Organic Gardening DiaryWelcome to my organic gardening blog - where I post updates on my garden, the challenges, successes and failures
Aug 31, 2010, The Organic Garden - late Summer DelightsWhat a beautiful day! Beginning with dew on the lawn it warmed to pale blue skies, a few small fluffy clouds, and... the for the first time this year, the autumn song of the Robin.
Yesterday the tit family returned. And today the Robin has broken the silence with its slightly plaintive autumn song. Although it lacks some of the vitality of the spring song it is superbly melodious. The Robin's behaviour is probably aimed at restablishing family contacts and territory as a prelude to next year's breeding season. Soon the Blue Tits will indeed be exploring suitable nesting sites and for that reason I believe it's a good idea to think about getting up nesting boxes now rather than later. Would you like to see more wildlife thriving in your garden. Why not become a member of the Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds. There's just a few hours left to take advantage of the free Nature Guide book, that helps you plan for and enjoy wildlife for a whole year in your own garden. That's great for children's activities too. Check out RSPB membership here. To purchase a nest box now click here. The R.S.P.B. Apex nest box is only (GBP)12.99p when I last looked and has an open front version for robins. Perfect. Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Organic Garden - late Summer Delights" Aug 24, 2010, Buy Plants on OfferCheck here to buy plants on offer from top horticultural brands Permalink -- click for full blog post "Buy Plants on Offer" Aug 24, 2010, Gardening Catalogue Summary for Organic U.K. & EuropeGo straight to the practical stuff you need with this gardening catalogue review. You'll can save time and money too and take the green approach. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Gardening Catalogue Summary for Organic U.K. & Europe" Aug 24, 2010, Gardening Catalog Summary for Organic AmericaReview of online gardening catalog s goes straight to the practical stuff you need for gardening, saving you time and money. Take the green approach here. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Gardening Catalog Summary for Organic America" Aug 24, 2010, Privacy PolicyPrivacy Policy for Gardening Permalink -- click for full blog post "Privacy Policy" Aug 21, 2010, Gardening Matters - Wider Issues
With continued rain and the garden soggy I turned in to watch a few gardening videos on BBCi player. Here's what you need to view online videos from America, Canada... without being blocked.
And the free online videos in the links below will really help you to discover what organic gardening is about. So do try them.
This year we've witnessed bewildering criticism of the presentation of the BBC's flagship gardening program.
Garden News carried Dr. Stefan Bucheski's damaging "Toe Curling" description - I laughed later as the phrase came to mind when the Rt. Hon Vince Cable compared Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Mr Bean. But I couldn't recall any "toe curling" moments from Gardener's World presenters - perhaps we just need more beans from Toby Bucklands (America link)
I was impassive to all the controversy until...
Astonishing remarks days after taking up her new post as the first women president of the Royal Horticultural Society, Elizabeth Banks weighed into the BBC's coverage of Chelsea Flower Show and Gardener's World.
Even more astonishingly according to Garden News an R.H.S. spokesman immediately distanced the Society from their new president "The R.H.S. enjoys a close and productive partnership with the BBC, which involves regular discussions about editorial approach."
I began to realise... and my American friends might agree. Isn't this all about the old British class distinction - nothing more?
I might agree with Mrs Banks that most T.V. coverage has suffered from a celebrity class focus. But surely not Gardener's World.
Another factor fuelling dissatisfied voices comes from the unease of 1960-80's chemical gardeners with the advance of modern organic gardening methods. That change of emphasis began long ago with Geoff Hamilton. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Gardening Matters - Wider Issues" Aug 21, 2010, Gardening Matters - Videos - Continued from above
I could risk alienation by writing this but I've been exasperated at what I've been hearing. So let me raise another issue the R.H.S. could tackle instead - years of price inflation in horticultural products. Organic gardening goes much further than the no chemicals mantra. And the last program I viewed on BBCi gave some excellent examples.
In a very down to earth BBC video moment a bemused Toby Buckland revealed what is a secret of many gardeners - how to fertilize your garden with the yellow stuff - it's organic and it's free. Health Warning: you may see boots and a wheel barrow in this clip - but don't worry it's only a real gardener.
Our well-loved Carol Klein (U.K.)
