How was it for you?

My year over all has been pretty productive. My garden finally came together and is now brimming with wildlife which adds a different angle to the place.

I got a plot at the local allotment and work has been progressing really well, although has slowed down at the moment because of the cold weather freezing the clay which I find frustrating.

I've had a bumper crop of raspberries this year though and have made countless jars of jam

 

The island had a wonderful spring and summer this year, dry from the start of April through to September with just a couple of dodgy weeks during the school hols, no change there! I was beginning to think I was in Shineyland. Unfortunately the down side to the wonderful weather was my sandy soil, with the sprinkler on, it was drinking like a fish!

Toms in my greenhouse got off to a very slow start and I really didn't think they were going to produce any fruit at one point. They then took off and I couldn't keep up with them. My Manx Marvels keeled over, it wasn't blight, but from planting out they just withered and slowly died. Back into pots next year.

The eye shaped bed I dug out eighteen months ago has been a disaster. I planted a few shrubs in it as well as perennials/herbaceous/annuals and have lost just about everything due to the winds that cut across my garden. So, I'll be trying a Weigela in there this year with herbaceous plants.


My roses have done very well in their second year despite the soil, so I'm pleased with that.

With the new year on it's way a bit of thinking to do regarding planting. I want to keep costs low as I hope at some point to find a new home but with the current market here, I'm not holding my breath!

 

Mine was a bit hit and miss like many others', though I've only myself to blame in the main.
I was away a fair bit this year at critical times, two holidays and 3 mini-breaks which interfered with seeding, planting and general maintenance (hols were fab though). In the autumn I completely lost interest in the garden and let it go to the dogs a bit, had a spell of the glooms.

Having said that the flowering part of the garden looked quite good though as I have tended to plant with structural shurbs which look after themselves and keep things together even when neglected. I opened up a new part of the flower beds and then let it run full of weeds

Veg were patchy. Tons of beans of all sorts which were fab. Radishes were good. And despite being totally neglected at points my toms were really nice and I was picking them outside in November.
Mega fail on things though. Again my own fault. Cabbages and Petit Posy and Sprouting Brocolli that were first time grown for me all looked marvellous early on, then I was away and the pests got at them, very disheartening. Instead of trying to salvage anything, I was in such a temper I went out and ripped everything up About ten minutes later looking at the massive pile of greens on the lawn I wish I hadn't as they weren't really that bad. Such an idiotic thing to do
Oddly my chard was completely useless, grew about 6 inches and stayed as in a petrified state like that for months on end. Then ripped that out as well. Lettuces and courgettes were ok. Rhubarb was great. Plums, bumper crop.

So, up and down really.

Lessons learned: don't try to grow too much or too many sorts of veg, don't expect to have lots of holidays and a decent veg plot in the same year. Don't neglect the compost pens (on my list for the next few weeks).

Onwards for 2015 though, have gotten out the seed catalogues.

@Jenny namaste sorry to hear you have the dreaded ground elder. I had that in my last garden, most dispiriting! Good luck with eliminating it!

GG

 

It's not just this bed @shiney it's the whole of my front garden. When I moved here the garden was bare and I've planted young tree after young tree and lost those as well. I have just one, a Malus, that I planted six years ago, it's struggling and has put on little growth. So, back to the bed......it's actually better to put in shorter plants as my neighbours hedge gives them a little protection, but obviously being a large front garden (60 x 60ft) they look lost. Lupins did well but have a short flowering season. I'll have to get my thinking cap on and see what I can come up with for the new season.

 

Lupins will put up with just about anything, they're tougher than they seem. I've seen them growing wild in the mountains of Norway.

 

How about Buddleia @Sheal ..

 

New Zealand flax aka Phormiums , make a good shelter belt and would love your garden conditions

 

I've tried that Loli. I must have the only garden in Britain it doesn't survive in.

I like them Spruce but my neighbourhood has so many of them I didn't really want to follow suit.

 

I have a lavender hedge in the front garden now next door have !!
I have daylilyS under the front window Now NEXT DOOR HAS !!!

 

Ohhhh, how irritating is that, I hate people that have sheep syndrome! Try planting a load of nettles and see what that does!

 

I upped the game and planted a Korean fir tree and a upright golden yew , they are too mean to splash out !!! I should take as a compliment I suppose
A couple of Christmas ago after I put my home made wreath on the door they took theirs down I could go on .....

 

Good for you! It's difficult to take something like that as a compliment when people can't/won't think for themselves.