Wednesday 11 June 2014

a woman of the soil … the veg garden in June

Before we went on holiday  I was a bit anxious that all the newly planted veg would be devoured by slugs and snails without my daily vigilance  … we have had far more snails this year … they tend to hide at the back of the containers in the shade … I must have despatched dozens into the back field … but they always seem to find their way back into the garden.

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I was genuinely surprised that none of the lettuce had been got at … although I did go round with organic slug pellets before we left just to make sure.  The next picture shows my salad bar behind the container potatoes and broad beans – again, I ran out of room to plant them in the ground.  It will take me a while to get used to not having as much space as I used to – and maybe I will learn a few lessons this year to put into practice next year.

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We have quite a few pigeons and doves visiting the bird feeders and this year they seem to have taken a liking to my brassicas – no sooner than they were planted they were eaten down to a stump … I have run out of spare plants to replace them with now … luckily one bed with more mature plants are still doing okay … but my attempt at a mixed flower/veg bed has been a bit of a disaster.  I mixed some new booster type material into the planting hole which seems to have burned the roots, so everything is now looking a little pathetic and will have to be re-planted with something else.  Oh well … not everything goes to plan.

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One of the raised beds has had its protective cover removed now that the veg has established itself and contains parsnips, carrots, potatoes, beetroot and chard … just a little of each … and I am quite pleased with the results.

The next bed contains peas, courgettes and lettuce … and is doing well … all looking healthy.

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The runner beans are being grown in containers as I didn’t have any room left to grow them in the ground … they are starting to climb nicely … although the snails have taken a fancy to them … but the damage is only minimal so far.

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I have used an old water tank to grow my outdoor tomatoes in – a bit of re-cycling has put it to good use.

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And finally, I have masses of blueberries and gooseberries on the bushes – the blueberries have a way to go yet before they are ripe … and I like to leave the gooseberries until they go soft and sweeten up a bit.  Most of my miniature pears fruitlets have dropped off, there are only half a dozen left now … but I do have plums this year after having none for the last two years, so that is a bonus … plus, the outdoor strawberries are doing well but a long way to go before they ripen.

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It is a joy to see everything doing so well … and the anticipation of future harvests is one of life’s gardening pleasures.

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Oh I nearly forgot the cucumbers and tomatoes

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They are growing like wildfire, I seem to be tying them in every five minutes they are growing so fast – I have plenty of flowers but no fruits forming yet (actually that’s not true, I have just spotted a baby tomato in the centre of the picture – yay!) – mind you I still have some of last years’ tomatoes in the freezer, but nothing tastes the same as a fresh from the vine cherry tomato – can’t wait.

And to finish – a picture of my container grown peas – they have done so well this year.

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‘Til next time – happy veg growing.

45 comments:

  1. For a small space, you have packed in quite a variety of plants. I do like the idea of container growing, too. Our garden is very late since it was so cold when we should have planted. We just planted our pole beans and cucumbers last night, hoping that they mature before the first frost. Some years we have long summers, but this is a strange weather year. Who knows. Your lettuces looks so good. I dare not show our sad garden yet. In a few weeks when everything has come out of the shock of transplant, maybe. Have a great week.

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    1. It's a bit of a squeeze trying to fit everything in Ann so the containers come in really useful and most veg grows surprisingly well in them.

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  2. Such wonderful abundance. Nothing much beats eating fresh fruit and veg you've grown yourself does it?

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    1. I agree Annie - I don't grow in vast quantities which makes what I do grow all the more special.

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  3. Good afternoon Elaine
    Welcome home. I hope you feel well rested after your break.

    Your veggie garden is a delight. You may have lost some crops, but there is plenty for your plates later in the season I am sure.
    I read an article on snails and slugs a few weeks ago. They have a strong homing instinct......apparently they have to be over 68ft from home, not to come back. How they work these things out is beyond me :) I have been collecting them by the bucket load (well perhaps not that many but lots ) and taking them to a field around a mile away from the garden. I pain but it is working..............honestly the things I do.

    Enjoy the sunshine, and of course your lovely garden.

    BTW something has eaten most of my strawberries :( Enjoy yours .......

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    1. Hi Cheryl
      I wouldn't say I feel well rested - I haven't stopped since we returned home. I think I read the same article about snails - I have started putting them on the compost heap where they can do more good as chucking them into the field doesn't really help. Sorry to hear that your strawberries have been eaten - it's not fair is it.

      The weather has been pretty good over the last few days so I have been able to tackle all sorts of gardening jobs as well as sitting and taking it all in.

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  4. We have had the same problem with pear. No brassica left uncovered is safe from wood pigeons on out plot. They devastate even large plants,

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    1. I was really hopeful that I would get a crop of pears this year - half a dozen are hanging on - I'm thinking of securing them with sticky tape before they decided to drop off as well (joke). I will make sure I net what brassicas they haven't had a go at. There's always something isn't there.

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  5. you really do have green fingers everything is bloomin lovely

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    1. Thanks David - let's just hope is stays that way.

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  6. Wow, just look how much you've got in what you call a small space! Amazing! Everything looks healthy and well on.....I've had a few disasters, not a single parsnip and some dreadful slug attacks, I think it's all this rain, they seem to love it. Looking forward to your harvests...xxx

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    1. Sorry to hear about your disasters - slugs just clear everything in their path - you are right - all that rain didn't help - and I guess it's too late to re-sow now. Oh well, there's always next year. Keep smiling.

