Tag Archives: gardening

‘Home Grown’ diary project – update 12 … Veggie McVeg Patch…

Trying to outwit the local wildlife …

Each week, when I think I’ve probably reported enough, something new happens! Having sown some new lettuce plants, which appeared really quickly in that warm spell, I’m greeted with this site…

Lettuce, home grown, vegetables, eaten — Someones helped themselves to my baby lettuce!

I’d recently said how safe I thought my lettuce were from pests – suddenly I realise I could have a slug problem. I stuffed all available holes round the cloche with newspaper and thought these upturned pots over the lettuce at night might protect them.

protection, pots, vegetables, home grown — This worked and helped me capture the culprit.

It worked and not only did it protect them, it helped me catch the culprit. Two mornings later, I came to remove the pots and found this little guy in with one of the lettuce! He was a bit camera shy for this, so before we fell out completely, came to an agreement with the slug… or I told him what was going to happen… he was going to move and live out on a big wide beautiful common… well away from here, so he can happily munch something else other than my lettuce! I still have no idea how he got in?

slug, pest, vegetables, caught in the act. — He wasn’t showing his best side for this photo…

So everything else seems to be growing well… the beans are still flowering…

Dwarf beans, flower, vegetables, home grown — I just think these are the prettiest shade.

One or two raspberries are slowly starting to ripen… I’m picking them just before they get too ripe, as not prepared to share with the birds and have no way of putting nets over to protect the fruit.

raspberry, fruit, home grown, — I’m picking these just before they get too ripe and attract the birds.

A lot of growth continues, above and below the ground... I will be digging up a few more carrots and beetroot this weekend and have a regular supply of courgettes to pick.

vegetables, home grown, growing — Growth continues above and below the ground.

Even the tomato plants have started to flower – happy days… or so I thought…

tomato flowers, vegetables, home grown — First tomato flowers showing – more excitement.

Now I have several close friends who are following this and are far more experienced growers than I am. So I’m eternally grateful, after last weeks blog, that two of them (thank you W and A 🙂 ) reminded me that I needed to pinch out some shoots from the tomato plants… WHAT … quick… where was my book or google! So, hoping I’ve understood this properly, you can see the stub of an extra shoot (that I’ve pinched out below the flower buds) that grow at the apex of a leaf branch. I went round all the plants and removed several.

tomato plants, vegetables, home grown — I’m hoping I’ve got the hang of this job now and understand why it’s necessary.

However, this wasn’t the only excitement going on in a week. I come out one morning to find lots of evidence that a mole had been using the main veg bed as his new home… tunnels had been dug everywhere. I was a bit shocked – in all the years I’ve lived here, I’ve never had moles in the garden… and… there was no evidence how he/she got in.

holes, moles, pests, vegetables, home grown — This is just one of several areas showing a trail of tunnels all over the main veg bed.

How was I going to catch the little blighter, I can’t bring myself to lay traps, but it had gone everywhere, round the beans, courgettes, beetroot and carrots. The very same evening I came out to more carnage … fresh overground trails straight through the new carrot seedlings in a couple of places and evidence of a tussle…

carrots, seedlings, vegetables, home grown — Carnage among my new carrot seedlings.

… and there on the concrete next to the main veg bed… one dead mole. I was rather hoping to somehow catch it and move it to the same place I had taken the slug… out on the common (don’t quite know how this was going to happen). However someone else had stepped in and resolved my problem…

mole, wildlife, — So pretty, but very dead.

You may recall from week 6, one of my cats helped me inspect the new greenhouse, well she took the matter into her own paws and caught the mole at some point during the day – she simply did what cats do – a hunter through and through.

I would add this following image was not taken on an iPhone.

cat, feline, pet — She just did what cats do…

Carrot seedlings re-planted, tunnels collapsed – I’m hoping it was a one off visitor!

