Lately my garden has been in survival mode as we spent the last part of September away on holidays. Before leaving I planted out all of my tiny seedlings, soaked the soil where possible, soaked my pots and left one request for the person taking care of our property…please turn the irrigation on once a day and occasionally water the pots. When we arrived home I raced around the garden before I had even stepped inside the house. Is this normal behavior I wonder? Much to my relief everything was in good shape.
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| carrots and celery |
We have received a few weeks of warm, windy weather and the
garden has survived these conditions fairly well thanks to extra mulch, plenty
of water and the addition of shade cloth over some beds.
I am excited to see my first tomatoes starting to set
fruit. The first plant to set fruit is
one that popped of voluntarily at the end of winter. I find I can put all the effort in the world
into certain plants, yet the self-sown vegetables are often the strongest. Have you found this?
This is the first time I have sown seed in these Jiffy
pellets. Have other gardeners had
success with these? So far they are
staying much damper than the seed raising mix that I normally use.
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| the first crop of young apricots |
My apricot tree setting its first ever little crop.
drippers.
seaweed fertiliser.
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a tiny rockmelon under an old washing basket to protect it from clumsy feet
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Liz from Strayed from the Table hosts this little garden tour. Please visit her garden and the other gardens on her blog for some gardening inspiration.
Are you sowing or harvesting or busily preparing your garden for the summer heat?
Zara
I'm with you on the self-seeded plants. It's always a bit of a surprise as to the variety that pops up too, I've had some interesting, yet productive mixed-breed pumpkins grow.
Your garden is looking lovely as always. x
Jane S
Thanks Zara, happy gardening to you!
Kylie
I am very envious Jane. Haven't even got toms in here!
Jane S
Thank you Kylie, my tomatoes are probably at bit earlier due to me being overly eager!
tea with hazel
i'd be running to check my vegetable garden too if i'd been away jane..that's what gardeners we do..but it's not surprising after all the hard work and love we put into them..your harvesting is looking good..i don't have much to pick at the moment except for a few salad greens..have you grown watermelon before? what a great thing for the children to watch developing..x
Jane S
Thanks Jane, I knew you would understand! I have grown watermelon previously but this year my daughter was particularly keen so it will be good to them develop…hopefully!
frogpondfarm
Gosh, your garden is full steam ahead. How superb! Love the pics as always …
Jane S
Thank you Julie, it is a lovely time of the year for the garden isn't it?
e / dig in
i love the old washing basket as protector – i'm going to head to the local tip shop to look for some!
it's greta to see your tomatoes so far ahead – as always with these garden share posts, i love seeign how different parts f the country differ to our conidtions down here. my dad is only getting the seeds sorted – so no where near fruit!
also thanks for the jiffy planter thingies – i'll investigate these now instead of potting mix for my seeds.
Jane S
Thank e, they make great protectors, I often wish I had more! Our growing conditions are so different aren't they?
Kyrstie Barcak
We went away last week and the first thing I did when I got home was run out to the garden too! Perfectly normal behavior 😉 I hope you had a lovely break. I am envious that you have tomatoes already, my plants are still tiny.
Jane S
We will wait and see on the tomatoes Kyrstie…I am so desperate to get a decent crop that they are making me anxious! More normal behavior I wonder? 🙂
Ainsley
Our self seeded tomatoes are prolific this year and seem so much sturdier than their "proper" cousins. Love your tour as always Jane x
Jane S
Thank you Ainsley!
Sarah Jane
Yes I do find "volunteer" plants so much stronger and healthier than others…I'm not sure why?
How exciting on your first Apricot crop! I hope it is a good one 🙂
Happy new week & thank-you for sharing your garden!
Sarah x
Jane S
Thanks Sarah, I am hoping to get at least a couple of apricots 🙂
Lizzie @ Strayed from the Table
Let us know how you get on with those jiffy pots (such a cool name), I am always looking for something different to grow my seedlings. At the moment I am using tubestock pots to grow my seedlings.
Yes I agree with you that things that have self seeded are much stronger. That is why seed collecting is so important. Great to see your garden survived while you were away on holidays.
Jane S
I am not too sure about the jiffy pots Lizzie, my seedlings are so far very slow to germinate in them and after saying they were staying damp…now they seem really dry!
Anne (Life in Mud Spattered Boots)
Self seeded plants do seem stronger, but they always seem to come up in the most inconvenient place and then it's difficult to decide whether to let them stay or pull them out. How wonderful to grow your own apricots; I look forward to following their progress.
I'll soon be harvesting our quince – I love the fact that there are some things that grow well in the heat of your garden and the cold of mine.
Jane S
Thanks Anne, yes the quince is amazing fruit/tree isn't it? Very adaptable!
Andrea Mynard
You 're harvesting such wonderful, tasty crops! I'm looking forward to harvesting quince soon too, for the first time so very excited. Have to admit to being terrible at bringing myself to pull up self-seeded plants even if they've chosen very inconvenient places – they seem such a great freebie.
Jane S
I remember being so excited about my first quince crop too Andrea…it was only last year 🙂
Jodie
What a lovely surprise to arrive home from a holiday to your garden still flourishing Jane… 🙂
I always long to go away over the Xmas break but am a little scared as to how the garden will flare as it's our hottest time of year (as I'm sure you know)…
I love self seeded plants and yes they grow better for us here too…
Take Care 🙂
Jane S
Thanks Jodie, we rarely go away for Christmas for the very same reason. If we do go away we don't venture far x
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
Isn't it the best having celery in the garden, Jane!? Envious of your apricots : )
Jane S
Thanks Lizzy, me celery is still quite small but it is lovely!
aj.bart
I always check my garden first as did Gran…we children unpacked the car while she turned hoses on here and there! No tap timers then. Your veggies look lovely. Hope the wind does not wreck your ripening fruits. xox
Jane S
Perhaps this behavior is genetic Annie!? xx
Merryn Galluccio
Your carrots and celery look wonderful. I hope the jiffy growing goes well for you. That baby apricot is a sight to see … Well done in your garden this month 😀
Jane S
Thank you for calling in Merryn 🙂
Shell McClure
Your garden looks awesome! It is hard to go away and leave your garden in someone else's hands (if you are that lucky!) but looks like they did a wonderful job, phew!
Jane S
Thanks Shell! Great to hear from you x