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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 6, 2023 21:18:15 GMT
Thanks for removing that picture, Sue. It was raining this afternoon so I went in the greenhouse again and took some geranium cuttings .When it stopped raining I did some more side shooting on the chrysanths.
Went on the allotment this evening and started weeding the remainder of the brassica bed which is rather overgrown. I had previously weeded a strip a yard wide along the back and planted the sprouts. There was a lot of a weed on this bed that I call "redleg" (Polygonum persicaria).It grows about 2 fet tall.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 7, 2023 21:42:05 GMT
A dry day today. This morning I started putting more ties on the chrysanths but I ran short of twine. When taking cuttings yesterday I ran short of compost so I went to the hut for another bag of compost and some twine.I finished tying the chrysanths when I got home. This afternoon we had to go to the opticians and when we got back I just did some tidying up ,getting rid of plants I no longer needed.There were a few annuals left in cell trays and about 12 dahlias. I have been giving away some plants on the allotments recently but I didn't think any of these were good enough to give somebody and it is too late to plant dahlias.
I went on the allotment this evening ,mainly to carry on weeding the brassica bed but I staked 4 gladioli and disbudded some dahlias.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 8, 2023 22:07:42 GMT
Another dry day. I cut the first chrysanths ,Matlock and bronze Matlock and put them in a vase in the house.These varieties always flower first before all other varieties.Spent the rest of the morning carrying on weeding the border round the back lawn and nearly finished it.
Went on the allotment this afternoon while the lady who comes to look after Rosemary (Cindy)was here.Beds that I have weeded and planted recently with Brussel sprouts and annual flowers have thousands of tiny weeds coming up between the plants so I treated these with weedol,being careful not to get any on the plants.I also treated some weeds on the paths with roundup. Spent the rest of the time carrying on with weeding the brassica bed.
The carer came late this evening to put Rosemary to bed so I didn't think it was worth going to the allotment again as I wouldn't have had very long. So I decided to rub some labels instead as there are a lot to do.I write all the labels in pencil and it is easy to rub out so I use the same labels over and over again.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 9, 2023 21:58:19 GMT
Had about 45 minutes on the allotment this morning and went again this evening,just carrying on weeding the brassica bed and nearly finished it. We went a walk this afternoon and when we got back I mowed the lawns and Rosemary rubbed some labels  Chrysanths cut yesterday  Rosemary sat in garden rubbing labels |
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 10, 2023 21:06:26 GMT
Warm and sunny today so I watered my hanging baskets this evening as well as this morning.On my way home from Blackleach at 3.00 I called at school to feed the tomatoes.I picked some ripe ones and left them on the bench for someone to take home.When I got home I had just time to cut the lawn edges
Went on the allotment this evening and finished weeding the brassica bed. Started weeding where I had sown dwarf French beans.Not many had germinated but I have a few in pots that I can plant.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 11, 2023 21:07:50 GMT
Been on the allotment for a bit this morning and again this evening. We went for a walk at Blackleach this afternoon then I finished weeding the border round the back lawn and did a bit at the front. On the allotment I finished weeding where the French beans are. I then raked fish, blood and bone into part of the brassica bed that I had cleared and planted twenty cabbages. I cover brassicas with a net to keep the butterflies off supported on a framework of canes. I started making this framework of canes but didn't get time to finish it before it went dark.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 12, 2023 21:06:44 GMT
Went to the allotment this morning and finished making the structure of canes over the cabbages and started putting the nets on but it started raining so I had to come home.Went back to the allotment this evening and finished putting the nets on. They go right down the sides of the structure to the ground and held in position by bricks.
This afternoon I went to Blackleach to write down all the wild flowers and count the birds and took Janet with me.
