Big Projects, Good Weather and Signs of a Good Crop

It has been two months since my last update and how the weather has changed since then. Back in April my garden was struggling to get going after what seemed like rain storm after rain storm. Since then however, the weather has been much better and has allowed me to get on with some jobs that needed doing. In addition to this, a big project emerged from a discussion with family. As well as this project, this time I will be discussing my allotment area, and herbaceous/cottage garden border.

We have had a child's playhouse in the garden for over ten years, located at the back of the chicken run. However, having decided to get more chickens and possible some ducks, it was time for it to move. 

As the picture shows, the playhouse has now moved into the orchard, with the various assortment of fruit trees now being home to small children playing. Although a bit of a shock when first moved there, we have painted it a more natural colour, using Cuprinol Garden Shades Seagrass and Pale Jasmine paint and it is beginning to blend into its new home. As the fruit trees grow up around the house, I think it will look perfect, and may in fact become an office in future years.  Also, with the playhouse now near the allotment, the family will now be able to pick fresh fruit and veg to eat with friends.

Elsewhere in the garden, the combination of long days, warm weather and plenty of rain has meant that the plants in the herbaceous/cottage garden border have put on plenty of new growth. As the pictures below show, the plants seem to be thriving and are putting on a fantastic display of colour for us.

Although they only last for a short period of time, I find the show that both Oriental Poppies and Lupins put on, means that they fully deserve their places within the garden. These are Lupin 'Gallery Red' and Papaver Orientale 'Princess Victoria Louise' (right). Unfortunately I do not know the name of the Oriental Poppy pictured above, so if anyone can help me that would be appreciated.

The Allotment

Things have changing very quickly in the allotment, with the warmer weather allowing plenty of crops to be planted out. Things like onions, cauliflower and cabbage should have gone in much sooner, but with the changeable weather we had at the end of March/beginning of April, I did not want to risk losing plants. As a result, plants have probably been held back a month, although I do not mind having a smaller yield. In addition, I have planted out three types of Courgette 'Soleil', 'Black Beauty' and 'Tondo di Piacenza', Tomato 'Costoluto Fiorentino' and 'Gardener's Delight' and Sweetcorn 'Swift'.

As well as Courgettes, Tomatoes and Sweetcorn, I have also planted plenty of Potatoes including 'Red Duke of York', 'Rocket' and 'Rooster'. Rocket gets a bad press due to its (supposedly) poor taste, but in the three years I have been growing it, I have found it good. I tend to grow the same two varieties as the previous year, but experiment with the third. This way I find that my year is not wasted if I do not like the new variety. This year the new Potato was 'Rooster'. In addition to Potatoes, I have been harvesting my first spears from my Asparagus crowns ('Backlim' and 'Ginjlim') planted in Autumn 2010. I took the strongest spears from the plants, before stopping on the 1st June to allow the crowns to build strength for next year. In following years, I will be able to crop more and more, something I cannot wait for.

One final point from myself. For the first time this year, I have made use of the RHS National Garden Scheme, where over 3000 gardens are open for members of the public to visit. I have found this a brilliant way of getting inspiration and also talking to and learning from other gardeners about the plants that they grow and advice that they have. I would recommend it to anyone, and who knows, it may be your garden that we are visiting next time. I shall leave it there this time and hope that like me, you will be enjoying this good weather and getting gardening. As always I look forward to hearing your own experiences about gardening and any suggestions that you have. I would love to hear from you if you are starting your own gardening journey. Take care and happy cottage gardening.

CG