And then there are these videos by Alys Fowler the epitome of organic gardening not to be missed by anyone remotely interested in cooking and eating by natural gardening. I'm doing that too.
The organic gardening lifestyle would not be complete I suppose without taking an attitude to expenses. Organic gardeners offer a down to earth recession busting approach.
Alys Fowler who's married to an American chap lets you in on her secret to survival and money in this short piece. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Gardening Matters - Videos - Continued from above" Aug 18, 2010, About garden shreddersgarden shredders are a big help with garden waste - compare the designs and how they are used here Permalink -- click for full blog post "About garden shredders" Aug 6, 2010, The Organic Garden - Stay AlertAfter the more relaxed gardening of early July the pressure is on again.
1 The fruit harvest is in full swing.I have more gooseberries to pick. Yesterday I brought in more blackcurrants, but there's still about 5 times more to gather.
I'm also going to try drying some blackcurrants but only undamaged berries.
2 I have to Stay Vigilant to Garden PestsThe Cabbage White butterflies are far more active now August is here. No matter what the weather I have to find time to check on the brassicas...
I have to be alert but there seem to be very few eggs laid for the number of butterflies that I see. Blackfly and Greenfly have also been present but only in small isolated patches, easily dealt with. The blackfly massed on the Globe Artichoke, and completely ignored the Broad Beans in the adjacent patch. They were easily rubbed out. Whitefly have done well on my Kale, but they don't damage it. Next year I'll be growing tagetes for sure to keep them under control. "A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush" so I'm attending to already growing plants before doing more. I have to stay vigilant
3 In the greenhouseI'm not watering the greenhouse so much during these gray sky cooler summer days.But let the sun come out and after a dose of liquid feed plants seem to spurt into life so that excess shoots have to be cut back. Unfortunately during the earlier dry days Red Mite got away from me and my Melon and Cucumber plants are yellowed. I'm back on the job misting with water and they'll grow through it.
A Day Off On Canals and FlowersA canal boat trip gave me the chance to admire the flowers, Strawberries and Tomato plants that adorn these imperturbable craft. What a leisurely life.
A Sharp ReminderWhile my kitchen was piled high with the garden harvest - I was very busy but in control - I bought a new pair of garden shears.I was well-pleased with them, but stupidly sliced my finger while cleaning the blades. It left me with enforced rest - out of control amid kitchen chaos needing 4 hands but reduced to 1. Happy organic gardening and fresh cooking - take care. Aug 2, 2010, Plant Nutrients Garden EssentialsDiscover what plant nutrients do to your plants, how to feed your plants, and how to make them grow wonderfully. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Plant Nutrients Garden Essentials" Aug 1, 2010, Comfrey Makes Garden FertilizerDiscover how to grow Comfrey & make into rich fertilizers. Comfrey is rather useful in organic gardening. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Comfrey Makes Garden Fertilizer" Jul 20, 2010, The Organic Garden (Gooseberry Split and as Sweet as Honey)Here's a warning for gooseberry growers in the U.K. But first can I thank all those who have contacted me from around the world - including the Phillipines, South Africa and North America as well as the Islands around the U.K. Coming soon - a facility to enable you to share your news with other gardeners at the-organic-gardener.com. For example, if you have experience in gooseberry growing you'll soon be able to share that here. And if you're a gooseberry grower you'll understand my passion for these lovely berries...
As Sweet as HoneyDon't be impatient. Fruit need time to ripen for sweetness. And many of my 'Invicta' gooseberries grown in the Northwest U.K. have just come right for harvest.And some of them are as sweet as honey.
How to tell when they're ready.
Now The Weather Threatens to Spoil ThemNo sooner had a hosepipe ban been announced last week than we have a torrential downpour this week. Great... but watch your gooseberries.After checking them yesterday I found many that were ripe so I was out picking them in the rain today.