She does the writing as I tell her the names which is the job Rosemary used to do.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 13, 2023 21:01:18 GMT
Heather arrived last night at 10.30 but she has had to go back home this evening.Because she was here this afternoon I took the opportunity to go on the allotment and I have been again this evening after Rosemary had gone to bed.I put more ties on the sweet peas and staked and tied some more gladioli.The back half of the root crop bed has got some rows of beetroot and turnips in but I spent the rest of the time weeding the other half which was vert overgrown .This is where I intend putting the three frames for growing carrots but it will take me a few days to get it weeded.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 14, 2023 20:06:34 GMT
It has rained most of the day so I haven't been able to do any outdoor jobs. Some of my tomatoes are rotting on the plants and some of the foliage isn't looking good. I am wondering if it is blight.I have never had it on tomatoes.I picked all the ripe tomatoes which were O.K.and cut off all the suspect leaves and bad tomatoes. I sowed a packet of wallflower seeds which came this morning in the Garden News. This evening I have been to a meeting on the allotments.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 15, 2023 21:40:10 GMT
Had an hour on the allotment this morning and went again this evening just weeding the root crop bed.This morning I forked out all the larger weeds and this evening I started hand weeding. Brought home four marrows to take to Blackleach on Thursday to give to anyone who wants them .Took a picture of spray chrysanths Aurora Queen.This variety is always the first to flower. This afternoon I had to take Rosemary to the dentist but we went for a walk after.Just had a bit of time in the garden after.Cut some dahlias Taratahi Rubi to put in a vase.Two dahlias had fallen over so I had to re-stake them, then did a bit of weeding.  Dahlias "Taratahi Ruby"  Spray chrysanths "Aurora Queen" |
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 16, 2023 20:55:31 GMT
Like yesterday,I have been on the allotment part of the morning and evening and I finished weeding part of the root crop bed which I have been doing for the last few days.
We went a walk this afternoon and when we got home we just sat in the garden for a while. I bud bagged some chrysanths after.
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Post by grindle on Aug 17, 2023 3:27:03 GMT
lovely chrysanths Derek  |
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 17, 2023 21:28:32 GMT
Thank you ,Grindle.
On my way home from Blackleach at 3.00 I called at school to feed the tomatoes again. Bagged some more chrysanths when I got home.
Went on the allotment this evening.I told you yesterday that I had finished weeding the part of the root crop bed where I want to grow carrots. On the allotment I grow carrots in three frames.They are three of the frames that I use for hardening off tender plants at home in spring.The reason for growing carrots in frames is that I cover them with mesh to keep out the carrot flies. I grow them in bore holes filled with sieved compost.This evening I put the frames in position and made 18 bore holes in one of them (three rows of six) and put the compost in. To make the holes I have a round piece of wood like a brush handle,pointed at the end. I knock it in with a mallet and move it about from side to side to make the hole wider at the top. When putting the compost in I poke it down with a cane to make sure it goes to the bottom of the hole and leave no air pockets.I didn't have time to sow the seeds so that will have to wait till next time I go.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 18, 2023 20:03:25 GMT
This morning I fed my hanging baskets, tubs, tomatoes and cucumbers again then went on the allotment.Went to the allotment again this evening but only had half an hour because it started raining. I made 18 bore holes in the second frame and sowed the carrot seeds in them and also in those I made in the first frame yesterday.The variety is Sweet Candle. This afternoon I just mowed the lawns.
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Post by derekbrooks on Aug 19, 2023 20:30:46 GMT
As you probably know, I have a wooden framework over my chrysanth beds over which I put sheets of polythene to protect the blooms from the rain. Because I have not as much gardening time as I used to have I didn't know if I had enough to fix it up. It is a big job and it isn't a job that can be left half finished because the polythene needs nailing on securely with strips of wood all round the frame. I didn't intend going anywhere today until evening so I was wondering whether to have a go at it.I had to do my watering first as I do every morning but when I went up the garden to the greenhouses I saw that part of the wooden framework had collapsed.I definately haven't time to repair it now, while I am so busy so I just put all the wood behind the greenhouse in case I need it again so I won't be able to cover my chrysanths this year.
I tied up all the dahlias and disbudded them.Some more were leaning over and needed re-staking.I did some dead heading including the roses and some more tying up .Cut all the dying flowers from the lady's mantle to stop it spreading.I do like lady's mantle but I don't want it all over the garden.
Went on the allotment this evening.Made twelve bore holes for carrots in the third frame and sowed the seeds.I hadn't enough seeds to do any more.
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