Kitchen Garden Forum

Now I've sat down a bit it's going to take some persuasion to get back out and up the step ladder...
We had a sharp shower run through a little while ago so some wet hedge trimmings to pick up first before further progress is made on the top.

C.

We just had a massive downpour and it looks like we have some thunderstorms coming now….

Finally got some proper thunder & lightening rain, it just went on & on & the rain was pretty substantial. Fortunately started just after I got home, so didn't have to hide in the shed! Well I know what I will be doing by the end of next week, but fortunately this year has given me lot's of practice with weeding!

I see in today's paper that scientists are warning that water butts can become breeding grounds for mosquitos.and potentially Lyme disease.

Ours all have covers which may protect them a little but does anybody ever put.any substance in theirs to keep them hygienically clean? if so, what do you use and how much?

I'm sure most butts contain bugs of some kind which breed in the water eventually but I'm wondering whether most of them are probably pretty harmless when eventually transferred into the soil?

My butts all have lids on them, so not a breeding ground for mozzi's. There has been so much rain this year & puddles galore though, especially behind in the farmer's field as the railway guys heavy equipment has churned up the ground badly & I have noted an increase & in fact got bitten multiple times yesterday. A mini storm of some little ones hiding behind the cucumber vines were not impressed with me disturbing them.

I thought it was only the tick that spread Lyne's disease so just had a look online & apparently mosquitos can have it in their saliva but their bite is too short to pass it on unlike the tick who can be on you for several hours before you notice. (Lyme Disease Action Site). Mind mosquitos are the hosts for malaria & our temp increasing may mean in the future we will see this more.

We have had the full package over the last couple of days lightning like I’ve never seen for years I thought something had been struck near by as the banging was the same time as the flash yesterday I was talking to a guy who lives about three miles from me he said he heard the thunder but only had a couple of showers

Have Isb tank on plot that had grass & weeds growing in the bottom, due to gutter from compost bays not working. Cleaned out ok an sure will be full after winter. Never worried to much about it going off as this was used to keep compost damp.

Installed another tank for the shed and lined it with black plastic, which seems to keep water clearer.

I lifted my onions and some carrots yesterday, a little early but I want to spray the ground with weedkiller as I have let the weeds get away from me this year.

The carrots were a variety called 'Topweight' and they did not disappoint in size or flavour. I have never grown the variety before and they were sent to me as free seed to try. According to the packet they are very popular in Australia (but you have to plant the seeds upside-down here) and I can highly recommend them.

Barney

Afternoon Barney, I have just started pulling Topweight carrots too, really pleased with them…will definitely be growing them again next year.
I have plenty of weeds as well….
Hope you are keeping well!

I would like to see a video of somebody trying to plant their carrot seeds upside down!!

It's familiar to me, but from my recall not terribly successful in OZ. But I was way, way younger & no where near as diligent with care & attention like I am now. Might re-visit this now older & wiser!

If the BBC are correct we might just get an Indian summer to finish off the season, almost two weeks of solid sunshine forecast, I shall take an umbrella when I go out, just in case lol.
We had a walk around the harbour in Stonehaven today, the tiramisu ice cream was a bit tasty.

Yesterday, I got up and my sheep had broken my electric fence netting (I had forgotten to switch the battery on). They were out helping themselves to a new hedge that I had planted last winter. I have a good dog and soon had them back but was not feeling too well lately with very painful gums and tooth. I phoned my dentist but there was no dentist available and they sent me to one about 10 miles away. He was excellent, hardly had to wait, he then x-rayed and said that I had an infection in the gums in a pocket under the tooth and took the wisdom tooth out. I feel so much better this morning although a little sore, it is so important to be registered with a good dentist.

Barney

Glad you have got that sorted, Barney.

Any tooth removal not a pleasant experience so hope all now sorted. Yes, very important to have a dentist and visit regularly so you don't get de-listed as it,s pretty impossible to get on n NHS dentist's list in certain parts of the country now.