Dereks Diary Part 2

[derekbrooks]

This morning I got the border between the back lawn and the path ready for planting.I had to weed it first but there weren't many weeds.I spread some old compost on and raked in some fish, blood and bone.Was hoping to get it planted this afternoon and evening but it has rained the rest of the day so I was disappointed.
I took Rosemary to the dentists last Wednesday to see the hygienist.We got talking about gardening and I told her that I had written three books.I still have some spares of "Getting started growing cut flowers" and she asked me for one so I took it to her this afternoon. Went in the greenhouse after. My tomato plants are supported on 5 foot canes and I tied the canes to horizontal wires running along the top of the greenhouse which keeps the plants upright.I am going to show you a picture of how I do it.

Tomato plant kept upright by tying the canes to horizontal wires.

[balc2]

I do something similar with tomatoes on the balcony. Like you I have a horizontal wire which I tie strings to. I then tie the strings to the base of each plant & twist the plants around as they grow. I've been doing it this way for many years now. Even though this year I only have 3 plants, in a bag of compost laying on the balcony floor, I'm doing the same for them as I've done for many years with the 10 or more plants I've grown in growbags on the balcony.

[derekbrooks]

I used to do it that way,Balc2. I don't think it matters,either way as long as the plants are secure.It has been dry today.
This afternoon and evening I have been planting the border that I told you about yesterday but didn't quite finish it.

[derekbrooks]

Not done any gardening jobs today apart from watering.I did my walk round Blackleach this afternoon,counting the birds and recording all the wild flowers.Janet couldn't come so I did it myself.

[derekbrooks]

A nurse came to see Rosemary this morning.She remarked on my nice garden.I told her that I had an allotment as well and she said that she has one too.I then asked her if she was a member of the National Vegetable society and she said that she was.I told her about my gold medal and showed her my articles in the magazine.I then gave her one of my books like I gave the hygienist at the dentist last Friday.
I went on the allotment after and started weeding another strip on the bed where I had made the structure of canes.Martyn took Rosemary to a hospital appointment this afternoon and while they were there I went to his house and planted some plants in his garden,antirrhinum Royal bride, annual chrysanthemum rainbow and godeties.
It rained this evening but when it stopped I finished planting the border between the back lawn and the path.I also planted 4 begonias in a container next door.

[derekbrooks]

This morning I staked all my stocks.There are about 50 on the border between the back lawn and the fence.I use 2 foot split canes and secure the plants to them with sweet pea rings.They should have been done weeks ago because most of then were leaning over and needed more than one ring to keep them upright so it took a long time.
Went on the allotment this afternoon and carried on weeding the bed I was doing yesterday. This evening I did some weeding on my dahlia bed.When Rosemary had gone to bed I went to the allotment again to carry on with the weeding there.I never go in the evening until she has gone to bed.

[derekbrooks]

Went on the allotment this morning then this evening after Rosemary had gone to bed just carrying on weeding the bed I was doing before.This afternoon we went a walk then I went in the garden and again this evening.I finished weeding the dahlia bed then did half the chrysanth bed and the path between the beds.Also did some tying up of the chrysanths

[derekbrooks]

On the allotment today I finished weeding half of the bed I have been doing for the last few days,the "others"bed.I am going to plant this before I weed the other half because I have plants ready to be planted that should have been planted weeks ago.
At home I have done more weeding on the chrysanth beds.

[derekbrooks]

Been on the allotment this morning and evening.Planted broad beans, sweet corn ,marrows and squashes on the bed I got ready yesterday. This afternoon we went for a walk then I mowed the lawns. Heather arrived this evening at 9 45.She has had an accident on the way here that wasn't her fault.Her car is at a service station being assesed so she has had to come here in a taxi.
We are all going to Tatton show tomorrow.Martyn is taking us.The weather forecast isn't good so I hope it doesn't start raining till we have looked round the gardens.