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  7. Every thing is looking great Elaine... I'm growing blueberries for the first time this year and it looks like I'm going to have a good first crop, can't wait :o)

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    1. I love blueberries too, this will be my first crop on these bushes - just waiting for them to hurry up and ripen.

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  8. You just totally amaze me with your talent for growing things. I adore blueberries and we do have three bushes on the allotment, so I'm looking forward to them! x

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    1. Hope you get a good harvest Suzy - before the blackbirds find them.

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  9. I am amazed how good your vegetables grow in containers. Your so called small space is full of promising food. I am afraid the rabbits eat al the strawberries in our garden which were still green...., and slugs.....when we came back from holiday there were so many on my dahlias. But we happily go on gardening!

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    1. You can grow anything anywhere with a bit of determination can't you. My dahlias are untouched so far but I won't get complacent just yet.

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    2. You can grow anything anywhere with a bit of determination I find. We don't have a rabbit problem thank goodness and so far the dahlias haven't been touched - but I won't get complacent just yet.

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  10. All your fruit and veg look wonderful and I love the way you plant them in whatever space is available, they all look so lush and green. I'd love to grow blueberries as I love them almost as much as gooseberries. Our gooseberries are coming along nicely and we have lots of little plums on the tree. This week we had our first strawberries which were very tasty:)

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    1. Growing in whatever space is available is a case of needs must - I love growing veg but have limited space - it's amazing what you can grow when you think out of the box.

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  11. Your garden looks just wonderful. it is amazing what you have achieved using planters etc. to give you extra space. Everything looks so healthy. It is especially nice seeing all that abundance just as things get cooler here.

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    1. The trouble with growing stuff in containers is all the watering that is involved but I'd rather water every night than not grow anything at all.

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  12. HOLY COW!!!!!!! Ok let's start with the fact that you have an amazing assortment of veggies growing up there and everything looks so absolutely healthy and lush! And I am so glad to hear that the snails have stayed away! Just look at those greens! I would say that it is going very well friend!!! I love how you are growing those peas! This is just awesome and might I add that your tomato growing in that water tank is just hands down fantastic! You have just shown all of us gardeners that with a little creativity it is possible to grow the crops that you want! And you are so right...there is nothing better than a fresh tomato! Keep the pics coming!! And a wonderful week to you! Nicole xoxo

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    1. Thanks Nicole - I have been growing veg for a very long time so I have just about got all of the tricks of the trade now - although some years not everything is a success.

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  13. Bloody marvelous. Yours makes my garden look very sterile and dull. Still, we do now have an abundance of HUGE Calabrese, and plenty of Courgettes. We also have plenty of red soft fruits. Oh, and my Cauli's are almost ready!

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    1. Thanks Cro - I'm surprised at what you have growing and ready to eat - it doesn't seem five minutes ago that you didn't have anything planted - you must have the magic touch.

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  14. Oh my, Elaine, you are going to have so many vegetables. It must be a lot of work, but very satisfying at the same time. xo.

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    1. I don't grow huge amounts Diane - but there are only two of us so there is all that we need.

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  15. It's certainly all looking, and sounding, rather good despite the threat of snails and pigeons. You also seem to have coped with the downsizing well and I'm sure that next year will be even better having learnt from this first year. Flighty xx

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    1. I agree Flighty downsizing has presented some problems but I am getting round them as best I can.

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  16. Elaine,
    Your garden looks amazing and so healthy and full of so produce. Did you have anyone watering it while you are away? Do you give it an extra feed or have you just got green fingers? Sarah x

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    1. Yes I did Sarah a friend looked after it for me - I only feed the stuff in containers the rest of it has to make do with regular watering and that's all.

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  17. Such a satisfying collection of fruit n' veg snaps. Nowt beats growing your own. Mr TG goes out in the garden most nights now on snail patrol. Think he found over 80 in one night & ours is just a small garden. The frogs are doing their bit to keep the numbers down too.

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    1. Wow - eighty snails - that's a lot - I haven't done a late night snail patrol yet but I know they are out there lurking.

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  18. I'm so pleased to know that you returned from your holiday to find such a healthy garden! What a relief... I can't believe how wonderful it all looks, and I'm sure you'll enjoy harvesting as ripening continues :)

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  19. Thanks Glo - I too was relieved I can tell you - it's always a worry when you are away that some catastrophe will happen luckily all was well.

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  20. Oh my Elaine - what an impressive vegetable patch you have my friend. I will be stopping by to sample some of those delightful veggies - take care and have a great week-end.

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    1. Thanks Debbie - hope you enjoy the weekend too.

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  21. I'm so awe inspired by your garden Elaine, you put so much work into it and the rewards are just heavenly.
    Patricia x

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    1. You are right Patricia - the rewards are worth all the work.

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  22. Looks like you've done a marvellous job of filling up the space, Elaine. Such a shame about your brassicas. I have a couple of trays of broc and cauli to go out and I'm dreading it! So many slugs this year and the birds seem to be peckish too which didn't happen last year. Still, as you say, what will be, will be!

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    1. I have never had a problem with pigeons before - they are getting too cheeky by half.

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  23. Cheryl's right - snails do have a homing instinct. Take them for a drive somewhere far away and that should scupper them for the summer. Even if their homing radar sets them off in the right direction of your garden, your crops will be harvested before they make it home!

    Your plot is looking magnificent - so full of promise, despite attacks from lesser loved pests.

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    1. Thanks Sarah - I think the snail removal is something I will have to consider if anything is to survive this year - I keep trying to find all their hiding places but I think they are getting cleverer.

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