Summer has now arrived, and at the time of writing it is proving to be a bit wet. It was an excellent Spring, especially April, but not turning into a scorcher. Hopefully, by the time this article is published, things will have improved. However, the daytime temperatures are warm with sunny spells so we were able to have lunch on the patio while the evenings are still a bit cool.
The lawn can have a second high Nitrogen weed and feed to keep it in top condition although avoid this if the weather turns very hot and dry. Raise the height of the mower blades a little, and the longer grass will retain moisture at the roots and make the most of any rainfall and heavy dews. If you have the energy, continue to scarify the lawn and rake out any dead thatch after each cut. It is an effort and a job for a perfectionist, but the lawn will look better for it through the Summer.
We have a little Hedgehog hole in a fence panel, which is meant to allow the prickly little fellas to move around more easily. However, it also allows the Rabbits to move around more easily, and my Beetroot and Lettuce have been severely nibbled. I have a second crop coming along, so I will keep these in pots and see how well they do.
Seedlings need to grow faster than they get eaten!
The Aphids have suddenly appeared in large numbers, so I started using the Provanto. Last year it got so bad I found an old bottle of Picket in the shed which belonged to my Father. One dose of that on the Apple sorted the whole problem out. However, I looked at the bottle again and noticed it was manufactured by ICI who became defunct in 2008 and my father died in 1998. I checked it out, and Picket is still suitable for use, although Murphy’s Malathion has been banned and there is a bottle of that in the shed. If you have old chemicals hanging around, check to see if they are suitable for use, but even if they are, the effectiveness may diminish with time.
The June Drop has accounted for about 20% of my Apples, and it is quite amazing how the plant manages to eject the weaker fruit. When it stops, I will look at what is left and thin it out even further. The Pear crop this year is quite meagre, which is unusual, but the trees are left over from the old Vicarage garden and are very old. Hopefully, it is not the end as they are Beurre Hardy Pears which are a lovely dessert pear when pealed. The Victoria Plum blossomed well this year, but the Pigeons took a lot of the small fruits. Attracting wildlife to the garden is a good thing, but it can backfire on you!
Borders and containers need maintenance through the Summer as some plants finish for the year and others come into flower. Some flowers are very short-lived, like Azaleas and Irises but give such a good display and are worth their place in the border. Others start flowering now and go all the way through to the Autumn like Dahlias. However, good deadheading and pruning will make the most of all plants, and there is plenty of advice available on the internet so you can specialise in your favourite varieties. Also, cut flowers are lovely in the house and cheer up any room.
The Blue Tit Box has been successful again this year, and the chicks fledged at the beginning of June. There are usually one or two casualties each year, but when the box was opened and cleaned none had been left behind. The Tadpoles that were removed from the pond as spawn in March have been allowed to grow to a reasonable size and now returned. Hopefully, that will give them a good head start over the predators and help increase the Frog and Toad numbers, which have dwindled.
I do hope you are enjoying your garden, whether you are a keen gardener or not. I particularly get a lot of satisfaction out of growing fruit and vegetables especially as prices are increasing so rapidly. A kitchen garden can be a good asset to the household, especially in retirement and I am giving some thought to propagating from my own seed so that it becomes fully sustainable. All that is required then is to provide the labour and let nature do the rest. Unfortunately, I will still have to go to the Co-op to get the beer.
UHS is always looking for new members and tries to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables, and flowers or even enter any of the shows we hold each year, please get in touch. We would be happy to hear from you.
If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
