Another Log Store, Another Nest

Our local pied wagtail population seem to have a real thing for log stores . . .

A couple of weeks after brood 1 left the nest (which was neatly positioned behind the log store by the house) we found a second nest, neatly positioned at the back of the log store at the bottom of the garden (where we dried the onions last year).

Here's the latest (slightly out of focus) view of the newly-hatched chicks.

Elephant Strawberry

And our first Raspberry Crop!

Growing Elsewhere

Outside of the greenhouses (big and small) we have the old veg plot, the new veg plot, and the fruit cage. In terms of progress here it's a bit of a mixed picture . . .

Starting with the old veg plot:
- the onions are doing ok, although note for next year, don't plant in a block as it makes it difficult to weed;
- the broccoli has yielded a good first crop (now in the freezer) and hopefully there'll be more to follow;
- unfortunately things aren't going so well with the potatoes - some of which actually look like they are dying back - although I suppose we can't judge until we actually pull them.


The peas, which were last year's success story, have also proved somewhat disappointing. Our main problem here was that something ate most of them (note for next year, plant them deeper) - the ones that are left are doing well mind you, and we've filled in the gaps with some green beans (carefully started off in the greenhouse and transplanted).


In the new veg plot:
- the success story (at least thus far) is the sweetcorn, which is looking good;
- in between the sweetcorn is some butternut squash, which hasn't done much at all yet;
- a subsidiary row of peas has grown thickly, but only to about 20cm high . . .



The courgettes are doing better - six plants in all, and we should hopefully be getting a reasonable harvest out of these.



Finally the fruit cage:
- the raspberries, blackcurrants, and gooseberries never really got anywhere this year - we've just harvested a handful of raspberries;
- more on the blueberry bush later, but it broadly seems to be be doing ok;
- the strawberries have proved most attractive to the local wildlife with numerous nibblings of the net - as a result we've had to refortify with wire netting (as pictured).



Even so, despite some nibblings here and there, the strawberry harvest is going very well, indeed; six plus large bowls and more to come - when this year's runners have established themselves, I think we're looking at strawberry jam in 2010.

Growing Under Glass

Haven't blogged the garden for ages so here is an update on where we are with the fruit and veg - starting with the greenhouses . . .

Back in April the big greenhouse was full of seedlings, and the small greenhouse was hosting our potato pots. A month later in early May we were planting on the seedlings - kitting out the big greenhouse as tomato central - while the small greenhouse was practically bursting with potato foliage:

In fact we should probably have moved the potatoes out at this point - they did put on rather too much in the way of foliage - it was a right jungle in there by the end of May when we finally got around to moving them (by which time this was no easy task). At this point we planted on the chilli plants and peppers into the small greenhouse, and strategically positioned the cucumbers in the more accessible corners of both.

So where are we now? The tomatoes have established themselves well - we put in a mixture of cherry, plum and beefsteak, and apart from the plum (which were a later addition) they've all got fruit, although nothing is actually ripe yet:

The chillis and peppers are also coming on - flowering anyway, so hope to see 'fruits' appearing soon. The cucumbers are doing particularly well, and are already providing a steady supply for the table.

The vine we planted in the corner of the small greenhouse last year (and which produced all of two leaves throughout the last growing season) has also shown signs of life, although nothing in the way of grapes this year - fingers crossed for better results there in 2010.

Finally, although not strictly greenhouse produce any more, we are now harvesting from the potato pots - this (plus the other 8 or so large specimens we ate for tea yesterday) is one potsworth - three remain to be plundered.