Peanuts

I used a Westlands compost for my peanuts to grow in, it's obvious there were other seeds in the compost, these plants are very invasive, so I thought I would harvest one bag.

I was not expecting to find anything, I had done nothing other than water the bags, which sat in the greenhouse through the hot summer.

Not quite a sucess,

 the nuts are small and just a few.

I hulled one, it did not have the dark skin.

Friday was a sunny dry blustery day, no rain, we woke up on Saturday to steady rain, it had rained overnight, I don't think it stopped all day, just what the ground and garden needed. We had more rain on Saturday than from mid June to this week, with plenty of wet days to come.

I knew it was too early to harvest as the peanut plant was still green, the nut inside did not have its brown skin, I have left them to dry out in the garage, as per the instructions I found on the net. The second bag I will leave for a couple more weeks, I have cutback all the unwanted growth of the invasive plant, not wanting the heads to go to seed. The spent compost is going in our waste bin, not on my garden, I don't want to spend next summer pulling out invasive plants.

I also put my cranberry plant in the greenhouse at the begging of summer, and for the first year I have loads of new growth, in the past couple of years it was just surviving, I am going to add to the compost and try harder next year.

I have always loved growing from seeds and pips, loving the challenge, I still have a pomegranate plant in a pot, I've never had flowers or fruit, I love the plant. I will sow peanuts again next year, I can't eat them, but I would like hubby to try them.

Are you experimenting with new seeds and plants?

Shades of green

The garden is looking good, I do like to see the structures in place in the veg beds, it all feels productive, In the flower beds I still have a few gaps after planting most of my young new plants, I am waiting to see what does come back, I have lupins growing which aren't ready yet, they are taking their time to grow. I do love all the different shades of green everywhere.

This raised bed is for lettuce and small salad bits, its easy to get at, I only cut leaves never the whole plant as they will keep growing. I have started a tub of mixed leaves as well. I have edged the sides with copper mesh to keep the snails away, the cover is rustic, it keeps out pigeons and Lilly. I cut the lower leaves which my neighbours chickens had as a treat.

My peanuts are doing well inside my greenhouse, I have very few plants left inside, even with the net curtain up for shade, the temperature inside has been baking. I did offer my spare 5 seedlings on marketplace, sadly no takers. I reset my thermometer inside the greenhouse on Sunday, the highest reading was 40.8° and the lowest 14.3°, I never shut the door in the warmer months.

A tale of love, obsession and beliefs, you meet the love of your life, she teaches you so much, she is a bit strange and then after 4 months together she disappears, what do you do, search for her even if her past is so secretive. A fanciful topic, a good story, I enjoyed the ending as it left you with questions. Book 35 read this year.

I have picked a couple of cucumbers, I'm not waiting until they are fully grown, I'm hopeful it will help the plant stay strong, we have tiny green tomatoes, all planted outside in a raised bed. We have been eating lettuce for a while and enjoyed our first new potatoes. I am going to pick broad beans soon. I did purchase 20 nice strong french marigolds from Tesco to add to veg beds, after a good soak they were planted later in the evening. 

I have watered the fruit and veg beds every night, as well as pots with flowers in, this heat is harsh on our plants, so many not used to dry weather, my water butt levels are dropping, not much I can do about it, I never refill with tap water, once they are empty, that's it. My latest small water butt is working well the water inside has liquid seaweed added, so much easier for me, just to pour some when needed, its tucked behind the garage so in the shade.

I have not been out much this week, I prefer to stay at home, I did pop to Lidl on Monday for a top-up shop, I've not walked to the village or the park, I get no joy being out in this heat. It got very muggy on Thursday afternoon, we had a few spots of rain, daughter was at a local beach and got soaked, we stayed dry.

Today we are back inside the garage the final bit of our refurb, we had the new doors fitted yesterday, it's all coming together.

This life

 Another good book, Lucas has writers block, so he goes on a retreat near to where he grew up, he's very interested in the lady owner, her daughter went missing 2 years ago, he tries to help her, that's when things go wrong. A clever plot as he looks into various people in the village, it twist and turns, I did not guess the ending. Book 32 read this year.

