Wallflower and capsicum update

Blackfly on runner beans

Spotted blackfly on the runner beans. Decided to clear them using the finger-squish method as it's less damaging to the tender parts of the plant on which the blackfly cluster than using the old toothbrush method that I tried on the courgette.

Squishing them this way is not a pleasant process, but it's even more unpleasant for the blackfly.

Tomatoes forming

Gardener's Delight

Moneymaker

Marmande

Apple tree in trouble

The James Grieve apple tree is suffering with something. I hope the apples will stll ripen ok. There was evidence of this problem last year, so I should have done something about it then. As far as I know, I'll have to wait until the winter then treat the tree with a spray (I think).

First spuds harvested

I harvested the spuds from the three Charlotte plants in the first row of planting.

Runner bean update

Courgette affected by blackfly

The middle courgette of the three had some blackfly, so I took an old toothbrush and brushed/squashed the pests. Unfortunately, in doing so I broke off 3 baby courgettes.

Blackfly

Blackfly are abundant on the foxgloves and marigolds.

Strawbs cropping well

Today I had the heaviest daily crop of strawbs so far.

Another mystery plant

I'd like to put some of this in the front garden. I'm not sure how to propagate it. I could wait to see if I get any seeds, or try splitting it. Hmmm...

Antifoxatron-5000 being deployed

I suspect for a number of reasons that the above anti-fox measure was not effective, one of the reasons being that the foxes would pull out the lengths of bamboo cane. I think they viewed my supposed anti-intrusion device as a fox activity centre.

I therefore replaced it with this rigid plastic mesh. However, after installing it I fear the foxes may be able to chew through it, as they were able to chew through some old strawberry netting with which I tried to protect the runner beans. Maybe wire mesh would be better.

I am also installing the mesh along the border on one side of the garden. The idea is to have a 'shelf' of mesh along the fence so that the foxes can't jump into the garden. This of course also means that they cannot leave the garden by this route. Anything that disrupts their movements (in both senses of the word) is all good with me.

Capsicum update

Something ate all but one of the capsicum seedlings. Here's the survivor, but it doesn't seem to be growing very fast.

Wallflower seed sown

I'm very late in sowing the wallflowers this year - I usually do it in March.

Spud update

The spuds are a little crammed in. I had planned a staggered planting, but because all the seed potatoes reached an advanced stage of chitting earlier than I expected, I had to plant the second and third rows at the same time. The overcrowding has meant that I haven't been able to earth the plants up.

Runner bean update

Phlox update

A couple of the phlox plants are starting to flower

Courgette update

The courgettes are getting rather overshadowed by the spuds.

First strawb picked

Strawb ripening

From little acorns...

Oak trees are sprouting around the garden. I don't want oak trees in my garden.

I presume foxes eat acorns, then the inevitable consequences of digestion result in the acorns being deposited on the soil. Either that, or squirrels bury them. But I blame the foxes. I blame everything on the foxes.