Next week – I’ll try and devote to a photography blog…

‘Home Grown’ diary project – update 11 … Veggie McVeg Patch…

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If you’re going to grow fruit and veg… make sure you have plenty of time on your hands …

I’m so pleased, I’ve managed to sell some of the surplus plants and make a first donation to the charity of a whole £10… but I still have 17 tomato plants to sell… any takers … please?

While we’re on the subject of tomatoes, I’ve selected the ones I’m keeping (eight in all) and have potted them out in grow bags. The grow bags were actually for potatoes… but never got used. You will also spot that I’ve sunk a pot next to them – apparently this helps get water straight to the lower roots, as they need a lot to drink especially when there are thirsty tomatoes growing.

Tomato plants, grow bags, home grown, vegetables — I’ve sunk a pot next to them to water the lower roots.

These four are going to live outside in a fairly sheltered but sunny spot. A mix of both Alicante and Gardeners Delight variety – I thought I’d play safe with my first attempt at growing tomatoes.

I’ve made a fairly basic support frame, with bamboo canes I harvested from the garden. Have done the same for four more plants that are staying in the greenhouse. So if it gets breezy, they won’t get battered and broken.

In order to attach them to the frame, found some really soft green cord in the shed, that I loosely tied round the stems as a support and in just a week am going to have to re-tie as the plants have grown so much!

So with the tomato plants potted on and surplus selling, I had a mini harvest last weekend… first courgette was picked – another milestone…

courgette, vegetables, harvest, home grown — Had to record picking the first courgette plant!

… plus some baby carrots – I know they look the colour of parsnips, but they’re ‘rainbow’ variety …

baby carrots, home grown, vegetables — Don’t worry about the colour, these are apparently ‘Rainbow carrots’.

… and baby beetroot… I just had to dig down and see how big they were 🙂

baby beetroot, vegetables, home grown — Just had to find out how big they were.

With kind creation from the household chef, we enjoyed a courgette, carrot, beetroot, bacon and feta salad, all sitting on a bed of salad leaves – yes I’m still picking those regularly 🙂

courgette, beetroot, carrot, feta, lettuce, salad, home grown, vegetables, — The household chef is a dab hand at coming up with wonderful food!

… it was hugely tasty and these two photographs are a further donation from the chef 🙂

Next week – someone’s had a munch at the lettuce!

‘Home Grown’ diary project – update 10 … Veggie McVeg Patch…

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Just when you think things are safe… the squirrel is back!

The very day after last weeks blog was published, this site greets me! Yes both little hazelnut trees had been dug out of their pots and left on the concrete! Now I love all wildlife, but the pesky squirrel has overstepped the mark… just because he thought there was a nut underneath 🙁 – ok, he was only trying to find a meal and probably thought I put food out for him as I do for the birds.

Fortunately, the roots seemed to be intact and I’ve put them back in their pots. So far they seem ok and are currently sharing the security of the lettuce house 🙂

hazelnut plant, potted, home grown, — That pesky squirrel is still after his nuts!!

Talking of lettuce, I’ve had a steady crop of salad leaves to harvest almost every other day from this little lot and they’re currently still going.

salad leaves, vegetables, home grown — I’ve save countless bags of bought salad!

So as I mentioned last time, I’ve sown some more, which started showing within four or five days! These will be allowed to grow into proper lettuces and will very soon need thinning out, as they’ll need room to develop.

Lettuce, seedlings, vegetables, home grown — These started showing within four or five days of sowing!

I had to take the wire mesh off the carrots, as their tops were growing through it and I don’t think need the protection now. However having sown more carrots just beyond them, you can see the wire covering in place – it works well.

Carrots, foliage, vegetables, home grown — I’m so hopeful for carrots soon.

Beyond that are the beetroot that look almost as big as rhubarb! I’ve also just discovered you can eat the leaves… something new to try 🙂

beetroot, vegetables, home grown — I’m finding these need a lot of water when its really hot, or they start to wilt.

As with the carrots, I’ve been watching to see if there is any sign of something edible at the base of all that leaf… and there we have it, little beetroot are growing. I may try digging up one or two (to eat of course) and give the others more space to fill out, because I probably didn’t thin them enough in the early seedling days.