I'm loving this cross stitch, it's a bit repetitive at the moment, having said that, it's two designs I have mashed together both of which I love. I am a bit unhappy with the first pink flower where I stitched the bottom corner, I miscounted on the first try, so I unpicked it, the canvas was a bit messy, I have tried to stitch over my second lot of stitches, this is the best I am going to make it, I am really going to have to live with it. 

I have planted my bottle brush plant, I'm pleased with the look, it will fill this area with colour, keeping it in the pot and regular snipping will help keep it smaller, as Steve commented with the right conditions it can grow into a tree. The astilbe came out of the pot easily and is now planted in the side bed where it was originally purchased for, my astrantia is planted as well, just the french marigolds to go in. 

It's been 10 days since I last showed my peanuts, they are all doing well, loads of new growth, I have far too many seedling left, I have offered them locally in hope someone else would want to grow them. The two bags are staying inside the greenhouse, Molly's 3 will be planted in a bag and grown outside, just to see how they do. 

Thursday my shoulder felt slightly better so I decided to do a bit of gardening, I wanted to place my new plants, I am also moving plants outside the greenhouse in the daytime, so they are ready to go out soon. We walked to the village through our local park, the wind was still cool, I think we must be getting used to it, the park was busy as ever, we see more grandparents minding young children, often in the play area, and loads of dog walkers. The day felt much warmer, we opened the parasol to shelter from the sun.

Friday, another day at home, we are starting to sort the garage, I have my gardening bits in there, hubby has all his tools, countless pieces of wood (might come in handy one day) and things we will never use again, we are planning to move things around to empty the front section. I also sorted the huge cupboard under the stairs, moved a few bits around, removed a huge wine rack we no longer fill.

Saturday was sunny blue skies, we walked to the village through the park again, the gardens are all coming into bloom. Not much to do outside, sit and watch the birds, hubby is still feeding them, he is always cleaning their feeders, and their water spots. My few bedding plants are almost ready to go in the ground, they are spending days outside but back in greenhouse overnight, we have been frost free for weeks. 

I'm at daughters house, little ones were bathed, and both in bed, lots of cuddles, Will had a late shower and is watching something on YouTube,  soon he will be in bed, then early night for me. Tomorrow everyone is at ours for the first BBQ of the year, our garden is ready, we have loads of their favourite things to eat, weather will be good.

Veg

 My broad-beans do not look as good as in previous years, I am hoping more shoots will form and then flowers and beans, I will dig out the leeks, which again are small, I have plans for this bed, I want to cover the ground to warm it up. Another free potato plant in the front corner, every year I have managed to leave a tiny spud behind.

This bed has done better over the winter months, I harvested carrots and cabbages, the onions will stay again for at least 6 to 8 weeks. I already have my plans for the summer in both beds, runner beans, peas, tomatoes and a cucumber plant.

I have earthed up my first early potatoes in these two bags, and I have planted my second earlies in another two bags, I have carrots in two large pots and shallots in a huge tub, I hope to start another bag of carrots soon.

I am having success with my peanuts in the greenhouse, I have 3 small plants in each bag, I still have 5 more smaller plants and in the square pot Molly's are growing. These bags will stay here they require heat and light all through their growing season. I am going to try to grow a couple plants outside as well.

I have lettuce started in my raised outside bed and under cover in the greenhouse, I have spring onions and radishes coming through. I have started two different tomato plants as well. My runner-beans and peas won't be started for a few weeks, unless the weather becomes warm again. I aim to grow more salad leaves this year, my neighbour won't accept payment for her fresh hens eggs, I am planning to provide her hens with fresh greens every week whilst I can. 

My winter veg was very mixed this time, I won't grow leeks again as hubby does not use them so much in his cooking, just for soups. Brassicas take up too much room in my small garden, I will still grow a few, so far I try and keep these beds full through the cooler months. 

I can't wait to be growing in the veg beds, the rest of the garden is full, I have a few more grow bags to utilise, its a good start to the new season.