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Recognising seedlings when weeding – parsnips
It’s an important part of weeding – recognising plants you want to keep when they are at seedling stage and this week it was the parsnips I was weeding. The area I had to clear had the little bit of the onion patch on one side which I hadn’t quite finished, and the patch with…
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Summer pruning fruit trees
It was time to prune my cherry and plum trees as the weather has warmed and their appearance was unruly to say the least. Stone fruit trees should be pruned in the warmer summer months as they are prone to infection in the winter when they can’t heal the cut wounds so well. This can…
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A mixed weekend of progress, rain and gardening (plus some blog news)
At the beginning of the weekend, I didn’t think I would be getting much done. We did get a thunder storm on Friday afternoon and I was sure that was to set the tone for the next few days. I wasn’t far wrong! Some indoor jobs were necessary so I was pleased to get the…
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You can’t trust ants (they are in cahoots with the aphids!)
When I saw an aphid infestation on my willow tree, I thought to myself ‘don’t panic, there will be a biological control along soon enough’. When I saw the ants I thought the problem was solved. I was wrong. It turns out when you see something like this: It is a beautiful example of a…
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Making a fairy garden (part 1)
If you listened to this weeks episode of my podcast, you will know I have decided to turn part of the front garden into a fairy garden. There is a patch at the side which just has a lilac and bits and bobs and doesn’t look particularly pleasant. So, I got my thinking cap on…
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Finally transplanting tomatoes and cucumbers into polytunnel
Thanks to the great Scottish weather we’ve had for the last few weeks, my plants are really suffering but I’ve finally managed to get some tomatoes and a few ill-looking cucumbers transplanted into the polytunnel on the plot. I’ve used the string method, where you tie the string to a bar at the top of…
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How am I supposed to grow with this?
I can’t stress enough how desperately I need to get my tomatoes and courgettes etc planted out – but – the weather, oh the weather. Ok, I know it’s a cliche that us Brits go on about the weather but if you’re not from here there are 2 things (probably more) that you need to…
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A Weekend of Garden Work
How can I work in the garden all weekend and still not be done? I ask myself that question as I sit, with tired arms and bits of dirt still in my eyes. I mean, I tidied the front as much as I could by cutting the grass, going round the edges a bit and…
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Garden Visitors
Spending time with the bees and butterflies in the garden. I wanted to round this week off by sharing a couple of snaps I got today when I was in the front garden. I’ve done a lot of pruning of trees there and haven’t been able to get to the branches to cut them down…
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Brassicas without the massacre
Last year was a disaster so I’m hoping this year will be a brassica win. We finally got a break in the weather to get up to the plot and get some of the brassicas in. We need to grow them under a cover with hoops due to the birds which will strip them in…
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I thought I was on a winning streak…but no…
One step forwards two steps back – some days are just like that aren’t they? The day started pretty well, I was up at a good time, got some of my cleaning done, home-schooling, other things which need done daily: all good. Come dinner time, I was on a roll and was even happier when…
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Earthing – do you? Should you?
Whether you call it earthing or grounding, what is it and should you be doing it? The other day I did a post about electroculture which is supposed to help your plants be more healthy but what would you say if I told you there was a way for you to do the same sort…
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