Take my hat of to these little guys – while this was captured on a wild flower, they’ve been doing what bees do in the garden, because all the flowers on my plants have been turning into vegetables…

bees, pollenation, wildlife — Our garden is full of hard working bees.

… and more joy, I’ve discovered little dwarf beans forming…

dwarf beans, vegetables, home grown — More excitement when I saw the beans forming.

… and courgettes growing 🙂

Courgette, vegetable, home grown — First fruit forming.

Last week I mentioned having a surplus of plants and an anticipated surplus of vegetables. I’ve decided to sell anything (locally) I don’t have room to grow, or, more than we can eat and give the money raised to a local charity – anyone want a tomato plant or nut tree?

This is the one I’m supporting: COVID 19 Hardship Fund

Next week – plants are selling and more to harvest.

‘Home Grown’ diary project – update 9 … Veggie McVeg Patch…

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Things I’ve discovered along the way…

A few conclusions so far – someone asked me if I’d thrown any seedlings away when thinning out? Well yes I did (just a few), but I didn’t like doing it 🙁 – so as we are two months on, I’ve sown more carrots and more lettuces, to stagger my crops throughout the coming months. This time, I’ve been more careful when placing the seeds out to minimise the need for thinning and therefore wasted growth – is this right or wrong… I don’t know, but it feels right to me.

Was everything organic? – was another question I’ve had – well no, I can’t claim that because I started off using bags of soil and compost bought last year. Plus I have bought some Tomorite which I will use sparingly – however, I can claim that I’ve not used any pesticides or other fertilisers and plan to keep it that way if possible.

Finally, while we continue to enjoy the salad leaves (regularly harvested) – I’ve noticed there are no bugs or slugs on them (bonus!). I guess because they are in a slightly raised large wooden tray and their added protection of the old cloche over the top, nothing can really get to them!

carrots seeds, vegetables, home grown, planting, — Two months on and more carrots have gone in.

More triffids? no these are the courgettes that were potted out. All I can say is all the courgettes seem to be very happy in the large outdoor pots … and …

courgettes, potted, vegetables, home grown, — More triffids? The courgettes have gone bananas…

… we have flowers – Amazing! Yes, I can confirm, baby courgettes are forming 🙂

courgette, flowers, vegetables, home grown, — Getting the camera under the huge leaves, revealed the first flowers.

More flowers …. yes the dwarf beans have joined in and produced the prettiest shade of lilac flower. So we will have beans to, assuming our lovely wild bees find them.

dwarf bean, flower, home grown, — Thought this was the prettiest colour flower ever.

Talking of bees… I managed to capture this little fella on one of the raspberry plant flowers.

raspberry plant, bee, pollination, home grown, fruit crop — The bees are at work and just managed to catch this fella doing his thing.

… and he’s obviously done his job well, because we have some actual raspberries forming 🙂

An update on the tomato plants – to date I’ve only had one seedling not make it, which so far gives me about forty baby tomato plants all growing – again, what was I thinking …

tomatoes, home grown, vegetables, — They are all growing steadily in the warmth of the greenhouse.

Finally, do you remember in update 7, I mentioned I’d rescued two hazel nut seedlings when weeding the main bed. Well they are very happy in their pots and growing well.

Hazelnut plants, home grown, potted — They’ve definitely survived and are growing.

Next week – what to do with surplus plants and produce.

‘Home Grown’ diary project – update 8 … Veggie McVeg Patch…

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Each week I wonder if I will have enough to tell you…

Well I shouldn’t worry, for those of you who are following this and get a smidgeon as excited as I do over the progress… there’s always something to tell 🙂

I did mention in the early days, that I would comment on the photography aspect of recording this project with my iPhone, I am after all a photographer! I’ve decided it will be best to devote a particular blog just to that side of things. That way those of you interested in the growing can read those blogs and anyone interested in the photography challenge can just read that.

