… This post is a rewrite of the one that went lost in the ether that is the mobile network, so I will be brief…

I spent a fairly long night weeding a few beds, and found that the winter spinach I planted and thought had never come out, had in fact graced me with some leaves – albeit out of season – that I had for dinner.

Having then planted all the leftover potatoes I set myself the task of picking the last of the leeks, as most of them are going to seed after overwintering through a long fruitful season. Pulling something that looked like a thick clump of long grass, I was surprised to find in my hand a ‘mysterious’ type of alliaceae!

Although it does not have a wrapping skin around it, I came to the conclusion that it must be garlic from last year, either leftover or self-seeding! Neighbour Keith suggested that I split it into cloves and replant it, which did not seem like a bad idea. So out of 5 such clumps I left 3 in the ground, while I transplanted the split cloves of the other two.

End of surprises for tonight!

Tonight was dedicated to the sustainable protection of the gooseberry bush.

I fixed one layer of netting so that the bush fit comfortably underneath and then set up my latest organic defence mechanism: humming lines!

We’ll see if it works.

On the subject of pests, I will also have to do another round of nematodes as slugs are thriving in places (not very much at ease about artificially introducing a parasite in plenty, though). And have a thorough check of the shed, just in case the rat – which I have not seen outside for a while – had the unfortunate idea of taking residence inside.

— Post From My iPhone

I had a look around about gooseberry and it does not seem to be the season to pick them, even though they seemed to be ‘blushing’ as some red appeared on the fruits. Maybe it’s an illness I wonder?

Anyway, one website suggested to pick 10% of the fruits in May to encourage the rest to grow bigger, which I have done. These can be cooked.

Picking season for the rest is July, so two months to go: I will have to use all my resources to keep the pigeons away from the bush: last year they stripped it bare in no time! For now I have put two layers of netting, but they are not very effettive as the pigeons land on the bush and pick the fruits out of it. I will try my new humming line next time I go.

… sowing and weeding, overall a pretty productive evening tonight.

Having cleared the broadbean and onion beds, I filled in some empty space with the leftover onions: hopefully it’s not too late for them to grow. As one of those bonuses that nature often bestows on the amazed newby gardener, I got 8 unexpected garlic plants from seed, which I also planted.

Here goes the story: having left some garlic go to seed last year I had picked the seedheads and left them in the greenhouse, not for one second seriously contemplating a future for them, just out of habit. While watering some seedtrays last winter, I accidentally knocked the said seedheads, which fell in a tray. I was in a hurry so I just left them there… and there they were, appeared one day among the aubergine seedlings!

Dealt with the solanaceae, and realised that – although they have indeed suffered – there were more survivors than expected.

Still to do:

• planting potatoes and other seasonal,
• pick the remaining leeks from the winter, as they are going to seed, and
• urgently – pick the gooseberries before they end up exterminated by the pigeons, which are starting to break the soft branches to reach down on the fruits.

— Post From My iPhone

I spent most of the afternoon strimming with my shears: it seems incredible how lush the greeneries become all of a sudden, and for all of summer it’s firefighting to keep weeds at bay!

Gave a thorough watering, then ran out of energies, so I have a long list of things left to do, with the following most urgent:

• plant potatoes and onions (leftovers)
• sow carrots and other seasonal
• transplant last of aubergine, tomato and chillies

And next week should get some pallets to make decent compost heap and complete my wildlife station.

I have been away: what will I find when I finally manage to get back to the plot?

Weather in my town has been forcasted as sunny and sunny and sunny… Transplanted seedlings might not be too happy with that.

— Post From My iPhone