Category: Garden

Hot again – I have 2 problems I need your help with regarding the METO forecast. Firstly it always quotes the temperature and then say ‘feels like’ – this is always lower but friends maintain that it could feel like higher. Personally I do not think it can! The actual temperature can be higher due to surroundings but even with no wind and high/low humidity it not possible. The only exception would be sunbathing, but again would the ‘feel like’ temp be lower than a thermometer on the ground next to you?

Secondly – humidity. At present it is a bit muggy and 25C in my living room with the doors and windows open. But the METO says humidity is 58%. I am aware that humidity decreases with temperature as warmer air can hold more moisture – so in winter 90-95% is common without rain. So would it maake more sense to have a feels like humidity, rather than temp on hot days?

Of course I have sunbathed – but logically it is very stupid! Basically baste yourself like roast meat, turn regularly and increase chance of melamona! Oh and get sweaty and a crusty skin.

I am watering the greenhouse 2x a day but still no ripe tomatoes! Roses need constant dead heading, and I am trimming the grass round their base. Pretty woman lily in flower. Raspberries for breakfast and the occasional wild strawberry. – basil doing ok but parsley refuses to even shoot out a little green leaf. I was looking at cook books yesterday – but too hot to cook!

A cucumber planted – everything in greenhouse looking good and thriving. First flowers on tomatoes a couple of days ago. Basil plants doing brill – just gave some to Kate’s mum and some to Aaron tomorrow.= – lots more. Spare tomatoes planted amongst flowers and lemon coriander.. Wall flower planted last year is still in flower. I am not sure what else to plant – parsley and maybe some more basil. Just going to make bread – maybe add olives and ??? Last few loaves have been disappointing – not sure why – maybe just play Atom Heart Mother louder during the rising bit!

I have just put in some Chasmanthe – yellow and orange – we will see how they fare. i am still giving away tomato plants – 16 so far with at least 12 more promised – a good £100 worth! I also have nasturtiums and lemon coriander to plant out, and basil to give away. Wisteria and honeysuckle is lovely to sniff in early morning.

It seems silly to plant up more tomato plants when I have already done a dozen – How many tomatoes do I need! The same with the roses – my red ones will continue as before, but this year I have loads of yellow ones and maybe some black, white, pink, etc. It is always exciting to see what appears – I plant random bulbs and things and then forget about them. Last year it was evening primrose and chicory that I did not plant, and fennel that just appears in odd places, I did plant some 5 years ago and even found some plants in the gutter 50m down the street. Rosemary is slowly spreading as is the sage. Mints are variable and the labels for most have gone missing! Nasturtiums are doing well and so is the lemon coriander which is supposed to attract friendly predators.

Few birds in the dawn chorus again – just a loud blackbird and a couple of pigeons. Also no butterflies yet – I have stinging nettles and buddlia amongst everything but no sign yet – it is sunny but cold and windy today. just made some bread – OK’ish.

I have just planted up into big pots the first 8. A second lot will be done early next week – I will see how these get on. Lemon coriander and nasturtium doing ok. Chillies not so good. hanging baskets slow but it has been chilly at night. Apple blossom good, vine has leaves, as do the mulberry trees in the front. Apricot not flowering this year – maybe next. Wisteria in bloom – lovely. Lily is doing ok after mouse attack just one of three destroyed. Bulbs do not like me so summer collection have not sprouted – yet?

Yet to plant are coriander and basil. I might try a wild flower mix in the paper/card trays that have come with pots in the post. If I plant them in the greenhouse, then put out on the grass when they start to fall apart, the roots should grow through the board? Worth a try?