Garden
Weather has been good for growing – regular light showers and warm although it could have been a bit warmer. Tomato plants have first flowers, as do the lemon trees. just made lemon pound cake – nice. New plants soon!
Oranges
Juiciest oranges and organic too. Direct from the farmer via https://www.crowdfarming.com/en. I have had avocado, lemons, juice, onions, clementines – all top quality and helping the farmer
THYME
12 thymes -orange spice; barona;snowdrift;magic carpet; wine and roses; rainbow falls; archers gold; lime; woolly; lemon; English Winter; Creeping Purpl. Plus Chamomile; hot and spicy oregano; mojito mint; ginger mint; pineapple mint, golden lemon verbena.
WILD GARDENING
Just planted out wallflowers, French marigolds, dill, Californian poppies, calibrachoa, morning glory, and some plants that I am unsure of! Tomato plants in greenhouse doing well, sweet basil now in kitchen – I might put some out if we have a hot spell. Mints are growing after the winter with lemon balm being the most outstanding at the moment. Concerned about verbena (lemon, and golden lemon) but patience needed in gardening.
Also a sense of humour – after planting out I needed to water them – so a quick squirt with the hosepipe and top up the watering can – hosepipe fell out of said watering can and whilst the pipe eluded me the – the jet did not – effing soaked – I had to change!
Time to plant some veg in the greenhouse?
Both neighbours have shaved their lawns and not a dandelion in sight. I hope the pesticides do not contaminate my garden. Ladybirds were on borage.
SPRING
Migrating birds reported to be 3 weeks late in arriving. It is still chilly and some frost around in early morning. But NO MOW MAY is here. It rained today which was unusual, and looks like being mainly dry for the rest of the month although occasional showers – brilliant typical British weather forecast! Warmer than average seems to be colder than the average I remember!
MINT
I think all 23 mint varieties have survived the winter and I am going to start drying them and the thyme and sage varieties, and lemon verbena, lemon balm.
Also planing for pickles, relishes, chutneys, ketchups and sauces using tomatoes and the herbs in the garden.
DEATH IN THE GARDEN
A sparrow hawk landed on a plant pot by the kitchen window with a dead blackbird and then spent a good 5 minutes plucking and nibbling.
ORGANIC GROWBAGS FOR TOMATO PLANTS
Nice one Banwell Garden Centre.
GREENHOUSE
It is quite cold at night still so most plants taking their time – but that’s ok! Tomato plants planted first doing well – time to transplant in a couple of days – but I need to create some space by giving stuff away! I have also transplanted some of the wild flower seeds into the front. Sweet basil on kitchen window sill with a tomato (if I clip it it should stay smallish), greek basil not showing yet. Dill growing well as are marigolds, mustard and Californian poppies.