First Drops of Rain

After 5 weeks, we've had our first drops of rain! What a long summer. I'm glad I'm not on an allotment, as it's enough to remember to water the patio pots every night at 7pm...

Many of the smaller chillies have been potted up into larger pots.

Here are JOE'S LONG. I've about 6 pots of this and should have a heavy crop on each. Mark's Veg Plot has suggested a little Who can grow the longest Chilli contest, as he thinks his WHIPPET'S TAIL chilli will be longer. I dare say he will be proved correct. His look good! I might win on girth...

The BULGARIAN CARROT is growing well. There are 12 fruits on this plant, hopefully I'll see a Yellowing pod soon.

It won't be long before I can serve up a plate of pan-fried PADRON peppers. These are the Russian Roulette chillies you find in Lidl (or other supermarkets). I prefer to let them go red, as most then will have some significant heat. This plant is quite bushy.

One of my unknown TOMATOES is massive! I can't work out the name at all... It's soft, and is probably ready for picking too.

Chillies Galore...

This used to be Men's Final at Wimbledon... probably cue for a shower or two, but no, the British summer continues into its THIRD week! 3 weeks already, and not a cloud in sight. As it is, everything's up in the air at the moment. Wimbledon has shifted by a week, the English football team seem to be winning, and Climate Change has struck hard most of the Northern Hemisphere. It's not all good... hosepipe ban in Northern Ireland, heatwave deaths in Canada, moors fires in the Peak District, floods in Lahore, Japan and of course we wait for news of the cave boys in Thailand... (Four out, as I type...)

Chillies are LOVING the heat... These are from my second set of Chillies sown in Feb. They should be up in bigger pots, but as long as they are watered and have nutrients, I think they should be OK.

BULGARIAN CARROT

PADRON

JOE'S LONG (1, 2, & 3!) Last year I managed to grow SEVEN 10 inch + long chillies off one plant. I vowed to grow many more this year. Looking at the flowers, I think I might be in luck this year. I did pinch these off very early in the year, about March time.

I've also test trialed the TOOTHACHE PLANTS /  ELECTRIC DAISIES on a few unknowing customers... I haven't got any discernible quotes as yet, (!!!)  but I think they are probably strongest this season than the last two years. The Baker Creek ones (behind James Wong's) are definitely a beautiful addition to the garden.

I have also tried Baker Creek's ROSELLE... I think it's also called Jamaican Sorrel, and is related to the hibiscus. This is a big ask in the British climate, but if I can't grow it this year (and overwinter), when will I be able to...? I've given a smaller plant to friend Mike to plant out in open earth on his allotment, it will be interesting to compare. AS these grow taller, I will pot on...

PURSLANE was a very attractive salad plant... and now has gone into flower. Equally beautiful. I should've eaten more of it but wanted to see the growth potential of the plant in pots.

I have also potted up some more BASIL plants started off indoors. Here I have 3 GREEK BASIL (MINETTE variety, I think) and two LEMONADE BASIL plants. They are going to seed, but if I snip and use over the summer, I should get a longer crop.

FUSCHIAs are all coming into flower. The one's behind are beautiful! LENA is nearly coming into flower HOWEVER... my friend Keri, has also grown some, they have sprung into beautiful purple ballerinas, and mine don't look the same... I think we have a label disaster, Oak Tree Farm Rural Project! Grrr... ;-) I am sure I will be delighted by the result, whatever colour.

These, I think are the boys... ERNIE and HARRY GREY?? I forget names... Not particularly masculine looking... They may protest that their masculine ruggedness is hidden behind the LOBELIA.

This TAMARILLO which I also tried last year is amazing. It's a beautiful plant. I grew two last year, which over-wintered at my parents', and although they lost all their leaves, are back growing again.

I also have three DWARF TAMARILLO from Baker Creek which are particularly tiny... I will pot them up if they require, but at the moment... little growth. I don't think it's that closely related, so may have it's own growth habits... I'm not expecting fruit.

My FIRST red toms!!! This is TUMBLING BELLA and next to it, MIRA SWEET PEPPER from Seaspring Seeds.

The HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS mini tomato plants are doing well, and close to getting my first red toms on these. It's definitely happier in this pot than the hanging baskets. Another advantage, is that I can rotate him for extra 360º sunlight.

Another Chilli...

PETER PEPPER. A bushy but small plant, but I've never had a fruit off this type the last two years... Fingers crossed. My sister has her sights on this plant.

A few Tomatoes...

This is ATOMIC GRAPE from Baker Creek, I think (lost labels). Last week it looked exactly like the seed packet photo (you need to zoom in!). Not so colourful this week. I'm not sure when is optimal picking time to be honest.

I don't know this Tomato by name (missing labels). Maybe Green Vernissage from Baker Creek?? That first fruit though be mighty big!