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how does your garden grow?
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dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44468
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 25 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i have no idea, the weather is "different"

worth a try as i was hoping it would be cropped before the planting time for delicate plants, if not there are other places for frost sensitive things and summer plantings can be ace for speed from seed to harvest

the japanese leafy thing was up in a week this time, the early one took a month

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 9282
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 25 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'll hedge my bets and do some now and some later

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16535

PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 25 8:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

There are some little round holes in the leaves of my cabbages. Don't think it is slugs, and although the white butterflies have turned up in the garden now, couldn't see any caterpillars or eggs. Must be something else, perhaps flea beetle?

Got a few more blackberries yesterday evening, but not too many. Although we have had some rain wondering if it is going to be like 1976 when things didn't ripen because not enough water rather than not enough sun.

Florence



Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 154

PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 25 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Four gardens in the row here are thriving and three are full of colour from flowers with some help from me.

One greenhouse is just about to start the seasonal glut of tomatoes and cucumbers. She's learning fast is that neighbour.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44468
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 25 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

my outdoor cucumbers are doing well, the first two cucs are almost harvest size

the big boys are and they are setting fruit that doubles in size in a day

i was a bit worried i might have overfed both but they seem to thrive on it

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 9282
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 25 9:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16535

PostPosted: Sat Jul 26, 25 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44468
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Jul 26, 25 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

a neat way to get high fruit

if you have access to a set of chimney/drain rods, fit the double corkscrew fitting to the first rod and add enough sections to reach the fruit

some will screw off one at a time, many can be had by shaking the branch and letting them fall into a sheet/tarp

the two bent prongs and a small net on a long stick is a tool often used for top fruit

it takes a bit of practice but it is far faster than waiting, using ladders or tree climbing

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16535

PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 25 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44468
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 25 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

a kilo of blackberries(A+ quality) is in sugar and gin

i will remove the spent berries and add to it over the next month or so

i am not up to fermenting and the freezers are full so tis eat em or blackberry gin, like sloe gin but not sloes

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16535

PostPosted: Mon Jul 28, 25 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18422

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 25 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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 ?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44468
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 25 10:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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

fast leafy greens would like an ex courgette bed

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44468
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 25 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ps i am more a marrow chap than a courgette one but i have grown quite a lot for those who like em

water and nutrient levels can be a huge issue with most of the courgette family
it may have been those rather than temperature

real weather is what it is even if you can water stuff in an organized way, there are assorted other factors

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16535

PostPosted: Wed Jul 30, 25 7:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

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