Vertical gardening

During the week I picked up some hanging plant troughs from a local gardener to add to my vertical garden. The wall is south west facing and gets very hot in the sun, so I buried some pots into the troughs to get water to the bottom. Had some beans, pak choi and lettuce ready to go in, so in they went. Job done.

 On the lower level I have pots with courgette, French beans, a Jostaberry and a Passion flower.   

 On the top level there are three small Tumbler tomatoes which are doing very well and starting to fruit already.

Mid-June roundup - Fruit

I've not reported on the progress of some of the soft-fruit for a while. The fig is catching up. I thought it was a gonner after the bad winter, but it is in a sheltered sunny position against the fence. Enclosed in a case to restrict root growth in order to give better fruit.

 There are four small apples on the Elstar and putting on lots of new growth. The wires are very close to the fence so in need to replace the short eyes with longer vine eyes to bring the wire further away.

 Expecting a bumper harvest of strawberries this year, some of which are turning red already.

 Finally, I don't want the birds beating me to the blueberries, so I protected the bush with some fleece.

Mid-June roundup - veg

Things are growing so quickly now we've hit the summer solstice (and maybe all the wet weather!) that I thought I'd take some pictures of their progress.

Good crop of peas this year, swelling up nicely.

 My beefsteak tomatoes in the greenhouse are racing away compared to those outside.

  Here, Super Marmande...

 ...here Big Boy...

 ...and here Bel Riccio.

Aldis are doing some summer veg at the moment for £2.99. Picked up an aubergine. Now sure what variety, but label said it was compact and suitable for patios. I tried growing one last year but it failed to pollinate. This one has lots of flower buds on it already, so hopefully it will do better.

 The Rocket potatoes in the bulk-planter are doing so well I've had to stake and string them up.

 

How to grow apricots

Every week I take my granddad shopping, and every week I pick a different fruit and try to grow it. This week, apricots.

Initially I thought of just popping the seed in some compost, but thought I'd look it up on YouTube. Good job I did, because you have to get the seeds out of their shells first. Pliers didn't do the job, so into the vice they went.

 Once out of the shells they looked like almonds.

 My research had turned up two methods of getting them to germinate.One wrapped in a piece of tissue in a plastic bag...

 ...the other straight into compost.

We'll see which method works best...

First beetroot of the year

I couldn't stand it any longer, watching the baby beetroot approaching golfball size. Had to pick some and boil for 20 minutes. Absolutely splendid...

 And while some crops are being pulled, others are being pricked out and potted up ready for late summer and autumn. Here, Pak Choi. The first crop bolted because I kept them in pots for too long. Will try not to make the same mistake with these guys.

The dibber and widger I bought off ebay several months ago are very handy. I might do a post on 'tools of the trade' to show what goes on in the engine room behind the scenes.

Moseley in Bloom Open Gardens 2012 - Day 2

On the second day the weather was much better and the family tagged along. Being on the southern side of Moseley the properties were not so grand, but the gardens were still of a very high standard.

This garden was designed by Joe Swift from Gardener's World about 8 years ago. While many of the other gardens had many of the same plants, you could tell that Joe wasn't a local, choosing many different varieties which made a refreshing change.

 There were other pleasant suprises in the next garden. Here, a Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis Forticosa.

 This garden was absolutely superb, the only one I went back to take a second look at. The owners actually had recently put their house up for sale and are relocating to Liverpool. After 8 years of hard work I'd be gutted to be leaving this behind.

 

 In the next garden I liked how the steps incorporated little veg beds.

 This was another garden that had been given a makeover, but only last year. Remarkable how quick plants settle in and make themselves at home.

 Finally, the star of the show was this beautiful climbing rose, Paul's Himalayan Musk. Definately going on my Xmas list this year to grow up through the sycamore at the end of my garden.

 So, exhausted and overdosed on tea and cakes we somehow made it back to the local for a pint and a bag of scratchings. What a fantastic Father's Day. Thanks to all the gardeners for making us so welcome and answering all our questions. I may be volunteering next year!