What are we doing in the garden 2025

@shiney , re the dandelion flowers. Get a suitable length bamboo cane, (so you don't have to bend) and switch them off. You can then rake up the flowers or use the mower to pick them up. This is an old method for dead heading large areas of naturalised daffodils.

 

I didn't plan to do much outside today, as it was chilly and windy. But I went out to move a pot of bulbs that had gone over, and ended up spending the whole morning rearranging and tidying the patio.

 

I found that behind one of the 15ft high shrubs at the end of the garden, there was another shrub of similar height, that has died. I'm not sure whether it died because of age, lack of water, strangled by bindweed, or something completely different.
Anyhow, its long, straight(ish) stems (no, it's not bamboo) broke off easily at just below ground level, and, although not being entirely straight, will serve as an alternative to canes.

I've also been removing more bluebells and bindweed, since the garden waste bin was emptied this morning.

We did have more rain at lunchtime - for which I am thankful.

 

Cut down a very old lavender bush that was slowly dying and replaced it with a new one, planted another lavender somewhere else.
Hubby cut the front lawn and i asked him if he could not cut the daisies in it, so he left them.

Checked the jparkers website and i can order spring bulbs to come in the autumn, haven't worked out how many but it will be a lot.

 

There do seem to be a lot of daisies in people's lawns this year. Reminds me of when I was young and making daisy chains. Not seen them for years. Rather nice I think.

 

Reclaimed first bit of my new garden and plopped in an evergreen Lonicera, white Clematis, everlasting Sweet Pea, some Ornflowers (I'm bad with first letters on my lovely Dymo ) and white Verbascum.

In reality, this has taken months to clear the knee high nettles, felling the middle fence, erecting the wires and most importantly, digging two spades deep into the clay and mixing in manure, compost and whatnots. This area used to be paving slabs sitting on rubble and plastic, now it feels and smells lovely. I spied The Child smelling the earth when making the planting holes. What a joy a simple patch of soil can be



The fence is painted black near the patio which is ok, and after considering a uniform colour I decided to let things be. The plan is to clothe the fence with climbers so that the colour doesn't matter- and I much prefer plain, ageing wood. OK, and I'm lazy

All of the "I wonder if these are still ok"- seeds from the bottom of the seedbox have happily germinated so now I will have to fit several Gourds, Ipomoeas and about 30 turnips somewhere.

 

Cosmos are my nemesis, why they are referred to as easy to grow I’ll never understand. I’ve managed one!! One orange out of a full tray, two pink rose puff which are leggy as hell and trying to prematurely flower. Two lemon and actuality I’ve managed quite a few of the white double click puff!! I can’t wait for my final results but I do think I’ll be topping up with plugs.

 

I usually have better success with sowing them directly outdoors. I wanted to do it this weekend but with it being so dry, and cold temperatures forecast, I'm going to try a couple of trays indoors. Wish me luck!

I have managed to grow Cosmos Sulphureus (the bright orange one) indoors this season and have got some quite nice stocky little seedlings.

 

I’ve never had any luck sowing Cosmos direct. I find Purity the easiest out of those I’ve tried to grow and always get a good germination rate. Xanthos was also easy to grow. I do grow some of the pink/red and mixed and I get a reasonable germination rate - Dazzler and Sensation seem ok this year.

I’ve tried various orange ones and I think I got about 3 in my most successful attempt. Frustrating as I love the zingy colours.

 

The wind was so cold yesterday I wore an anorak, despite the brilliant sunshine. I finally gave in to my seed potatoes staring at me from the window sill and got them planted into containers, it was hard work for me but I did it. Can barely move this morning.
I split a compost sack open flat, tipped each container out and removed the weeds, lugged a sack of 10 years old soggy farmyard manure down the garden and mixed it with the old compost then planted the potatoes. I know I will probably have scab.
I also weeded the 2 containers with dahlias in from last year, I topped them off with some of the soggy manure as the soil was bone dry.
Next project is the runner bean patch. I am experimenting by growing dwarf runner beans around the bottom of the wigwam with ordinary runner beans, it is about time to sow them indoors.
The chillies are almost ready to pot on again, also the tomatoes. Must get sowing cucumbers, cornichons, broad beans and peas.

 

Cold start to the morning but we managed quite a few "small" jobs. The paths needed to be paths again. Why do most of our plants decide that growing over/in the paths a good thing. But we cleared back as much as we could. Then the first transplanting of morning glory seedlings. Planted out in an area that we can see from the kitchen. Love seeing the gorgeous blue as they open mid morning. Trying a different approach with some more MG seedlings. Put up a trellis in the tunnel and transplanted them there. Probably wont work as it will get too hot. However the first seedlings were from 2021 collected from plants here and the second lot were from 2022! Amazing germination, just wish all seeds germinated as well.
Picked some swiss chard that did badly last year but then started growing this spring. Another harvest of radish and good sizes.

 

Just watering and more watering no significant rainfall for some time, water butt almost empty. Several plants not doing as well as they ought to be as they're relying on tap water.

No rain forecast, I'm getting a bit concerned for the garden now.

 

Longer term forecast is virtually nil chance for next 4 weeks.
It would be a prudent gardener who
1) fills all containers
2)plants with survival in mind ie 'puddling in'
3)prioritises essentials -food before flowers
4) considers use of grey water, making appropriate arrangements
5)plans for the future in terms of 1-4
6) campaigns for appointment of Minister for drought; worked last time ! (Denis Howell august 1976)

 

Been away in France for VE80 Commemoration. Came back to find these. Top one is a Viburnum Kilimanjaro , the second a Viburnum Mariesii , and finally some Hawaiian Coral peonies