What are we doing in the garden 2024

That's a shame @Michael Hewett , but if it fails, it's always an opportunity for something new.

 

I’m just sat in my garden having a cuppa and enjoying it

 

Tied in the tomatoes and removed side shoots.
Have 2 mini munch cucumbers on one of my dwarf cucumber plants. I will not get fat on those! Noticed a few more pollinators buzzing around at last. If this heat wave continues on and off until late autumn I might have a picking of tomatoes after all.
The decimated runner bean plants are trying to send out new shoots, there is one bunch of flowers so far. Normally I would be picking by now.

 

First cucumbers of the year picked!

 

Thank you and yes I'm recovered, cooler today. Spent the afternoon planting some recent purchases, watering them in and some recently planted things. Then watered in the greenhouse and made a note to water some of the bowls of insectiverous plants with rain water tomorrow.

 

Glad you're ok @NigelJ
I managed quite a bit round the side of the shed yesterday, as the rain stayed away [mostly] until 5 pm. As it's shadier round there, I didn't get too hot digging out the stacked turf that was next to the shed, to make room for the waterbut. I think I've decided on the plan for that, and I got a couple of slabs down where I cleared the turf, some concreting and mortaring done, and covered it all just before the rain started. I'd have left the dry mix to settle in with the rain, but it was to be quite persistent, so I thought I'd be cautious and do it lightly with the watering can, then cover the area well instead. Haven't moved everything yet to see, so I'll look later on....
Today will be a continuation of that, and working out what I'll need for the guttering etc to connect the but with the shed roof. Also redoing the rest of the raised area round there, and maybe the planting I was going to do.
I might even get a chance to sit and enjoy the birds using the pond and just a bit of a rest for a change! It's not to be so hot, so it'll be ideal for me.

 

You've been busy @fairygirl Great stuff

 

Enjoy ... you wear me out reading your posts! Are you sure you are retired?

 

Much cooler today and our resident blind rat is a lot happier. Our neighbours are keen rat killers whereas we just tend to let nature take its course. So long as they stay out of the house we leave them alone. Both cats ignore them.

Some weeks ago, the poor thing must have got what is known in the rat killing trade as a “sub-optimal” dose of rat poison. It has been left with haemorrhages in both eyes and is totally blind but otherwise in decent health.

We just cannot bring ourselves to smash it with a spade, so we leave it to stumble around finding bits of dropped bird food. Over the last few days it has been finding life tough but is looking a lot happier today.

 

Can anyone recommend a shorter growing, non invasive yellow/orange crocosmia? My daughter has Lucifer, has just bought a yellow one, I cannot remember the name and is looking for a shorter, non invasive one to grow with them, preferably orange. She has an area in her garden which is hot and dry where Lucifer is doing well so her aim is a blaze of hot flame like colour. My son in law is a fire fighter!

 

The orangey-yellow one that I have is C. George Davison, and it has bulked up quickly so I suspect it would be a spreader in richer conditions. Perhaps that's one to avoid if you want to contain it in a small area.

 

My 3 mini munch cucumbers are about 5 cms. long. Nothing on the Telegraph Improved yet, not even a flower. I am envious.
I have now lost 9 of my 10 squash, courgette plants, the remaining plant is tiny and producing only male flowers.
Such is the life of a gardener.

 

That is one I have been looking at and wondered if it might be a bit thuggish.
My daughter is already fighting against the common orange one in her garden which invasive down here in Cornwall, it grows on banks everywhere. Spectacular colour at the moment but strangles anything growing near it.

 

@Goldenlily26 I don't know where you are in Cornwall, but Trecanna Nursery are crocosmia specialists and would be worth a visit and a chat about less invasive crocosmia as well as ones for your daughter. Last year I picked up Hellfire that has vermillion flowers and is described as vigorous, but non spreading. Still hasn't flowered for me though.