WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Haven't done anything as I've been out all day. So all the millions ( ok yes I exaggerate a bit) of flower pots and various other containers that I was washing yesterday when I had to run for cover due to torrential rain ( not exaggerating now) are still waiting for me and it's my least fave job.
The trouble with me is despite my dislike of having to clean them.....I just can't resist grabbing a load when offered for free. I had a day out today at a huge GC that sells absolutely everything...I'm all Halloweened out now !!! Apart from buying some seeds my other and by far the best bargain was a huge bag of dirty ,but free. flower pots!!
Which have now joined the existing pile that are waiting my attention...... When will I learn..my hubs thought me a tad bonkers when I revealed to him the contents of my star bargain bag.

So weather permitting I know what I'll be doing out in the garden for the next few days.

 

I cant be bothered with washing pots these days, I just leave them outside and evict all the slugs and snails when I want to use them.
Could you not put them in the dish washer.

 

Ordered vegetable seed for next year.

 

Dish washer!!!! We only have the old original type......Humans I think it's called.

 

Agree with you here Upsy ... that is my job ... and boy does J use more than required!

 

Gentle tidying in-between lots of rain and to me, it's brilliant having the rescue Rudbeckia (£10 down to 50p) in full bloom. It's the first time I've had one, so I didn't know what to expect, and lovely to see the blooms at this time of year.

 

Another day with nothing being done on the balcony! Next week I'll make up for it - & won't my back complain!

 

Hi,

Heavy rain this morning so everything's normal. I'm about to head into the workshop and resume work restoring an Howard Bulldog petrol rotavator; if the rain persists then perhaps I'll even enjoy a violin practice; every cloud has a silver lining or two.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Cleared out the guttering on the greenhouse.

 

Fair amount of weeding of the veg beds while removing yellowing leaves from the brassicas. Picked half my Florence fennel and about ten leeks as they were starting to bolt. Got a lot more that aren't which is good. Repotted a bunch of herb cuttings I took at the start of September, all nicely rooted, thank you Monty don. Picked first parsnip of the year.

 

Hi,

I'm getting more organized in the garden; over 40 bin bags of mostly ivy already run to the tip so I thought I'd try bigger stronger bags and have bought two of these to try;




Fed up with soaking wet gloves I've bought three pair of these waterproof gloves; I've had enough of being grounded by rain; once these gloves arrive I can don my waterproofs and carry on working in the rain; yesterday was forecast heavy rain from mid morning by the Met Office so the rain arrived at 10pm last night GRRRRR.



A further purchase is a rubber mat for outside our rear door;



Time to fight back and do as I want to do despite this dire wet weather; I change from shoes to wellies in the garden hut and as long as I remain in the garden it doesn't matter much about making a bit of a mess with a mud trail. Once the gloves arrive I can ignore the daily joke from the Met Office and get on with some serious work. Time now for breakfast before heading into the workshop to do some painting on the rotavator I'm restoring; later today I'll catch up with emails; the days; months & years are flying by; I need to take control.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Had a really productive day out in the garden yesterday, got soaked a few times but I've now got wise to our sudden downpours of torrential rain and am fully waterproofed!!!

Only a handful of Geraniums left to dig up and bring undercover, Giant Lillies are all cut back and their pots moved undercover to dry out. Pulled up a lot of spent and now very soggy annuals.I walked round and round the garden selecting and marking out spots I think will make good permanent homes for most( work in progress or the rest) of last year's new Dahlias that I just couldn't find a place for. Note to self....no more Dahlias!!!

All strawberry plants have been cleaned up and new ones potted up. I had planned to dump the older ones....but just couldn't, judgement day for them has been put on hold until next Spring.

About a quarter of the pots are cleaned and sorted ..but currently dumped in the big lean-to coldframe . I desperately need the space they are taking up to store the tender Fuchsias..so today is going to be the day I've been putting off....greenhouse clearance day!!
Until that is done I'm caught in a standstill so I have to brave it....at least I won't get wet. Hubs then will ,hopefully ,check the inner bubble wrap framework and then staple new lengths of wrap to it..probably not today as I think I have a massive clearing out job to complete first!!!!!

Gathered up a load of bulbs that were in various pots... absolutely no idea what they are, apart from size all bulbs look the same to me ...so they will be shared out between a few bigger pots and planted....surprise, surprise pots!!! Must also unearthed the sleeping Tulips from their pots to and give them an annual health check before replacing in cleaned out pots and fresh compost. I also want to move a couple of Irises that are in the wrong place but will need to look back through my photos as I can't remember their exact spot.

I also hope to get time to sow the Sweet Peas too, I didn't do any last year and really missed them

I will undoubtedly find a load more jobs to add to the list.

 

Upsy, I am exhausted just reading that! Certainly a lot of jobs done.

 

I have always followed the routine of '3 years and your out', taking runners and creating new beds on new ground, because thats what you do. When I moved, for expediency, and because it was January, I lifted 30 3year old plants into pots and planted them in the new garden. They have fruited as usual for 2 seasons. I now wonder if its the ground that gets depleted, rather than the plants. Your thoughts please.

 

Could very well be. I've had these plants for years.... 5+ and always root a couple of runners each year, trouble is my Strawberry family is growing as I can't ditch any.

I use to grow them in troughs but they use to get Vine Weevil so for the past 3 years they get planted out in hanging baskets and no more pesky Weevils.

I give them a good trim and root check in Autumn then pot them up in clean pots and fresh compost. I give them a tomato feed throughout their fruiting season.

Have to say though my Dad use to grow his directly in the ground and every year he had to get new plants. So perhaps pots with fresh compost and regular feeding during the growing season is best.