Harvest time

I love this time of year all those days sitting in the wind and the rain cursing the English summer weather. When you want to be out tending the vegetable patch are forgotten about.

Its time to start enjoying the produces of my labour and as a bonus I get a welcome break from the long suffering. That said theirs a lot of work still to be done, all that harvesting and dead heading takes time.

The one good thing about the weather this year is that there’s a bumper crop. I’ve picked five bags full of runner beans already, the freezers stuffed full of the things, the onions are coming on a treat and I’ve never seen so many tomatoes in my life- I haven’t a clue what to do with them all.

The plums haven't turned out as nice this year as they have in previous years, but hopefully it won't affect the long sufferings plum jam she loves to make the stuff. Can't say I'm particularly fond of it but She does redeem herself with a rhubarb crumble to die for.

I won’t let her get her hands on my apples, I have a much better use for them. Me and my friend Tom make an amazing cider that’s full of flavour and will last right up until Christmas, the recipe was pasted down from my father and has been perfected over a number of years. The locals love the stuff.

Taking cuttings

Summers here the grandchildren have destroyed my lawn and the next doors barbeque smoke is killing my sun flowers.

Oh how I love summer!

Anyway enough grumbling for now, I’ve got important work to do harvesting the cuttings for my next crop of plants and collecting the runner bean seeds for next year.

I always choose healthy, non-flowering new shoots from the shrub and take cuttings of about 3in long.

Then I prepare them by making a straight cut beneath a pair of leaves and then remove several sets of lower leaves, keeping only a couple of leaves at the tip of the cutting.

The next stage is to fill a pot with compost, level and firm. Insert several cuttings around the edge of a pot, keeping their leaves clear of the surface and water well. And then leave cover with a carrier bag and leave in the green house, simple and its saves a fortune.

I always collect the best runner beans to use the seeds for next year that way you get the best possible runner beans, the long suffering just thinks I am being tight.

Open garden

Its mid way through summer already, not that you would realise it was summer with the weather we've be having.

I actually managed to get out in the garden the other day in between the rain and noticed that the plants in the garden, like most things in life when they get mid way through have began to run out of steam and need a bit of a boost.

Once they have completed that early flush of growth they really benefit from a good feed. I find that powder works best applied directly to the soil and then watered well to wash it down to the roots.

I want to try and get the garden looking its best for the weekend as the long suffering has signed us up for a blinking open garden thing, the last thing I really want is 300 people traipsing through the garden destroying my lawn and knocking over the flowers but the long suffering has insisted. And if I have to do it then it's got to look good, I am not going to let her up the road beat me to first prize.

Garden crime wave

We got home from shopping the other day and were confronted by the local gossip and head of the neighbour hood watch.

She invited us to the next neighbour hood watch meeting, before I had a chance to make my excuses the long suffering had accepted and that was that.

The next day an agenda arrived through the door and top of the agenda was garden crime. That had me twitching so I thought I`d make the effort and attend.

I dually showed my face and listened on to PC Barry waffle on about sheds being broken into in the area and july being the busiest time nationally for garden crime. The yobs are even lifting sheds up from the ground to get in them.

Mrs Briggs the old lady from next door but one had her shed broken into at the weekend, they stole everything, all her husbands tools and even the garden ornaments they have been collecting since they wed. About £4,000 worth in all, worse luck the insurance company would only pay a maximum of £1,000.

Thats it I said to the long suffering I m digging the tent out from the atic and were camping in the garden in july, no yobbos going to steal my lawn mower.

Summers arrived

I was out in the garden the other day taking advantage of the recent good weather. It`s been a long time coming and it probaly won`t last long so I thought I`d best make the most of it, putting in some much needed tlc to my vegetable patch.

The runner beans are shooting up now and it looks like I should have a good crop this year fingers crossed.

The strawberries have ripened up nicely so I picked a few for the long suffering before the slugs get them that will make her day a nice treat for tea time.
Another bit of good news, the tomato`s are starting to show signs of life after that blasted mutt knocked them all over. So all in all not a bad day in the garden.

Doggy Disaster

The long suffering agreed to babysit her friend`s new puppy and guess who got lumbered with the flea ridden mutt as she went to the shops?

yep muggings here.

