberries, and the strawberry plants have flowers. Excellent.

Sowing

I have sown the last 3 butternut squash and 3 experimental pumpkin seeds. Only 1 butternut squash out of 6 had germinated, and 1 pumpkin out of 3, so thought i would hope for them all to germinate this time, and if not have chance to buy another packet of seeds.

Sown directly were peas [twinkle] in DH’s bed and a row of carrots there too.

pricking out/potting on

have pricked out DH’s rainbow chard. i had thought he had sowed that number close in modules because they were going to be cut and come again or salad leaves. Apparently not, so now each has its own module, and will eventually get planted out . Also pricked out were the last sowing of alpine strawberries. [mmm] . The chickpeas now have a new home having been potted on. They are very beautiful plantlets at the moment and having sown them in a moment of whimsy from dried chickpeas from the pantry, i have now looked up their cultivation. A couple of aubergines and peppers got potted on, but most are waiting their final potting. planned for this weekend.I collected the spare night scented stocks of DD1 and put 4 in a pot for many pots, and also at the weekend am planning to put them on the library stand [we gave the library just over £8 for spare plants sold to date]

Planting out

the lettuce little gem and the rocket have gone into DH’s bed, and been surrounded by  bit of wire fencing to deter the rabbits DD2s pansies were planted out as well.

Maintenance.

the modules and pots etc were sorted, as wild sowing into modules coming to an end. Everything was watered [lots] due to lack of rain. We uncovered the area that will hopefully be hosting the bean hedge, and covered over a weedy bit.

To Do

[1. find home for artichokes]

2. make the bean fencing

3. clear out the greenhouse of all that can go out

4. pot on all tomatoes and the melons.

The weather is changing though. the wind is blowing more, and although not rained, the forecast is for cooler. As long as no frosts [perlease!] an just milder [fingers crossed tho for gentle rain]

Potting on

The remaining mangetout have been planted up into a bucket for the patio pots. Still currently living in the greenhouse though. Greenhouse looking much emptier though

Germinating

All the chickpeas and all the brassicas bar the white cauli, and all the cucurbits bar the butternut squash.

Planting out

this is the scary bit really. due to the weather [gorgeous] and early sowing [taking advantage of the children’s interest] we have ended up with things that just have to go out, potentially too soon if the weather turns too dramatically. Just keeping fingers crossed really.

DD1’s bed is all planted up. She has made a cane wigwam and the sweet peas are out, and then done her initial in zinnias to one side of it, surrounded by autumn aster, and a fish the other side in night scented stock, with brompton stock around. All her own plan, with scant reference to heights, flower colour, season etc etc. Fingers very very crossed!

Potatoes are a go! The are all in. The kids have some earlies in sacks, and the rest are in the main veg bed. DH has decided to do a bit of an experiment. Half are going to be earthed up, and the others are thickly covered with straw. Let the science begin

Maintenance

The girls and I made some cane toppers out of fimo [bakeable modelling clay] Perhaps they will work! perhaps they are as perilous as the canes

To do:

1. globe artichoke - find a home!

2. DH beds to fill - quite urgent - salads currently

3. empty all weedy pots around patio and pop in spare flowers etc

4. buy climbers and plant infront of kitchen, and populate herb pots there

5. pot up tomatoes to final pots

6. sort out the beanfence.

7. make nettle infusion

our bees are happily buzzing around the garden. we have wild honey bees on a chimney [for the last 5 years] and  loads of different bumble bees, hairy legged bees and mason bees. All good for the garden . The drones must be out, cos there are quite a lot of confused honey bees on the floor of the patio and conservatory. The brilliant weather has continued [sunhat, suncream and shorts!!] And my DH has finished all the beds we will make this year [though hoping to make perhaps 4 more in the autumn as part of the bedding down…] .The church behind is flying the english flag, as we approach st georges day. Fantastic! [oh, and i am not at work tho have migraine it is nearly better ]

Also today, we had some of the spare plants potted up on the drive with a home made sign and honesty box. The proceeds are going to the local library. We did well, as there was 4.80 in the pot - we just asked for donations.we sold 3 tomatoes [sungold], 2 peppers [jalapeno] , 2 pots of 2 cauliflowers [violet queen]. We are in a relatively good spot, where ppl often park to go to the local shops, and the library is volunteer run, so ppl do like to help it out.We are pretty happy with that

My DD’s also painted lots of the tomato pots with acrylics, in a variety of ‘designs’ so they should look pretty jolly once out. I enjoyed doing a couple as well.

