growingstrong's Blog

What a surprise to see the neighbours tree had decided to relocate to our garden. Just to give you an idea of size. 18′ was over our garden & another 12′ still over his side.

So that was top of this weekends ‘to do’ list. Finally finished the weeding & greenhouse clearing, all the pots are lined up ready to be filled & put to use.

I have pretty much all the seeds I need for this year, who am I kidding there is always some more you want/need later on.

I have brought 2 x Cranberry shrubs & 1 x Redcurrant shrubs that will be going in the ground this weekend. I just need to get a Blue Berry one & then I am all set on the soft fruit front this year.
Gooseberry & Grapes seem to be going well from last year & the new apple tree already has a few buds appearing.

The Damson tree is as strong as ever. Hoping to get a good crop of fruit off it again this year.

1, Label seeds a bit better, last year I mixed up the label’s a few times & where I thought I had Sprouts, I actually had Broccoli & where I thought would be Swede was actually Celery.

2, Plant more regularly, last year I did 1 sowing of Cauliflower & 1 of each of the Cabbages. So I really need to make a few more sowing of each.

3, Give composting a go

4, Give Mushrooms & Cucumbers another go this year too, 3rd time lucky.

Providing the wind calms down a fair bit I am hoping to do a bit of weeding & dig over the dirt ready to start planting again soon. All I have left growing is 1 White Cabbage & 1 Leek. Really need to put some flower bulbs in too.

Today’s Picture: When I brought the seeds for the Fibre Optics plant I was told it was an indoor plant that needed light & warmth, well I started the seeds in the Greenhouse a couple of summers ago & while the weather was warm left it outside. I decided to move it indoors just before the weather turned & within a week it had turned brown & died, I put the pot out back & it started to grow back so I left it to it’s own devices. It has since survived 2 winters & summers outside with no real looking after & It has stayed this bright green. I will admit It is a beauty to look at. Here’s to a few more years of growth . . .

Went out early on Saturday morning (It was still dark) picking up garden furniture after a very windy night & as I knelt by the carrot & parsnip bag I decided to pull up what was left as the foliage was starting to look a bit dire.

I was totally shocked by the amount of Carrots still growing, I was hoping to have a few for Christmas diner but the amount we have there will be enough for Christmas, Boxing day, New years & to give away too, so saying I am happy is rather an understatement.

I didn’t get to do too much else as I have lots of baking to do this weekend so was mostly just checking things were ok & nothing needed too much tending too which thankfully didn’t.

Got to have a clean up of the dirt before the Ice & Snow arrives. have got 2 types of parsley growing nicely outside but might move in to the house or greenhouse as it’s a shame to let the frost get to them.

Went out in to the garden at the weekend to start on some weeding only to find I had made a rookie mistake and not collected all the potatoes from the dirt & whatever was left behind has sprouted in the grow bag. The foliage is quiet a size too, really don’t know how I managed to miss it.

Anyway I have received my order from www.vegetableseeds.net. I went for a few things I haven’t grown before
Climbing French Bean Yardlong – sooo looking forward to growing these
Broccoli Romanesco – never tried this before
Lettuce Mixed – just to stock up
Onion Paris Silverskin – going to have a go at pickling (fingers crossed)
Radicchio Indigo – never tried this either
Cauliflower All Year Round – Needed these too
Chicory Palla Rossa – never tried this
St.John’s Wort – No idea why I chose this, but lets see what happens with it
Cabbage Red Drumhead – just fancied this
& a bit of colour for the garden too
Cornflower – Double Mixed
Godetia Dream Double Mixed
Nicotiana – Sensation Mixed
Salvia – Blaze Of Fire

Only 8 weeks after planting I have been able to pick the first of (hopefully) many Saffron. A little disappointed that the flower only lasts between 3 & 7 days, from what I have seen so far anyway.

Picked the last of the Tomatoes & made a delicious salsa for our Halloween Party on Saturday, also used up last years flavoured Vodka, which went down a treat.

Still have Parsnips, Leek, Onions, White Cabbage, Sprouts & Swede growing.

Pumpkins didn’t work, not sure what happened I had a long stem with plenty of flowers which would start to produce & grow to the size of a 10p then just disappear. Will be doing more research on these for next year

Thank you for the gift voucher very much appreciated

Had a pretty productive Sunday dug over everything, weeded & pulled the veg that has been destroyed by vandels.
Still have about 4-5 sprout sticks, white cabbages, swede & leeks in the ground. Didn’t get round to pulling the last of the Carrots & Parsnips but I am reluctant to do this as having problems with storage. Got to do abit more reserch on this I think!

1 litre Vodka (cheapest variety as your adding to it anyway)
500g Plums (cut into quarters)
175g Sugar
2 x 1litre watertight storage jars

Split all of the ingredients between the two jars (I usually round up to make it easier 180 g sugar & 8 plums)
Break 2 plum stones for each jar & tie in white cotton cloth.
Leave jars in cool dark place & give them a good shake every few days until the sugar melts for about 6 weeks. Then take out the stones & put the jars back in the cupboard for at least 4 weeks & up to 9 months. Pour into bottles when your ready to enjoy.
The fruit is great with Ice cream but very alcoholic.

If your looking to try different flavours without too much work & cost buy some share size packs of Skittles (originals are best) & add 6 skittles to 1 shot of Vodka, give it a good mix until the sweets have dissolved or if your impatient like me take them out after 5-10 minutes. Great at party’s because you have lots of flavours to choose from.

Enjoy

This great weather we have been having in the Midlands has worked wonders on our Tomatoes. Still picking lots.

We had put some Carrots under Sand for storage but most (not all) have imploded. Not nice when I put my hand straight into a sloppy mess.

We have put some of our fruit to use this past weekend by making some flavoured Vodka.
Plum ~ Mango ~ Strawberry ~ Purple Grape ~ Orange
We will be giving it away as Christmas prezzies if all goes well.

Very pleased with our Saffron, out of 30 bulbs planted early September we have 70 shoots as of this morning. Our Burning Bushes have started to turn red for the winter. One or two lilies are popping through & our poor little Redlove apple tree is bald but lots of buds already for the next season

Really should start thinking of better titles.

Haven’t been able to do a lot in the garden the last few weeks with the wind and rain etc. . . but whatever it brings this weekend i really want to get out there and put in some Onions sets.
I have noticed a couple of my White Cabbage are covered in greyish mould, so they have got to come out. Still getting lots of new flowers appearing on my Pumpkins but nothing more yet.
I had great success drying out most of my herbs for over the winter period, although i messed up the Chives, but they have grown back with a vengeance and are ready to but cut short again which I will attempt to dry out again this weekend.
I have picked all my Peas & Beans and have frozen them ready for Christmas. I have stored lots of carrots & Parsnips ready Christmas too, that is if there are any left by then.

My Sprouts & Leeks are still growing great and I still have some Carrots & Parsnips in the ground. Not much to report on the Swedes, there seems to be a lot of green foliage but not much else yet. Will have to take a closer look at the weekend.

Would love to say that everything is growing great & I have had no disasters, but that’s just not the case. Almost all of my Cabbages bolted, see below, they make very nice flowers. Once the heads appearred on the Broccolli there wasn’t much time before it too turned to flower.

The latest addition to our garden is this redlove apple tree, we have put it in a pot as we didn’t want another full grown tree in the garden, must admit though it is growing great, slightly sheltered by our Damson tree.