I was watching the mutt in the garden when the phone rang- when I returned the mutt was having a right old chew of my tomatos. Never seen anything like it in my life!! .

I tried to get him out of there quick but it was too late he had knocked four of them over splitting the stem right through.

I ve pinched out the end of the stems and, fingers crossed, there will be no lasting damage

A day at Chelsea.

Last week I was reluctantly dragged to the Chelsea Flower Show by the long suffering. It's her little treat and once again she enjoyed her day out.

Me? Well if you think barging your way though hordes of yapping pseudo gardeners, paying a small mortgage for a cup of tea and a bun, looking at things that resemble film sets rather than somebody's back yard is fun ... then Chelseaq is for you.

The crowds are horrendous and the so-called "show" gardens are a million miles away from reality. I was just glad to get back to my veg pack - after I'd dragged the contents of numerous carrier bags across the flippin show!

I can't stand the place.

Back to reality, I spent the weekend in the garden - the first time for some weeks - and I decided to water my newly planted fruit trees, roses and shrubs regularly to help their root systems establish. I also gave them all a dose of Rootgrow - guaranteed to get them towering over the neighbours efforts!!

I also did some work weeding my borders and I stuck some young plants into pots and filled the old greenhouse. That'll give me the excuse to potter round the garden each evening - chcuk some water on my babies and have a couple of sneaky half pints in the shed whilst I'm at it.

Anyway - summer's almost here now - and I for one can't wait to get a bit of sun on my back.

The slowest but deadliest killer going.

Its that time of year again when us gardeners resume battle with our enemy - yep I am talking about the pesky garden snail and his chum the slug.

I was about to protect my vegetables with the industrial strength snail killer I`ve been using for past few years when the long suffering reminded me of the incident with next doors cat last year (that's a story for another time).

So I've now been persuaded to join the bandwagon and go green. I've always been one for natural remedies - and so when it comes to slug duffing, I now have the perfect answer.

I use old beer!

The blighters can't resist the stuff - and its an excuse to crack open another bottle anyhow. So, I usually stick a drop of Spitfire into containers dug into my borders. You can usually rely on the silly beggars rushing out as soon as the beer is poured - and I always have a catch!

The only thing that breaks my heart though ... is the sheer waste of good ale.

I suppose its a small sacrifice though!

Still no sign of Spring

It's supposed to be getting close to Spring - but what on earth is the matter with this weather? After the earthquake came the almost-hurricane thing that threatened to bend my garden in two last week!

That said, I've been out doing my bit - there's no shortage of jobs that need doing!

I've put in my carrots this weekend and even found time to pick a nice bunch of daffs for the Long Suffering - I've also got some crocus growing in the lawn and I'll wait until they produce some seed before cutting that area of grass. I also pruned the roses on Saturday so they're looking all spick and span -cutting out the old branches as close to ground level as possible.

Some of my fruit trees looked a bit hungry too - so I gave them a dash of high potash feed. Then I did a bit more work on the lawn and repaired a couple of damaged areas by loosening the soil and sowing some seed. I then covered the patch with a bit of polythene tapped down with a couple of pegs.

So, I suppose that they're all spring-ish jobs - but I want that sun on my back please!

That's that sorted!

Those who know me know how much I enjoy my potatoes.

God's onw food I always say - and I have to say the Long Suffereing certainly knows how to prepare the best Jerseys I've ever tasted. So, in February and March I tend to sort out mt spuds for later in the year. I'm usually a bit later than most - but I find its always worked for me.

I normally get my chitting underway in late January (that simply means encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before planting). The potatoes are then ready to be planted out when the shoots are 1.5-2.5cm (0.5-1in) long.

So, this weekend I've been out planting - the soil has started to warm up a bit by now I dug my trench about three inches deep, adding a dash of fertiliser before planting. I plant them about a foot apart with 18 inches between the rows. I always make sure the shoots are pointing upwards and careful not to break the shoots. After covering the potatoes lightly with soil I've now got to wait until the shoots appear before covering them with a ridge of soil so that the shoots are just buried.

Now all I have to do is sit and watch the little lovelies grow!

Poll crazy?

The Long suffering threw me the paper this morning.