Germination

The sweetcorn has pretty much all germinated, and all the courgettes and pak choi. The latest twinkle peas in modules have, and 1 of the watermelons have. some of the climbing beans just started. it is darned warm now in the greenhouse, and they are in propagator [for the bottom heat] tho once they have germinated it will be switched off.

Planted Out

We did DD2’s bed. She decided where things would go, planted out 3 sunflowers, declared herself too hot and retired to the paddling pool, leaving me in charge! SO 8 russian giant sunflowers, 6 dwarf sunflowers [already flowering] 12 calendula, 7 foxglove [to flower next year] and 25 alpine strawberries went in. All of these sown from seed. Taking a chance with the weather as the sunflowers really did need to go in, will fleece if we have to.

Maintenance

As I said, DH finished making all the beds for this year - yippee!! We have the items to fill them We also painted the tom pots - as also prev stated

Pests

Seeing lots of butterflies now - glad we have the enviromesh

To Do

1. Potatoes - desperately!!

2. globe artichoke - nearly as desperate!

3. 4. DD1 and DH beds to fill - quite urgent

5. empty all weedy pots around patio and pop in spare flowers etc

6. buy climbers and plant infront of kitchen, and populate herb pots there

7. pot up tomatoes to final pots

8. sort out the beanfence.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, and the plants have grown well. The broad beans are flowering, and those sown in situ have all germinated and are growing up. the garlic is growing well too.The apples and pear tree have been absoluted covered in flowers, so hoping for a good harvest in the Autumn.

Sowing

Today I have sown sweetcorn ‘lark’ , climbing bean cobra and blauhilde and dwarf gold bean all in roottrainers, hoping to be not to early and not too late so we can plant  out in about 4-6 weeks. [lets see!] . I have also sown pumpkin [T and M experimental] Courgettes parthenon and … and butternut squash in module, again hoping for 4-6 weeks and out. As a gamble i have sown some watermelon seeds into pots - you never know!! I also sowed a second sowing of pak choi, broccolli romanescu and white cauliflower. only 3 of each, as think i sowed too many the first time, and really should think about when we are going to eat them! Next year I would like to work out how many of each to sow at a time. A second sowing of peas too [twinkle]

Potting On

I have potted on 5 each of the different peppers [inferno, jalapeno, mixed grill] all 6 of the aubergines [mixed] , 2 of the multiple cape gooseberries, 4 of the 5 melons and 1 more of each tomato [sungold, gardeners delight and golden sunrise] to make 5 of each. Hoping this will be the right amount of everything! I also potted up the last of DD 2’s short sunflowers - a week has made a noticeable difference between them and those potted up before we went on holiday.

Into the coldframe

go the brassicas and pak choi, and the mangetout. plan to be into the ground on weds.

Maintenance/DH

DH has finished this eve the first of the marked beds - not quite raised as our soil drains so very freely! but a marked out zone, one each so that we can be putting our chosen plants in.

So, To Do:

Sowing:

locate the runner beans and sow! then see what other wierd and wonderfuls i have bought and if there might be space

Into the veg patch:

Strawberries into strawberry planter and along veg bed wall. artichoke also along veg bed wall

Potatoes - into bags and into the ground

beds 1 and 2 of the 4:

Brassicas - into bed and enviromesh around them

peas/mangetout - into bed and need supporting structure

carrots - into bed if there is space! otherwise consider sowing into pots?

beds 3 and 4:

get ready really, some of the girls plants could go out, tho quite small ? better to pot on further before planting out? never sure of optimal size. DD2’s sunflowers are ready, but not sure whether not too early?

into pots:

dwarf french beans

discuss with girls and DH all their flowers and herbs and where they are hoping to put them!

Maintenance

lots of weeding!!

well, we are carrying on and actually the greenhouse is turning into a mini garden of eden.

 Sowing

DH has been sowing loads of herbs and some lettuces [he says he knows which ones and will blog ]

Pricking Out and Potting On

This was the main focus of my gardening this weekend. DD2’s seedlings have all been pricked out into individual modules - 0bviously not by her! She does have 36 foxgloves to house tho in her flower bed, [16 sunflowers potted on before], 24 alpine strawberries and the gourds, yet to germinate

DD1 was going to do hers… but will remind again tomorrow she seems to have sown a good number of most things except sweet peas. might suggest she sows some more.

