Patio Clean Up

The British heatwave continues with regular temperatures approaching 30ºc, and I've decided to use THIS weekend to tidy up the garden, paint fences and sweep up the patio. With all the potting up of chillies recently, there's soil all over the patio, and it's attracting woodlice and ants. I don't want the ants sapping the strength of the chillies, so I've swept up and attacked their trails with ant powder.

Tomatoes all seem to be fruiting well, both the cordon and the many container types I'm growing. I lost a lot of my labels this year, the permanent ink was no match for the British elements. I've MONEYMAKER against the back wall, and Tumblers in front. I think I tried TUMBLING BELLA this year, not being able to get Tumbler. The plants are perhaps quarter the size of last year, but I have got my first ripening fruit here. It's a good size. This might be down to watering, although they get a regular soaking every evening at 7pm. I'm wondering if morning watering is better?

I was interested in the MICRO TOM seeds this year, but I'm not over impressed by the size of the plants, even though they were described as being the smallest container tomato plant there is...

For the size of the toms, I'd much rather wait for my HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS to ripen. I only had two plants survive, and then they struggled to get enough water in the hanging baskets, so I've repotted them up into this container. Plenty of flowers! I should get a couple of hundred toms certainly.

I've never grown peppers before. This variety is MIRA SWEET PEPPER. I was worried by how close the flowers were. Do Pepper plants normally put on more height than this? I think these are small snacking peppers anyway, so perhaps this is how they grow. They are all yellow, I'll wait and see if they change colour before I try any. (Hector Cornelious from Twitter suggests I remove the King fruit, the first fruit that shows, and allow the plant to develop and grow on... I have a few more smaller than this, I'll try that!)

I have a few Baker Creek Radish Rat's Tails left (on right), but they will be eaten tomorrow (or pickled!). James Wong's version (on left) are just coming into flower. I know they are in small pots, but they do seem to grow later than the Singara type. I'll grow them in a larger container or growbag next year, as I do like snacking on them.

Clematis DR RUPPEL is growing well. I've had more flowers this year than the total of the last five years! Plenty more fresh growth, and I had to nail up a new trellis. Do clems prefer to spread southwards, or northwards? The new trellis is on the north-eastern side of the main plant.

I've looked up KOREAN MINT online, and haven't found any recipes yet. I imagine you just use it like normal mint, but it is more anise like.  Its official name is Agastache… It's also grown as a bedding plant, popular for its bee-friendly flowers. Both can be used for tea I believe.

Finally, a little update on my ARBI / EDDOES growth. I planted the three sprouting ones in one pot and the other (non-sprouting ones in two other pots). The first ones have put on leaves, but no sign of the others yet. I also have a stray one from last year's compost, which survived the winter and is now growing in a container with one of my chillies. I won't move it, will see how the growth compares.

At Loggerheads

I think the first week of June is the loveliest time for my garden. The hosta are emerging, the shrubs are filling out, and the blue Centaurea is filling every available gap. This is also known as Knapweed, and 'Loggerheads', strangely enough, which is also where I went to primary school.

It's difficult to negotiate the paths, but as soon as the bees grow tired of the flowers, I'll cut them back.

I've also recently sown these Eddoes which I bought in a Chinese supermarket in Birmingham's Chinatown. They grew well for me last year and the leaves are a delicacy too. They are of the Colocasia family. I think they are also called Arbi in South India.

One of my first meals of the year using garden produce was this: some Crab & Courgette baskets (made with wonton wrappers) with some homegrown Purslane and Pea Shoots. Purslane from Jekka's Seeds has a surprisingly good taste for an early salad.

Strawberries are growing quite well. I will never get a great crop from a planter, but I'm hoping some will flavour wine later this month. I quarter turn the pot every day to maximise sun exposure...

The mint I repotted last month is doing well. The predominant mint I think is Spearmint, the others Peppermint. I'm not sure if any Moroccan mint or other varieties survived.

I have never grown Bell or Sweet Peppers before.  These seem to be flowering well, but I don't know if there are too many buds here, or if the plant will know which ones to pollinate or drop... I think this is Sweet Pepper Mira.

This mini-Rose was given to me as a leaving present from Abbotsholme School near Uttoxeter. It has flowered well for three years now. It reminds me of happy times there and of their Summer Gathering.

Hurrah for my first full-sized RED chilli! This is Alberto's Locoto (a Rocoto type) chilli from Peru. He's been my favourite all year as he's very prolific. I'm looking forward to saving seeds and tasting him in some great Peruvian dishes this summer...

I also have these two varieties of Spilanthes Acmella, aka Electric Daisies or Toothache Plant. The top one is from Baker Creek, the bottom one from James Wong for Suttons. I'm interested in seeing the difference on taste and sensation between the two. These are the first two flowers.

Finally, a non-gardening photo or two... I get goose-pimply when I hear a A380 fly over... Surely the Queen of the Skies. I've never flown in one yet, but maybe, one day...