Garden 2010: September 2010

I cant believe the summer has gone already, all that waiting for it to happen and then it has gone. I suppose it was lovely during the beginning of the season and I was very pleased with the show of flowers I had but then it seemed to rain forever. One minute frantically trying to save every drop of water for the garden and next plodding about in a waterlogged garden.

I decided this year to have a water meter installed. As I live on my own and go to the Spa three times a week I was not using much water. Well I only wash up once a day and use the washing machine once or maybe twice a week so I thought I would save a lot of money. Well I have and am mighty pleased with myself . I have two water butts - mind you , one of them is leaking and I have to find a way of repairing the leak , but never mind. I also bought a compost maker after Sue persuaded me that I ought to have one. I think it has filled up already, only hope the compost will sink down later to enable me to add more.

I attempted to grow a few vegetables in large tubs this year and had a bit of success with runner beans with a few helpings from it, the carrots, beetroot and chinese cabbage not so good. The strawberry plants that Sue sent me produced fruit and they were lovely. I have planted all the runners in a big strawberry tub so will have lots more next year.

The biggest thrill I had from the garden was five apricots from my new apricot tree, they were absolutely delicious and much better than the ones bought from the shops. Really there is no comparison. I have now planted the tree in the ground.

I did pick a few mulberries and hope next year to have a better crop. The figs are doing well as usual and are beginning to ripen. There is nothing like a fresh fig picked and eaten straight from the tree. I also had a good crop of Victoria plums but I should have thinned them out to get bigger plums, you live and learn. I have a few tubs of plums in the freezer.

I am now into citrus trees and have one lemon, one valencia orange and one lime tree. My garden room which used to be the tool shed is now the orangery and I have purchased a heater to keep it frost free in the winter. I have my Bourgainvillia in there as well. The real beauty that I had growing in my greenhouse succumbed to the bad winter and died. However I make sure I take a cutting every year to replace it and this is the cutting in the orangery on the table.