Plant Watch May

Yep, I’m still gardening away… Most of my plants survived my few days away. It was a problem deciding what to do with them as the slightest sun on my living room window means they bake and need pints of water. On the other hand the other side of the flat is a black hole. So they endured 5 days of deep shade… Two marrows succumbed. Some lupin seedlings have also given up one by one over the last few weeks. I don’t think they like the heat or the dark! And of course, out at the garden the snails have had the marrows… I now have only one marrow plant surviving and am going to have to plant more!

Still, the tomatoes are thriving on my windowsill. So much so I think I’ll keep them there. They are starting to produce flowers. I’ve also got basil and thyme growing well. A new addition is some wild strawberries brought back from my travels. They are a weed in Marlborough and I can see why. The one little pot has put out about 20 suckers already! It’s also got fruit ripening and flowers still coming. Another one with a permanent place on my windowsill I think, though the suckers will be getting planted out. Luckily the garden owner likes the idea of strawberries going mad all over it!

Out in the garden I’m now got all the sweet corn and peas planted out, plus some spinach, coriander, fennel and rocket planted directly in the ground. The globe artichokes and nasturtiums are also well established. The existing plants are putting on a show. It’s a mass of flower, domestic and wild. Pink, yellow, white, red and blue. I’m putting off mowing the lawn as it’s a mass of buttercups and white dead nettle. Even some gorgeous blue flag iris are out in the pond. Apparently it’s the first time they’ve flowered.

.