We have had quite a lot of heavy
downpours over the last couple a weeks, and yet the temperature has remained
reasonably warm. Although it is a far cry from the bar-b-que weather we were
starting to grow accustomed to, the flowers and vegetables in the garden will
probably not complain. For those plants that were starting to struggle from the
lack of water, a sigh of relief could almost be heard as the growing conditions
became more favourable. As the lavender and roses come to an end the garden
begins to warm up with the hot colours of the crocrosmia, rudbeckias and
heleniums. On the opposite side of the
border the more subtle colours of the monardas, echinaceas and persicaria are
also in full flower. Despite our bee hive coming to an end, there are still
plenty of bees buzzing around enjoying the garden as much as we are.
In the kitchen garden the leeks
are finally underway and growing well, whilst the onions look like they have
just about given up hope, albeit a month early. The peas have long since
finished and we should now be enjoying the climbing beans, if it wasn’t for the
snails! Earlier in July I did sow a batch of dwarf beans just in case and these
are now almost ready for planting out. I will get a decent crop of green beans
if it is the last thing I do, Sunday roast just isn’t the same with only four
of them! The courgettes are finally growing well and I am even trying to grow
an autumn squash in the greenhouse below the tomatoes, which are also now
starting to produce fruit. Hopefully these will do better than last year.
In the midst of the kitchen
garden I am growing a tower of sweetpeas. Undeterred by last year’s failure I
decided to give these a go again this year. They have been a complete success
and I am picking a bunch of sweetpeas every other day for the house. They smell
divine.
