There are lots of roses on the plot. Over twenty at the last count. On the first half, we have the roses that we have labels for, we know vaguely what they are. On the second half however, contains roses that are lost label roses. I have no idea what their names are, or even what variety they are. What I do know, is that they are pretty. From what I remember, they are pretty in pink, but there are a few yellow ones in there.
These have now been on the plot for three years, so they are getting more established. In essence, the second half the plot, Project othello, has an avenue of roses and fruit trees that line the central path.
I am going to take it as good omen, that the roses are kicking off the growing season. Can’t eat them, no, but they do look pretty and add a spot of ambience to the plot.
There are a number of different raspberry varieties that are on the plot. We have:
tulameen
glen cova
malling jewel
autumn bliss
polka
fall gold
Most are part of the all season collection that were planted last year. However, the autumn bliss, polka and fall gold are the varieties that specifically fruit as the autumn draws in. The all season collection was sunk last year, with the autumn bliss and polka varieties sunk last summer. The autumn bliss were the surprise quick croppers in autumn, having been rescued from a garden centre, and the polka were actually kindly donated by a friend and colleague. The autumn bliss canes were cut down as suggested, so we shall see how these develop.
Pottering around today, I was looking to see if there was any sign of life in the large number of raspberry canes. Lo and Behold, the fall gold are showing green buds. This is somewhat surprising as the canes were only sunk recently. In comparison, the earlier planted canes of the all season collection are somewhat behind. They have rooted, there is resistance if you try and tug at the canes. However, the buds are only just forming at the knobbly bits of the canes.
Today was the day to finally plug in brown sticky things. So off I went with a thermos of hot cordial. We have wellington black currant Red lake redcurrant Hinnonmaki red and Yellow Tulameen malling jewel glen clova raspberries. I already have some green gooseberries and some autumnal raspberries. Now though three out of the seven beds on project othello are filled with raspberries. I have planted raspberries before with no joy. My two concerns are that the clay may be too heavy for them, plus wetness. There were approximately 30 canes planted today and these are meant to be for the full season. All of them are traditional pink, but I am anticipating some yellow ones.
The summer planted autumn raspberries haven’t done too badly. They just don’t taste of an awful lot.
Trying again with red currants as the two plants I have, have never fruited. Those were only a pound each and I’m still waiting.
With the growing season over, the plot takes on a whole new appearance. The colour and foliage has all but gone. What does remain, is the hardier spinach and chard like creatures, and of course the weeds that were missed from the first time they were spotted.
The plan was therefore to go down to the plot and start weeding and digging. I did the weeding, and some digging but not as much digging as I would like. The plot is clay, or in this weather, heavy clay. It is solid, sticky, and squelchy. The red wellington boots were covered and caked in the stuff.
I concentrated on the one bed on project othello, the second half of the plot.There are seven beds on project othello, two of which are currently occupied by cabbages. The aim is to fill a few of the others with soft fruit.
Welcome to Hobbitland
Project othello is on the right hand side of this diagram, and the bed in question has already got mint and a rochester peach tree in it. This particular bed had been full of gladiolus, tomatoes and courgettes, so was in need of a tidy up. There were quite a few clumps of grass that had sprouted across it. These were all pulled up, which was made easier by the soil being wet.
The chard is still going, as is the perpetual spinach. Neither of these likes the warmth or direct. The chard in question is bright lights and vulcan chard. Bright lights does as it suggests, lots of yellow stalks. Vulcan chard, is the red one,and always reminds me of Spock. It doesn’t bleed green, I checked. It does however make nice pasta sauce and onion bhajis.
Over the summer, the roses were in full bloom. And they are still going, some of them at least. Even those hacked down and dead headed, have new blooms coming through.
You have to wipe down your glasses after stepping in as the temperature rises in there.
Is burgeoning in there with blooming aubergines. There are cascades of lilac flowers. If you look closely, having delicately stepped inside; there are a few white chilli and pepper flowers. Still don’t fancy even touching the habanero or naga plants at risk of dropping the flowers.
The crimson sweet water melon is vining all over that place and today i spotted two fruit in need of pollinating. Sweet potatoes are also sprawling everywhere.
There is garlic in there some place and lots of it. Planted through cardboard, which has sort of quashed the weeds. So it could be alot worse. Yes, I could have mulched, and I could have hoed it all down. You simply don’t, when you are trying to organise things. To be honest, I leave my allieums pretty much alone and let them do as as they wish. These were planted later than anticipated, and therefore yet to keel over all raffia like. It is starting to happen. In direct comparison, there is also garlic and onions in raised beds. Not so yellow, smaller bulbed, and starting to bolt. I have been snapping off seed heads. I plan to leave the garlic a little longer, so that it can start to go yellow and keel over.
A quick wander around the poly tunnel. My apologies for the weeds. We have the newly adopted black prince aubergines, settling in and flowering. At the back the happy for now habaneros are sat along the nagas. The dorset and bengle nagas are somewhat developmentally delayed having experienced some sun scorch and loosing their rather lush leaves. Nigel and the pretty purple are no more! I think the sweet pepper california wonder is going the same way. The crimson sweet watermelon is so far so good. I have attached to a cane, so that it can grow up, rather than out.
Gulab not only means pink, but it is also a term used for roses in Hindi/Punjabi. Now what you see is not the same picture twice; though it could’ve the same rose variety. Would appear that that some of the lost label roses on project othello are very pink.
horticultural 'obbit 