Mid Summer Bits and Bobs.

A place to chat about anything you like, including non-gardening related subjects. Just keep it clean, please!

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oldherbaceous
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Well here we are in the middle of another growing season and what a strange first half it has been.....battles on many fronts, some won, some some lost and I suppose for many, some still on going.....

But there is one thing for sure, when things are at their toughest, gardening never fails to help.

Can hardly wait for the first Runner Beans of the year.... :)
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

There's no fool like an old fool.
tigerburnie
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Been out with my camera again, this time in the garden
5 types of carrots and some beetroot
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Peas, my seed grown mammoth red onions, some Pak Choi which is starting to flower!, spring onions, few radish and my leeks
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Trench celery, french beans and a few more peas
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Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
robo
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Most of the plotters on our allotment are complaining about their potatoes, not getting very many per plant mine are not to bad as I've said before I've never had good returns but this year seems better than usual
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Geoff
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I ended 'Early Summer' by wondering if Rocket potatoes would bake, we shared the 1½ lb one last night and very nice it was too.

I also bemoaned flowering over Winter onions and I see a few others are struggling with onions this year, so far the ones from seed are a lot better (more than can be said for the garlic that is suffering from rust even earlier than usual).

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The sweet peas having only just started suddenly got into their stride.

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Two varieties that are new to me this year I like - Somerset Ripple (also well scented) and Just Jenny.


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Geoff
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Now it really is Summer should celebrate some flowers.

The Thyme is covered in bees and butterflies but they refuse to pose for me but you can get the idea.

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Lots of insects in the wild flower area too.

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- and getting a show of roses at last.

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robo
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Very nice Geoff ,you make it look easy
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oldherbaceous
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Wonderful Geoff, a real pleasure to look at.

Had a lovely afternoon, had the hay baled lunchtime, so spent a couple of very happy hours getting it off the field.....only 108 bales but took me back to my teens, when I worked on the local farms.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.

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Westi
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My roses are doing grand, looking great, but unfortunately the eating stuff is quite erratic. My 1st earlies (Winston) only had 3-4 spuds each plant & no sign of any more. My cucumbers are usually in flower by now but are sulking & only one showing promise & they are in the tunnel. My runners are sulking & only just deciding to climb but the neighbours are right to the top of the poles & in flower - but my soft fruit is in overdrive! I'll not starve for sure but it is unusual! I put it down to the extremes in the high & low temps early in the season, but all of them are waking up finally & will do their thing so I remain optimistic!
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tigerburnie
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A few flowers
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Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
Monika
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Harvested the first broad beans and first tenderstem broccoli today and, by golly, they did taste good!
Elmigo
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Too bad the summer seems to be over again in the Netherlands. Hopefully the summer air found a way to the United Kingdom. The most recent photos I see here tell me that it sort of did.

Ofcourse things can change quick but for now the temperatures are back to normal again. Even a bit cold between 10°C at nighttime and 20°C at daytime. A lot of clouds appeared yesterday and they seem to stay for a while. Good news is: both the sweet and hot peppers are producing like there is no tomorrow! Honestly I never expected so many flowers to actually pollinate and grow fruits on them. This is beautiful!

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Westi
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Looks like a fine harvest for you Elmigo! I have fruit but not many, but I am not complaining!
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Elmigo
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I think I'm going to have to give away some fruit soon...
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Primrose
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Oh don,t give away your surplus chillies and peppers. The chillies will freeze beautifully whole and the peppers can be sliced and frozen and just used a handful at a time. Dont forget it's a long time until the next harvest next year !
Elmigo
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You're right. I don't know what I can or cannot freeze so I often gave away some, but not the peppers then! I'll freeze them.
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