Kitchen Garden Forum

Our dahlias have gone as well now, Westi, and a sorry sight they look. So that's the next job, weather permitting. It was minus 3 degrees overnight but seems to be warming up now for more rain to come on Monday night.

First real frost of the season last night and this morning. Remarkably late even for here.

Very frosty here, terrace steps were lethal, older dog crapped on the verge outside the house and turned back down the drive.

Thankful that yesterday I moved all the winter squash from the greenhouse to the frost free shed.
Also split and stored my trailer and a bit load of logs that I'd cut to length the other week.

Nasty frost overnight here... Only good thing that came of it is that it broke up the clay structure in most my beds, so when I ran the cultivator over it after lunch, it broke down to a lovely crumb

After the strong and icy wind on Saturday (it brought down three large trees around us), it's warmed up but become quite 'raw', not pleasantly cold and dry. All the fuchsias are now in the frost-free garage for the winter, suitably defoliated and cleaned up.

Bleaur, more ruddy rain.

I have something to share with you all though I don't expect an explanation.

Some weeks ago when the weather was still warm and dry I sowed Hungarian grazing rye in two spots, one spot is a strip of soil surrounding our back lawn where I usually grow annual flowers and the other spot one of my raised beds. None of grazing rye in the strip of soil has germinated, the grazing rye sown in the raised bed has germinated. Some of the seed was from last year though that isn't the cause because I sowed part new seed and part last years seed where none germinated.

The strip of soil where none germinated gets less sun though we haven't had that much sun since I sowed too consider the raised bed is better drained though the strip is more sheltered from direct wind.

The strip has been worked for a few years now so I consider the soil to be reasonably useful, I add something ever season and it always produces a result.

Last years sowings showed me that grazing rye Germaine's readily and grows quickly without the need for fussing.

It isn't easy, is it ?

Could it be that the soil in raised beds is known to be warmer, thereby improving chances of germination

Another wet and dismal day weather wise that is

Pa Snip wrote:Could it be that the soil in raised beds is known to be warmer, thereby improving chances of germination

This is the only explanation that I can think of, I had loosened the soil in the strip and cleared it of weeds. I assumed that by turning it over and airing it that would help.

Bizarre thing is that it was 100% failure, creeping buttercup is making a show though.

I'm in the same state today as Richard was a few months back, had to take the dog for her dreaded final trip to the vets. She was about 15 and had suddenly deteriorated; losing weight, appetite and control of her back legs. She has been as fine a friend for these last 10 years (we took her on when some people emigrated) as you could wish for. We got her in early 2006 and I retired in 2007 so we walked many a mile together for a few years, not so much for the last 12 months. She was brought up with young kids so was very gentle and playful. Lots of good memories like when I cut down a sapling Rowan, turned round and it had gone.

So sorry to hear about that Geoff! Such hard decision to make. I've been lucky to date that mine have died suddenly - lucky is not the right word for that either.

She looks very happy & obviously had a great life with you!

Westi

So sorry to hear of your loss. I know it is very difficult to lose a pet. She looks a very beautiful, loyal dog.

We are really behind with preparing our beds on the allotment for winter. Everytime we have a few spare hours it is literally hosing down. We haven't even managed to put our back garden to bed yet. An my OH is putting a new multifuel stove in to the lounge at the weekend, so we wont be working in the garden again (but we are promised more rain over the weekend)

Geoff, we know just how you feel. Another trusted friend who will now be waiting at Rainbow Bridge

So sorry Geoff. Know what a big void she will leave behind. Hope it will be a consolation to you that you did the best for her right up to the end.