Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9284 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 25 9:09 pm Post subject:
Three saved seed Charentais melons have started flowering...I don't know if I'll get any fruit, but they are interesting...and quite small flowers.
In the greenhouse as far away from the door as possible. There is a resident small frog that end and so far less slug/ snail damage
The Oolins golden gage that we have had for years has finally fruited again after many years of nothing. Trouble is, a lot of the fruit is rather high up, so having to wait for it to fall before being able to get it. The wasps seem rather keen on it too. Had a couple cut up with blackberries from the garden night before last; really good.
Thanks Dpack. Might try that as we do have chimney rods.
My courgette finally seems to be growing some courgettes, I managed quite a good haul of blackberries again, and got a few potatoes and lifted the onions. They have done well this year, so letting them dry off and then will take them in and knot them up. One of the raised beds isn't too good and think it needs a lot more biochar as it is too dry. Still fighting the caterpillars on the cabbages. The grapes in the greenhouse are doing well at the moment, so hope to get some this year. They often split, but we have had sporadic rain this summer, so hope it came at the right time for them. I have been thinning frequently too.
So far we have been eating most of the blackberries, but I am already freezing some. Will have to bottle up the bramble wine and make some more from the blackberries already in the freezer. Had a blackberry and apple crumble last night using some apple from the freezer and fresh blackberries. Having the rest cold tonight. Nice.
Courgette problems here (Mistress Rose, have you had similar ?) : my courgette plants started with the usual (few) male flowers, and then switched over completely to all female flowers, hence tinytiny courgettini with blossom end rot if left on the plants.
I suspect it was too hot for producing male flowers earlier and now it is too late. Any other ideas ?
not courgette, tomatoes, my big boys set fruit then had a month not setting fruit and have now started setting again
i have been fluffing them again as there is a scary reduction of hoverflies and an almost total lack of moths
the cucumbers are prolific at setting fruit with no fluffing, just a few bees and hoverflies have done well
temperatures might be involved, although the same type of courgettes have done well for me in cool and hot summers
it might be worth fluffing the courgettes if there is a male flower among the women
otherwise pull em and replant with something else for sooner or perhaps later
a couple of months of growing season is plenty for some things that are better that barren courgette plants
My courgettes are just producing fruit, and seem all right although the one remaining plant hasn't grown that well. I will be keeping an eye on them to pick as ready, so will look out for that Gil. I do sometimes have trouble that way with them in the greenhouse though.
These courgettes are outdoors, and it is really obvious which are male / female flowers - if I had both, I would be paintbrush pollinating just in case. The plants are otherwise healthy. I also have plenty of pollinating insects of various kinds. Disappointed - not the crop I was expecting to fail.
No such probs with the assorted greenhouse toms, which are cropping very well, and at an even, manageable rate.
I do have brassica plants awaiting a final spot. There is space where the broad beans were, as well as the courgette area.
Will give it a week or so. Bearing in mind that the growing season here is behind places south, and shorter (though really depends on first frost). Next time, I will revert to planting more than one variety (usually two or more).
Looked at my courgette yesterday and the courgettes seem to be all right at the moment. There is one male flower just going over, so it seems to have done all right by the female ones so far. Will keep an eye on it, and if I have the same trouble as you, will let you know. Although we have had some dry and very hot periods, in which I have been watering using rainwater, we have had some rain at odd times this year here, so not as bad as some years.
One thing I have noticed, which I also noticed in 1976 is that the blackberries don't seem too keen on letting me pick them. I wonder if it is because the ground is generally dry so they know that any falling to the ground are unlikely to germinate.
Just put a few seed potatoes in a large tub to see if I can do anything for Christmas. First time ever.
Nicky cigreen
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9971 Location: Devon, uk
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 25 9:04 am Post subject:
I think the male / female flowers on courgettes are a reaction to weather conditions and little you can do about it. I do find the more plants I grow the greater chance of success as you only need one male flower.
For me the courgettes got off to a slow start as I had to get them out of the greenhouse when it was so hot in spring, then they were planted when it was too cold.... but they have settled and I have too many coming in now.
Tromboncinos are cropping well too, and this year i built a frame out of old branches for them to climb on and that seems to really suit them.
Sweetcorn is nearly ready.
There is talk of a storm coming in on Monday - so hoping I don't lose the s/c or too many apples to strong winds
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9284 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 25 5:24 pm Post subject:
Any idea who is eating my red onions?
Greeny yellow caterpillar. No stripes.
I'm on my phone not tablet, so can't put photos on.goes inside the leaves.
so tis eat em or blackberry gin, like sloe gin but not sloes
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