Hello Doctor!

Today, having come back from Wales... I noticed my Clematis Doctor Ruppel has woken up! Lots of strong vigorous stems... more flowers to come.

I've also potted up more patio plants, especially lots of salsola (agretti) some to keep and others to pass on. I've got lots of plants to donate!

More and more chillies... they all need potting up about every three weeks now! Plenty of sunshine, and I already have my first reddening chillies in Shabu Shabu. Alberto's Locoto is also darkening.

My sister also gave me a Chilli plant today, a Biquinho (at front) from Kent Chilli Farm which she bought (acquired) at the Kent Garden Show. It looks a healthy plant! But definitely in need of a watering...

Skirting the Storms in Llandeilo

It was a weekend of weather extremes with blisteringly hot sunshine and violent storms hitting the country, but South Wales had some of the best weather. The countryside near the Brecon Beacons was breathtaking and the castles imposing.

The skies stayed  clear to view three local landmarks:

Carreg Cennen Castle

Dynevor (Dinefwr) Castle

and Newton House.

The town of Llandeilo was equally stunning with its painted houses, local shops and businesses and beautiful church and graveyard.

The Welsh Countrymans Game Fair was in full progress bringing lots of people to the area.

Oak Tree Farm Rural Project

Anyone into local gardening and a good cause knows about Oak Tree Farm Rural Project situated between Stafford, Stone and Uttoxeter.

"Oak Tree Farm provides training and supported occupation for adults with learning disabilities, in a rural environment."

For the last three years I've visited their May Plant Day and have had the best bedding plants, herbs and veg possible. There is never an inch of spare space in the car driving home.

I didn't think to take a photo there, but here's a shot of some of my shopping having returned home. That's £15 worth on the table and more on the floor... (whoops... and a few of my own home-grown plants too in there)

Two years ago I heard about the Plant Day having driven past going to work. I had friends up for the weekend and we all decided to drop in. We were amazed.

Prices are typically a third off or even half of nursery/supermarket/building supplies merchant's garden centre prices... You can tell each plant has been loved and nurtured.

KUDOS go to Alan J Hartley of Hixon for his unusual and exotic herbs and vegetables. He also has a great website and gardening diary with tips on the unusual plants I tend to veer towards. Unfortunately this year, I was either growing them already or didn't have the space... I was tempted by that Chicory though.

Also, HIGH PRAISE to the Fuschia man! He took great pride in his small greenhouse, and there were lots of varieties on show.

I bought Lena. It's a delightful purple fuschia with a full frou-frou dress... (I don't know the technical terms here!) My friend Lena LOVES purple, I thought it was appropriate.

I also bought a group of Male-named plants... Ernie and Harry Gray. It'll be a show off for showiness between the girls and the lads...

A few more bedding plants planted. Some NICOTIANA for evening scent and lobelia for display. I've mixed some in with my tomatoes, but the pigeons are already having a peck or two... It might just end up being lobelia in there...

... and MORE hot and sweet peppers!

The patio is now full of plants which now have to stay put. Potting up just means less and less space each day.

These later chillies never took off like the BIG Six in growth or fruiting, and I'm a bit worried about them. I should never have snipped off growing tips on some at all. Yet, I did on the BIG SIX, and they have been brilliant. It must all come down to luck or timing, or a mixture of both. Aphids had been a bigger problem on the newer plants before they were moved outside...

At the moment, I can't see from the pictures what the labels say, but these are probably:

Mira Sweet Pepper

Joe's Long Chilli

Padron Chilli

Peter Pepper

Bulgarian Carrot

Pyramid Chilli Pepper

I will add in seed suppliers and links later...

Tomatoes and Chillies

I've grown 31 Moneymaker tomatoes which I bought in a discount sale at Wilko's last year for 10p. These all germinated and all but six ended up going to the School's Allotment club. I've potted them up into their final containers with bamboo supports and a trial plant frame for one of them. I'm not sure they will be needed. Last year I only specialised in cherry tomatoes, so it will be nice to have some bigger ones.

They should get lots of light and air on the patio. I've placed a row of chillies in front of them, and I'll finish off with some Tumbler variety of cherry tomatoes.

The chillies have continued to grow prolifically! My favourite Alberto's Rocoto (below) has many heavy fruits, full-sized, ready to ripen off. More baby fruits are just emerging. It has never put on much height, but is spreading well.

Shabu Shabu continues to grow thick and fast. I'm not sure how big these fruits will grow being a hotter variety. I'm ready to support the weight of the fruit-heavy branches though with these supports.

Nosferatu did have a problem before with pale leaves, but the upper leaves have put on some darker colour. The fruits are definitely black though, while not all of them are pointy as they should be. An interesting addition to my collection...

Peito de Moça was my tallest chilli when they were put outside, but has not yet any sign of flowers. Hopefully, they will appear soon.

And finally, of the BIG SIX, I have two unnamed varieties. None the wiser, although one has purple flowers. It might even be a taller growing variety of Alberto's Locoto... but it is far behind its sister then in fruiting.