She pointed out an article about that DIY and Gardening company 3M. Apparently they'd done some survey which found out that two thirds of women said that a man's attitude to home improvement and gardening reflected their approach to sex.

She then asked me why my rake and two hoes were so small.

Dunno what the woman was on about.

And I told her so an' all.

I like my trees!

As I write this article we are getting drowned on again!

I mean I know that we should be watering our gardens, and evergreen trees and shrubs until it freezes. But for goodness sake I'm wet through!!

Been looking at my trees today.

I've been pruning my elms and oaks and as my pines get older I think they are shedding more -a bit like yours truly to be honest!

With those strong winds last week, I had a load of damaged branches that needed to be cleaned up and removed. The problem is that breaks in the branches allows insect and disease to get into them. That's why the broken portions should be properly pruned to branch collars or other appropriate points.

Trees are important you know - and I don't think we take too much care of ours in this country. Certainly I seem to be surrounded by people who see a tree as an opportunity to take out their axes and chainsaws.

But look after your trees and they'll look after you!

I haven't gone away - I've just been cold!!

Bunny problems are back!

Yep = those damned rabbits are back again. They might look pretty and cuddly but the pesky things are demolishing any new shoot as quickly as they appear.

It's the time of year when rabbits will have a go at almost anything, even plants they are not supposed to like.

Of course the only real cure is to fence and gate off the whole area but that means destroying the look of my dear old garden. I do put some small fences up to protect my special areas – they needn't be ugly but look OK if disguised in boundary hedges.

But I have found one solution to make the problem a little easier to bear.

Rabbit and sweet potato pie.

To paraphrase that turkey farmer - they're bootiful!

A mulching I have been

I've been a mulching today!

I've mulched all my woody plants with around 3 inches of mulch - using the leaves and pine needles that fell in those strong winds last weekend.

Mulch, of course, helps to insulate the soil in case we get no snow and helps retain soil moisture.

I've also been bulb hunting and getting rid of the tender bulbs that I haven't already pulled. Most of them need to be dug once they’re hit by frost anyway.

I've also done a touch of planting - my garlic went in yesterday and I pulled out the frost-killed stuff and chucked that in the compost bin as well.

But it doesn't matter how busy I get in that garden - I can't wait for that sun on my back! Spring can't come fast enough for this kiddie!

Not my favourite time of year!

I don't mind admitting it!

The Long Suffering gets on her high horse and tells me I've tucked into too much turkey and pud - and she then sticks me on one of these diet things. The belssed woman doesn't understand though. A shed is not just for keeping my tools in - I've got a nice cool store of pork pies and hobnobs in there that help keep the cold away.

So I've had reason enough to go down the garden - but I look at my lawn and sometimes wonder will it ever be back to its beautiful best?

That's why I always put a bit of time into the lawn.

I mow it frequently - that used to be just in the summer but now, of course, it grows at a rate of knots, meaning the old mower is out of hibernation earlier than ever. And whilst it will benefit from regular cutting, helping the growth of shoots it also takes a fair bit of goodness out. So, I always follow a good cut with a good feed.

And that means me as well as the old grass!

Gnome sweet gnome

This flippin' awful weather is a real pain for somebody who likes to be out and about pottering.

So, I've taken the opportunity to do some gnome scrubbing this week. I've got a small collection of garden gnomes – not those horrid £4.99 plastic affairs but the proper article.

I also started reading a bit about them.

Did you know that the first appearance of a gnome in this country was in about 1840?

According to local myths gnomes are very lucky. It is documented in the 1870s that manufacture began on a large scale. Apparently they are meant to help around the house and garden, and in more isolated areas were meant to guard over produce and livestock.

Eventually, the European gnome creators became experts and masters of their work. During its most popular period a gnome factory in Griebel, Germany produced over 300 different characters.

The first gnomes were always characterised as gardeners carrying out daily country tasks, but this grew to fishermen, sportsmen, musicians and many more. Then they started to model ones from people still living out of clay or stoneware.

By the way, if you're thinking of selling your home, a study has concluded that a gnome in your front garden would lower the price of your house.

But who cares? They're happy. I'm happy - and she who must be obeyed is happy.