[derekbrooks]

My computer wasn't behaving itself last night,it wouldn't let me on the forum but Martyn has sorted it out now. As I told you on Friday we went to Tatton show yesterday.The weather forecast wasn't good but it didn't rain till evening so we were lucky and we had a nice day.I can't remember if I have told you this before.On june 10th I wowed 45 seeds of French bean "The Prince" that I got from Robinsons in pots in the greenhouse and not one of them germinated.I sent an email to Robinsons last Thursday about this and I had a reply from Susan on Friday saying that they could send me some fresh seeds. She asked me what compost I used and I replied and told her Sinclairs which I have used for many years. Her sister,Margaret ,was on Robinsons stand at Tatton yedterday so I told her about the problem .She also asked me which compost I used.I told her that I also sowed 2 varieties of runner beans and climbing French beans"Rob Roy" of which I had kept my own seeds and also seeds of peas "Show Perfection" which they sent me all in the same compost and these are all growing well. Margaret gave me another packet of "The Prince" dated for 2025 and also a packet of Faraday.It is rather late for sowing now and I can't decide whather to do so or keep them till next year.
This afternoon I went to the allotment for what was advertised as a "Friendly get together" We just sat around chatting and drinking tea and eating cakes.I stayed about an hour and a half.The rest of the afternoon and again this evening I have tidied the terrace under the window in the back garden.There were still part boxes and trays of plants on it and part full cell trays.I got rid of plants I no longer need and put some that may need on the area in front of the shed.When the terrace was empty I got rid of a few weeds and swept it and put some containers of plants in position on it.Heather has done a good job weeding the terrace near the form.She is going home in the morning.

[derekbrooks]

I haven't done any gardening jobs today till this evening.We went another walk this afternoon.It just managed to stay fine but it rained when we got home. Went in the greenhouse this evening to sow some seeds. I decided to leave the seeds of French bean "The Prince" till next year but I sowed 30 "Faraday" I also sowed 16 broad beans and 12 courgettes,all in pots.Did a lot of tidying up after of boxes and pots that were left about .Made room for some of the boxes behind the greenhouse.

[derekbrooks]

A nice day today.Along with watering I fed the tomatoes.We have a table and two chairs that we put on the terrace in the back garden then we can sit out.Now that the terrace has been cleared I put these in position.The table dismantles and is kept in the shed over winter and also the chairs so I fixed the table together this morning .There is a large umbrella that goes over the top when needed so I fixed that up too.
We went a walk this afternoon round Blackleach and I have been in the garden the rest of the afternoon and evening.I have weeded all the front garden,the border round the front lawn and the rose bed. There was a lot of chickweed on the border growing between the plants.

[derekbrooks]

This morning I went to the recycling centre with 14 sacks of weeds from the allotment.When I went to the allotment for them I noticed that most of my runner beans had died.Can't understand why unless it is because I hadn't watered them since I planted them.So,this evening I sowed another 24 in 4 inch pots in the greenhouse.I got the pots ready this afternoon after we had been a walk.
I am going to show you a picture of some flowers that were growing in the gutter on the roof of the house opposite our house.Another of my neighbours got his ladder and got them down but there are still some growing round the chimney.I am curious to know what they are and how they got up there.I had looked at them through my binoculars but couldn't tell what they were.If any of you have any idea what they are, please tell me.I have looked in my wild flower book and the flowers I thought most likely are stonecrops

[geumgrower]

Sedum (or something that used to called a Sedum)

[derekbrooks]

Thanks, geumgrower.
Been on the allotment this morning and this evening till it started raining at 9.00pm.This afternoon I went to Blackleach for the art club .While they were in I planted some more penstemons in the border.Went to school after for the last time till September.On the allotment I put weedol on some beds where there were a lot of tiny weeds coming up ,both dahlia beds and part of the bed that i have just been planting.I have also been weeding the compost bays.There were a lot of tall thistles .They pull up easily but there was also a lot of marestail which I had to dig out. I then pulled some large weeds out of the brassica bed.