Total plot is 1.4hectares. The house is in the south east corner and was built in 1930 so the farmers could move out of what has become "The ruin". Beyond that is a stone built barn, divided in 2 sections and open to the north. That expanse of grass has been left uncut this year to grow wildflowers (and weeds) to attract insects for the swifts and swallows and house martins who now nest in the ruin.
The south west corner has old fruit trees - very bland yellow cherries and even blander Mirabelles. Happy to leave those for the birds. In the middle of the western boundary there was a donkey paddock fenced off and that has become the potager - 29m x 25m and we're gradually marking out beds for fruit, veggies, dahlias with more to come and more flowers for cutting and a hen run is being built. The last of the posts will go in this pm when the rain stops. Then we can get on with fixing the fencing on Monday.
There is a big pond in the middle (dug for cows) which we had to have cleared by a man with a digger It now has a couple of willows, lots of duckweed, bulrushes and frogs.
The land to its right is a fenced off paddock which the farmer neighbour (buildings beyond) maintains in return for keeping a few of his 500 beef cattle in there. At the m that's his prize bull and 2 cows. The people before us were not gardeners so we have a lot to do to get it as we'd like but we're enjoying it and we have good neighbours.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Oberlix , that’s looks big , lots of space to undertake different projects Always fancied a bigger garden but the allotment works well for us ,as we usually have several holidays a year , spent a lot longer at allotment due to lockdown and no plans at present for any holidays
Bio , broad beans , I grow 10 in a pallet collar ( I’ll put a picture on ) , put seeds in Autumn under clouche , it’s only me that eats them , so plenty .
The Jureslum Artichokes have shot up , I read you can trim them so I’m going to give it a go with the Hedge trimmer , they get so big and flop on everything else
Gooseberry’s & Jostaberry’s are ready for picking , more jam and the odd crumble , hopefully Currently sun shine & showers , have been working in g/h , a frame for cucumbers 🥒 and tied up toms , repotted some basil Glad your tribe of cats 🐈 are well and enjoying the hunting
I give Michaelmas Daisies the 'Chelsea Chop' but not tried it with J Artichokes, but then I love their flowers and they are in semi shade so don't flop that easily. Obelixx that plot is gigantic!!! No wonder you are always busy. How's the heat down there though?? Many commercants come up from your region for the Summer Markets because they like the sea air and breeze up here. They rent their houses out to tourists seeking the sun!
Here is the Lunar Weather Calender for July. 1-10th nice days with temperatures increasing from the 7th. 4-5th Scattered showers with wind (This damn wind just won't stop, have had to tie in tall peas) 11-14th Stormy period with potential for heavy rain.
15-19th Return to seasonal heat but still risk of storms.
From the 20th Getting hotter with storms forecast 30-31st.
Well at least it looks as though we shall get some more rain!here is the Lunar Calender 1-8th July as I am off to hospital tomorrow for another 3 fun days of Chemo, so want to keep you busy!
1st July as per 30th June -Plant out Cauliflowers to final places, firming and watering them in well.
2-3rd July - Moon Descending in Scorpio so Leaf Days. Plant out Brussel Sprouts and Cabbage sown 17-20th May to final places. Thin out Lettuces and Chicory sown mid june.
4/5th July - Moon ascending from 2.45am on 4th so no gardening before 9.25pm Noued ascending (Moon on cusp as Full Moon 5.44am on 5th) Eclipse of the Moon so no gardening recommended before 10.40am. In between all this these are Fruit Days so start grafting Fruit Trees and sow some Courgettes (Mine are miserable this year with Mosaic Fungus caused by all this rain _Why am I complaining??! If you spray with sour milk or yoghourt it is supposed to clear it up, but that is only if it is dry weather.
6/7/8th July - Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days. Sow some Turnips and Carrots for the Winter making sure to keep them damp to encourage sprouting.
Hello , had a few rainy days Pak Choi 🥬 has flowered and gone to seed , so will put it into compost beans , unless the peas start growing they are going to be a right off as well However soft fruits have been brilliant , we have so many gooseberrys will have to start giving them away next week We are picking courgette, they are doing nicely Hear is a picture of a pallet collar , ideal little beds carrots 🥕, beetroot, turnips ect
6/7/8th July - Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days. Sow some Turnips and Carrots for the Winter making sure to keep them damp to encourage sprouting.
Happy Gardening!
oooh good, first visit to this thread and I got something right, sowed turnips yesterday.
Your Pallet Collars are the same as my Raised beds GWRVS and yes all root veg work really well for me in these, as easy to earth up. Well the garden is going berserk, and I have sown some more Haricot Verts in Broccoli Boxes to see us into the Autumn. WE have 2 Cucumbers coming in the garden and the Melons are starting to flower. Courgettes keep rotting off, but I think it is all the rain (Not that I would wish it away! At least the July Lunar Weather Forecast seems to be proving accurate. Bit uncanny methinks!
Anyway here is the Lunar Calender 9th-19th July
9/10th July -Moon ascending in Aquarius so Air & Flower Days. In Nursery Bed sow bi-annuals and Perennials. With Lupins in particular try to sow them where they are to flower as they don't enjoy being pricked out in Autumn or Spring. Pop them in 5's in holes lined with compost or Nettles, You can then thin them to one strong plant. (I have just harvested some seed but reminded myself somewhat grudgingly that I must wait until there is a sunny day (preferably mid-day BioD Tip) and make sure that they are harvested dry and jet black) Gather Lime Leaves to dry for tisannes.
11/12/13/14th July(Early afternoon on 14th) -That seems alot of Leaf Days but on the 12th No gardening before 3.20pm as Moon apogée (Furthest point from the Erth in monthly cycle) Sow Lambs Lettuce and Chard after Peas or Broad Beans -These will be ready from September. Chinese Cabbage and other Chinese Salad Crops are a good idea to sow now to pick in the Autumn. GWRS Pak Choy does not like the sun -Try again in a shady damp patch.
