Gardeners' Diary

Friday, 14 August 2026

July 2026

July 1

Everything nice and fresh after last night's rain.

Hoed throughout (except for the little bit right in the middle behind the climbing trellis).

Runner Beans at top of support:

Off for a few days at the coast tomorrow, but rain forecast, so we should be alright....

July 6

Rain didnt materialise, so watered everything thoroughly.

Second courgettes coming along:

July 9

Hot! Hot! Hot!

So hot it's turned the tomato(es) black!

Watered most areas

Took up speckled lettuce. Gone over the top.

Cavilo Nero nowhere near as good as last year. I think someone has harvested the growing top shoots on two of them:

July 15

Quick visit. Quite chilly this morning

Watered.

Black tomatoes AND black peas:

Wall rebuilt:

nearly!

July 17

Quick visit quick water

July & first half August completely written off. Even the weeds not flourishing under five heatwaves and temperatures frequently over 30 °.

Did a bit of watering when possible, but the soil is being trampled into fine dust, and it's beginning to look a bit like the Sahara.

Bronze Fennel flourishing. Runner beans, sprouts, and courgettes surviving. Rhubarb wilting.

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

June 2026

OBJECTIVES FOR JUNE

Weed, weed, weed

Support the broad beans if necessary

Turn the compost heaps

Keep on top of the green herbs

Water as necessary

June 2

Put the radish seeds in

June 4

Welcome additions from Chris:

Two tomato plants

Four more runner beans (added to support area)

Two more very healthy courgettes to replace the previous lost ones

One cucumber

Peas getting ready:

Speckled lettuce ready

June 5

Quick visit to water in newcomers. All looking healthy

Chard gone to seed. Have taken it out soon before it has chance to broadcast

Globe Artichoke bearing fruit, plus blackfly.

Wiii spray with soapy water as last year. Also broad beans.

Put some supports in for broad beans. A couple had taken on a distinct list following strong winds yesterday afternoon.

June 8

Radishes didn't take long....

Fennell looking elegant after shower

June 12

Hoed throughout between showers

Broad Beans starting to show:

Runner Beans starting to venture upwards'

Peas swelling:

Anyone know what this is?

Suspect it's a weed (poppy??) but there are two of them growing very neatly spaced at the front of the plot ?????

Or is it perhaps Basil?????

June 15

Bit of weeding.

Sprayed Broad Beans and Globe Artichokes with soapy water. Blackfly on G Artichokes only, and ladybirds helping out with pest control

Some broad beans nearly ready:

June 20

Hoed throughout and tidied up for Open Gardens tomorrow.

Young family appreciating the redcurrants.

Lady took some Kale.

June 22

Watered as necessary. Everything could do with a drop of real rain....

Courgettes Mk 2 struggling

Redcurrants looking good

Broad beans. Some ready.

June 24

Watered new stuff

Courgettes: and then there were two...

Runner beans almost to the top.

Couple of broad beans had fainted in the heat. These are ready to harvest now.

Monday, 22 June 2026

May 2026

OBJECTIVES FOR MAY

Plant out as stuff becomes available

Keep on top of the weeds

Water during dry spells

Turn and repair compost heaps

Trim flower heads on herbs (except chives)

May 4

All the new arrivals have perked up following Sunday's rain.

And a doggie seems to have left his calling card

May 5

Called in. Did a bit of hoeing

May 6

Mary watering

May 7

Old lilac had died off. Replaced with new one from allotment.

May 9

Nice and fresh today after the morning showers

more rain on the way this aft, methinks!

May 12

Hoed around

Currants and gooseberries coming along

May 18

New additions:

May 21

Chris brought down some sprouts, leeks, runner beans, rocket, russian kale plants and some radish seeds.

Planted out the sprouts:

The ground was quite wet when these were put in, but they may need a drop of water if the weather behaves according to the forecast.

I'm afraid the two courgettes are on their way out. Too wet for them I think

May 22

Mary (very early morning session) has planted out the rest of the veggies, except for the runner beans, and Graeme has done the runner beans, with substantial supports.

Thank you both.

May 30

Back from holidays. Visited early morning and watered new stuff

Hoed a bit

The two young rosemary bushes have disappeared.

Lots of rhubarb ready to harvest. Just twist and pull individual stalks.

Spring onions ( that's the small ones in the raised bed, not the large versions which should be left to groe ) are ready, plus chives - did you know that the lovely purple chive flower is also edible - good for decorating salads and has a subtle chive-y taste!

Also green herbs doing very well and could do with being cut and used. You might also find the odd alpine strawberry ready - small but delicious!