Collapsing tomatoes

On Tuesday I got home from work to find some of the larger tomato stems had collapsed. It was a combination of wind and not tying what have become very heavy stems to a supporting cane. Luckily they all still look healthy and are still growing strong now they have been secured properly.

Heres the most recent view of the garden. Its so relaxing sitting in the garden just looking around the plants. The first thoughts of "what can be done next year" are starting to bubble away in my head. Number one on the list is to grow more sweet peas all along the fence. As you can see in the photo, this years sweet peas cover less than a metre. I have been really suprised at how easy they have been to grow and the amount of flowers produced has been incredible.

After the sunshine ...

After a glorious weekend of hot summer weather (at last) inevitably comes the rain. Not that I am grumbling about the rain, in fact as a gardener I enjoy the rain knowing the good its doing for the plants (and frogs).

Yesterday evening brought some really heavy downpours, thunder and then sunshine again. While sitting in the kitchen with the patio doors wide open it was lovely just sitting and watching the rain. I liked it so much I filmed it. The sound is relaxing too.

Later that evening, once the rain had stopped I went to collect some lettuce from the veg patch. While cutting some leaves I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I could'nt see what it was at first, but then once it moved again realised it was a frog. It then hopped around the veg troughs, climbed through the chicken wire and into the carrot patch. There are lots of insects in that area so I expect inadvertantly Ive created a food source for it.

By the way, the lettuce is so big and there is so much of it that for the first time I have not bought a lettuce in the weekly shop. The carrots are growing slowly and for the last 3 weekends I have been able to pick some carrots for our tea. My carrots are really small still so I do still buy a few each week. This photo is of the largest one so far. From root to top it was a whole 5 inchs. The edible length a massive 3 inchs. I can also confirm it was very tasty too. Last week Ive also sown a small patch of carrots which may possibly be edible in late autumn.

Tomatoes, tomatoes everywhere

Since my last post, just 12 days ago, tomatoes have been popping up from everywhere. Its great to see these tiny green blobs slowly grow larger and larger, and each day there seems to be a few more. The photo shows the largest so far, which are easily 3cm radius. Each pot, containing 4 or 5 plants, is covered in flowers, which hopefully should all become fruits.

The most important things to consider now are regular watering, weekly feeding and cutting the top stems off. Having read a few magazine articles and now through my own experience of growing these plants, if you dont stop them growing (take bits off) they will just keep on growing. My older tomato plants are now about 4ft tall. By taking the top growing stems off the plant is allowed to concentrate its energy into producing the fruits.

I also have 5 younger plants growning in individual pots, 2 outside and 3 in the green house. They are also developing flowers but not so many. The foliage is much less than the older plants.

First signs of tomatoes

After careful examination the first tomato has been spotted. Since then and a couple of days later a few more have emerged giving me great optimism for a good harvest.

I have two sets of tomatoes growing now, the first sowing have been growing in large containers outside on the patio. My big concern is that they are becoming so big and bushy the supports are not adequate to hold them up. I didn't realise how important positioning for the support would be and originally placed the canes some distance from each plant. Since then I have had to re-position the canes with some success, although I fear some plants may suffer.

The second and younger batch are in smaller individual pots and have been supported with much more thought and care. Although younger and much smaller flowers are appearing and should start to fruit in a few weeks time. These are housing in the green house of which the shelves have been removed to make way for the rapidly growing plants.

The green house is also home to the peppers which are also showing signs of fruit. They are doing much better in larger pots and im watering them more often too.

Day lily blooms

The first of what looks like many day lily flowers bloomed a few days ago. Its not been the best weather for such a large flower to cope with and the strong wind has already taken its toll. Thankfully I managed to take this photo before the worst of the gusts and heavy rain started. The others are close to blooming so hopfully the weather will improve for them.

The foliage has become so thick in just a year. Its incredible when you look at the photos from last year (see the header image).

A week in the garden

I've just had a week off work and at last I've been able to spend some quality time in the garden. Main duties for the week was to repot the peppers and late sown tomatoes. Then I planted a number of young potted plants into the bed to fill some gaps. The most rewarding part of it all though was simply sitting back and enjoying the view in the summer sun. Unfortunately the latter part of the week the weather was not so good but I was still able to do a bit of weeding and plant a lavander in the front garden.

The front garden is a real puzzle to me at the moment. Its just a plain patch of grass which on windy days must house the wheelie bins. Ive got two small shrubs that were cuttings from my mums garden this Easter. Once they have grown larger, and they are looking really strong, they will be planted in the front garden against the house. Not the most interesting plan.

One of the Hosta's has flowered this year. Bought and planted last summer both Hosta's have doubled in size. Only one has flowered and here is a photo of it.

Ive added another three Hostas to the boarder in the last week. All grown from bulb this spring. Of the eight in the pack six have grown successfully. The other two rotted in the soil.