For many years I've had the same experience - dry weather then a big down pour and it splits the gooseberries open. As they're full of sugars, potassium... they draw up the water quickly and the skin can't grow any more. I suppose the answer must be to grow gooseberries in moisture retentive soil. I'll be writing a page on organic gardening with gooseberries. Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Organic Garden (Gooseberry Split and as Sweet as Honey)" Jul 18, 2010, The Organic Garden - green bird foodWhile gardening brings many pleasant surprises, it sometimes also brings frustrations and disappointments. These blogs reveal both and this one I certainly could have done without. But here's another valuable lesson. Remember my 12th of July entry when I sowed carrots next to 14 young fresh cauliflower plants. But oh dear, I didn't have time to replace the microfine netting. Well, I was very busy, I got tired... ... whatever. I thought I'd just chance it until the evening. I didn't have to wait that long. Next morning I was down the garden at the crack of dawn to replace the netting but too late. Pigeons had attacked my cauliflower tearing some to shreds. They attacked just hours after I left the net off. Although I was busy I got a glancing look at them. Well I suppose I should have pruned them back before I planted them :-) There's enough left for them to grow back, but what a shame. We gardeners have to get used to this sort of thing. But good times out-weigh the disasters so here's a tip. Don't put "all your eggs in one basket". Grow as much as you can, lots of different seeds, seedlings, cuttings... as many as you can manage. That way the overwhelming feeling will be success! You can bet on it. Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Organic Garden - green bird food" Jul 16, 2010, Garden Plant FertilizerFish blood and bone is a fertilizer with all around garden use. You'll find it here along with advanced organic fertilizer blends, information on how these organic materials match your plants needs, and how to use them. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Garden Plant Fertilizer" Jul 14, 2010, Organic Pest ControlReplace pesticides with organic pest control. Be aware and build natural pest control into your organic gardening design and activities Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Pest Control" Jul 12, 2010, Plant & Garden Watering - the Organic SystemSave on garden watering with the techniques described here. These organic gardening methods are becoming more critical as droughts become more frequent. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Plant & Garden Watering - the Organic System" Jul 12, 2010, Gardening News Update
Hose Pipe Ban It's the first ban here for 14 years after a January to June period that was the second driest for a Century. Cumbria and Cockermouth miss the ban. The story is here for U.K. gardeners Whatever part of the world you live in you can let me know how the weather is affecting your garden today using this link. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Gardening News Update" Jul 12, 2010, The Organic GardenAfter preparing a bed with garden compost and chicken manure pellets and with a good watering I got around to plant 14 Cauliflower plants over the weekend. I'm growing a nice compact variety 'Igloo', but well fed and 9 inch spacing - that's more than the minimum - I should get somewhat larger curds. Today I raked a few handfuls of Fish, Blood and Bone into the adjacent soil and sowed 5 rows with 'Autumn King' Carrot seed. I should get around 60 carrots.
Urgent jobs to do. More organic gardening jobs later... Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Organic Garden" Jul 10, 2010, Growing PotatoesGardeners are growing potatoes again because choice & flavour beat all you can buy. Get the tips that deliver a big crop plus links to alternative space saving & easy ways of growing on patios & yard. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Growing Potatoes" Jul 10, 2010, Garden FertilizerHow does garden fertilizer help your organic garden? Most fine flowers, hungry vegetables, and luscious fruit produce best with fertilizer. So it's normally essential - and you'll find the right stuff and how to use it here. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Garden Fertilizer" Jul 10, 2010, Organic Fertilizer & Soil AmendmentsUse organic fertilizer to grow strong healthy plants. Natural steady growth gives you the great tasting luscious plants that you want - especially good for lawns. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Fertilizer & Soil Amendments" Jul 9, 2010, Pre-Lawn & Shrub FertilizerBone Meal is more than shrub fertilizer. Find out here how it's used to establish productive healthy bulbs, roses, lawns & herbaceous plants, - plus what's in it, where it comes from & what to avoid. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Pre-Lawn & Shrub Fertilizer" Jul 9, 2010, Organic Gardening Web Site LinksUseful links to gardening web site information & products for organic gardening Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Gardening Web Site Links" Jul 7, 2010, Organic MulchLearn about organic mulch here - homemade mulch, agricultural & forestry mulch. See my recommendations on how to use & not to use organic mulch in your garden Permalink -- click for full blog post "Organic Mulch"
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- Broad Beans, Runner Beans or even Dwarf Beans.
visited a beautifully designed 
Many will be frozen, and some have gone into the oven today to make crumble which will be frozen for a winter treat.
The Brussel Sprouts seem to have escaped quite well so far. I put this down to them being so healthy. But you'll see from the picture that I'm growing them with Oregano along one side, Celery planted in between.