14th(Late Afternoon )15th July - Moon ascending in Aries so Fruit Days. Sow some more French Beans (Avoid Climbing varieties now as little time to mature).
16/17/18th July - Root Days Keep sowing Radish/Carrots/Turnips & Swede for Winter Harvests, Keep soil moist and start earthing up as soon as possible or put straw or flax between rows to keep moisture in. I don't use lawn mowings with these crops as I find they attract the little beetles that eat into the roots.
Looking forward to first wild raspberry crop, our wild kitten has set up camp in the centre so no need to net them -Joy!!
Happy Gardening everyone and keep writing in -We love to hear from you.
All ready to late for pac choy , it’s gone to seed and in full sun , will remember for next year Lifted rest of onion 🧅 yesterday for drying
French beans & sweet corn 🌽 coming on nicely
Next week will look at beetroot & carrots 🥕 , should be ready for harvesting Now got several empty beds as over the last few months not been able to buy plants and seeds
Just watered g/h and pleased to say got some cucumbers 🥒 forming , the outdoor ones at allotment not doing to well
Hot today. 30C by 9am already. Won't be sowing any beans as it's too dry.
Even in Belgium I left sowing of Chinese cabbages like pak choi till July because it bolts if it gets hot. Here I shall wait till September and might try some in the polytunnel this winter.
If you sow lupins in modules rather than trays there is no root disturbance when you pot on or plant out and then you can wait till they're big enough to see off the slugs and snails. It's the only way I ever got any in Belgium and given the snails here I don't think I'll bother because they've eaten an entire Silver Moon clematis.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Oh Obelixx you must be roasting!! - Heavy cloud here but humid. Yes I agree Lupins are better in modules, also GWRS Pac Choi will run to seed if grown in full sun because they think that they are going to die so set seed to protect their future!Even if you water them, I found this out the hard way and now just include them in Mesclun shaded by Beetroot or Haricots. Went out in garden after writing piece his am and found Runner Bean has adopted the clothes line!!! O/H not back from Market yet so I must remove it fast and wrap it back round frame which it is determined not to climb over!!! Thought plants didn't have minds of their own??!!
Re Snails and Clematis -unfortunately you are probably to dry where you are, but if you can grow forget me nots in or around Clematis it will stop slugs and snails establishing themselves. OR are these those awful tiny snails that climb buildings as well out here?? No cure for them I fear.
Ordinary but voracious snails. Very large clematis I've had in a pot for several years and expected to romp away cos of huge roots system. I've been watering it, have given it a good dollop of horse manure and I no leave an upturned pot nearby to catch snails hiding from daylight. 36 snails the first night! Same the next. Fewer now and one teeny weeny stem and leaf left on the clem. Fingers crossed.
It's surrounded by penstemons which have hardly been touched yet just 3 kms away a local nursery had its 75 stock penstemon plants munched by snails over just one weekend in the lockdown when no-one was looking.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
That expanse of grass has been left uncut this year to grow wildflowers (and weeds) to attract insects for the swifts and swallows and house martins who now nest in the ruin.
The south west corner has old fruit trees - very bland yellow cherries and even blander Mirabelles. Happy to leave those for the birds. In the middle of the western boundary there was a donkey paddock fenced off and that has become the potager - 29m x 25m and we're gradually marking out beds for fruit, veggies, dahlias with more to come and more flowers for cutting and a hen run is being built. The last of the posts will go in this pm when the rain stops. Then we can get on with fixing the fencing on Monday.
There is a big pond in the middle (dug for cows) which we had to have cleared by a man with a digger
It now has a couple of willows, lots of duckweed, bulrushes and frogs.
The land to its right is a fenced off paddock which the farmer neighbour (buildings beyond) maintains in return for keeping a few of his 500 beef cattle in there. At the m that's his prize bull and 2 cows.
The people before us were not gardeners so we have a lot to do to get it as we'd like but we're enjoying it and we have good neighbours.
Always fancied a bigger garden but the allotment works well for us ,as we usually have several holidays a year , spent a lot longer at allotment due to lockdown and no plans at present for any holidays
Gooseberry’s & Jostaberry’s are ready for picking , more jam and the odd crumble , hopefully
Currently sun shine & showers , have been working in g/h , a frame for cucumbers 🥒 and tied up toms , repotted some basil
Glad your tribe of cats 🐈 are well and enjoying the hunting
Pak Choi 🥬 has flowered and gone to seed , so will put it into compost beans , unless the peas start growing they are going to be a right off as well
However soft fruits have been brilliant , we have so many gooseberrys will have to start giving them away next week
We are picking courgette, they are doing nicely
Hear is a picture of a pallet collar , ideal little beds carrots 🥕, beetroot, turnips ect
All ready to late for pac choy , it’s gone to seed and in full sun , will remember for next year
Lifted rest of onion 🧅 yesterday for drying
Now got several empty beds as over the last few months not been able to buy plants and seeds
Even in Belgium I left sowing of Chinese cabbages like pak choi till July because it bolts if it gets hot. Here I shall wait till September and might try some in the polytunnel this winter.
If you sow lupins in modules rather than trays there is no root disturbance when you pot on or plant out and then you can wait till they're big enough to see off the slugs and snails. It's the only way I ever got any in Belgium and given the snails here I don't think I'll bother because they've eaten an entire Silver Moon clematis.
It's surrounded by penstemons which have hardly been touched yet just 3 kms away a local nursery had its 75 stock penstemon plants munched by snails over just one weekend in the lockdown when no-one was looking.