A quick update on the carrots and beetroot… its easier for you to see from under the protective wire mesh than above it, as you can see from the following two images. However, since these two images, I have removed the mesh. I think the risk from birds is now over and I’ve developed other ways to keep my feline assistant off! However, suffice to say they both are growing well 🙂

Carrots, grow your own, vegetables, — I hope as much is going on underground as I can see above ground!

beetroot, vegetables, grow your own — I hope as much is going on underground as it is above ground!

The rest of the courgette plants have gone out – three more into large pots, two into the garden, but two I’ve potted on, but kept them in the greenhouse. Why, well as you can see the stem has split? I don’t think it was because of the wire splint, because the others are ok. So we will see if they survive as they get bigger, but for the meantime they stay inside for their protection.

courgette, stem, vegetables, split — I really didn’t expect this one to survive.

courgette, vegetables, grow your own — Hope there is enough room in here for two!

Because I had re-arranged the planting of the dwarf beans, had some spare space for two of the courgette plants to out into the main garden … yes I have a total of nine plants … what was I thinking!!!

The tomato seedlings have gone beyond their two little seedling leaves and sprouted more growth. I can happily report this is continuing at quite a rate … but like the courgettes, I’ve got a lot of seedlings that have survived. More on that next week.

tomato, seedlings, vegetables, grow your own, — … they’re all growing!

So all in all, happy how things are progressing and will report more on the raspberry and blueberry plants next week. However, at the same time as building the wigwam of stakes for the beans, also put stakes in two (the biggest) of the raspberry plants pots, so as they grow taller, will place string round to help support their growth.

vegetables, fruit, greenhouse, grow your own, pots — My nursery of pots is increasing significantly.

Next week – more seeds, more triffids, more flowers … more growth!

‘Home Grown’ diary project – update 3… Veggie McVeg Patch…

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Things are progressing well…. so far…

I have a few more images to share with you, but firstly, there was the naming of the veg patch… with salad leaves, carrots, beetroot, courgettes and dwarf beans seeds all sown… and a little spare time on my hands in the sunshine, was suddenly inspired to create a nameplate.

It had to be named!

The salad leaves all started to appear and grow reasonably quickly and happy under their mini greenhouse cloche.

Salad leaves seedlings starting to appear.

The Beetroot appeared reasonably quickly and then the carrots started to show exactly as the packet said.

Beetroot seedlings came through quite quickly.

Carrot seedlings made an appearance exactly as the packet said!

The courgette and dwarf beans also came through nicely (courgettes at the back and dwarf beans at the front), although I did have three seeds that made a ‘no show’. There were also a couple of ‘breach’ births and with some careful surgery, managed to save them and they continued to grow.

They were started off indoors in the corner of a room, so they wouldn’t get knocked, where the light wasn’t the best for photographs. I had strong sunlight coming through on the left and a dark corner on the right, but rather than carting the tray outside and risk damaging the baby plants, did my best where they were. You will also notice, I had to create little splints for the courgette plants as they shot up quickly and then proceeded to fall over – a delicate procedure, but it seemed to work.

Courgette and dwarf beans coming through.

… and continue to grow they did… had I planted triffids?? The dwarf beans proved a little stronger and no splints were needed.

courgette, dwarf beans, seedlings, plants

I felt like I was growing triffids!

Somewhere in my brain I decided to expand the vegetable growing and find room outside to try tomatoes. Not able to purchase little plants, I spent a whole £1 on two packets of seeds… who doesn’t love a home grown tomato. Again these have been started off in small individual pots in a tray indoors.

I decided to add to the vegetable list.

Quick update on the raspberry and blueberry plants – they continue to grow nicely in their outdoor pots. I might mention here, that with so many raspberry plants available, a couple of them were planted out in the general garden amongst other flowers and shrubs. If they flower and fruit, I’m giving these up to the birds and whatever wildlife fancies a nibble… on the understanding they leave the other potted plants alone!

Next blog diary will be covering the thinning of the seedlings!

Penny Morgan Photography

Helping you be yourself in front of any camera

Tag Archives: gardening

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