I also potted on all the remaining tomatoes and the melons. The propagator within the greenhouse is groaning, and the barely germinated marigolds have had to come out to keep the toms in. have a couple in greenhouse to make sure that they do ok with the colder nights before they all come out.

Germinating.

DH’s eryngiums seem to be finally germinating, and when enough appear to have poked their heads out, they too can be removed from the propagator. The pak choi have germinated really quickly, as has the rocket.

Veg beds.

we have to get the first ones done this week, as by the weekend loads of stuff will really have wanted to get out there. Peas and nasturtiums being hardened off currently.

Fruit

lots of buds and leaves on cherries and apples and pears, so that is good. must get a pic [and weed!!]

I really must get the blog picking up my flickr pics. just need a widget i guess also wanting a widget to autonotify twitter - hoping my sysadmin can sort that out too. [please ]

Sowing

So, we have sown today [frantically admidst all sorts of other jobs ] globe artichoke, tomato sungold and gardeners delight, and golden sunrise[ sungold is orange - confusing or what!] . Was v disappointed in the sungold, as there were only 6 seeds in the packet, and it says average of 10. i think 6 is too far away, so emailing their customer care, and hope to have a replacement pack. will see how that goes! I also sowed my DH choice of seeds for pots and his vegbed: datura for the pots, echinacaea and eryngium for the bed. I think I need to remind everyone about THE VEG!! I am v happy for some flowers to attract in beneficials, and also for general wildlife and looks, but i do prefer to mostly have VEG. I also sowed lot of nasturtiums, which admittedly he bought, but i am very fond of . With 6 seed trays in the propogator, there is only room for pots now, so no more sowing until things move out. For me, i sowed canteloupe melon mmm mmm

Germination

Mistakenly, thinking the propogator in greenhouse not quite so warm as when in conservatory, i put the peppers and aubergines in a mini electric one in conservatory, and it doesn’t seem to have worked, and none germinated. Peppers are awkwrd things tho, so will keep my fingers crossed for another week. If they haven’t grown then i will by a few more packets to resow.

the broad beans tho are having erupted looking earth in some of the modules, which suggests they are about to appear and the sunflowers have all germinated for DD2.

Maintenance

It has been far too rainy recently to want to dig over and further organise veg patch, but this is getting higher up urgency list

Maintenance

well, we have been working hard in the garden, clearing from the veg bed and the greenhouse 2 years of accumulated rubbish and weeds so that we can start again. A HUGE bonfire was had, and we have lots of compost from continuing to compost through the last 2 years, but not used it!

DH has set up the greenhouse with the propagator there as well, as the conservatory has been renovated, and no longer suitable for the mess of potting on ;)  . The previous shelves have been renovated a bit too, so i have a potting and sowing area in there for now, though when we get far more things I will have to lose it . contemplating bubble wrap, and also capillary matting and autowatering.

Planning

we have planned out the veg bed a bit, and the bit nearest the house will have 4 beds which are to be permanent, and one each for us. The girls are really excited, and bought mostly flower seeds, though DD2 has also chosen some woodland strawberries.

Sowing

Today i sowed the peppers - jalepeno, inferno and red grill, some from a mixed aubergine packet and physallis. These are obviously planned for the greenhouse. Later i will be sowing melons and tomatoes and that should fill it up! I also sowed some broad beans into a module, as that area of the veeg bed not quite ready yet. All are out into the propagator in the greenhouse, which is a home made job with coldframe on the top, and the individ trays get those seed tray lids on as well. It is the first year that the propagator is in the greenhouse, so i do hope it stays warm enough at night. Hmm, think tomorrow may add bubblewrap to make sure!

SO, nice to be back after a 2 year break.

i am very happy, near 100% germination of all sweetcorn - goody! the climbing bean blauhilde also started to germinate. have watered the weekend plantlings outside - all happy in their safety zone, those pesky cabbage whites shouldn’t find a way in! DH has done a bit more weeding of the fruit bed. realised i didn’t take any photos of apple blossom - wah! lots of strawberry blossom though.

awaiting purchase of compost to pot on the remainder of toms and the squashes. not quite brave enough to plant them out yet! [and also would have to weed another area!] maybe i should plant out some and see??