Gone to Pot!

Nevertheless I have only grown five different varieties this year - twelve of each, which all germinated. My sister, who lives in Southern Spain, and I had a laugh as she had grown ten each of eight different varieties so we were respectively having to prick out 60 and 80 tomato plants each.

I find seed sowing is a bit 'feast or famine' - it is always the ones that you wants lots of that fail to geminate well and those where you only want a few are horrendously prolific. I always seem to err on the generous side anyway, just in case, and my greenhouse and conservatory are now full to bursting. I am now in the process of trying to find good homes for the surplus.

We also visited Downderry Nursery in Kent which holds the National Collection of Lavenders and, naturally, we didn't come away empty handed. I think the only reminder of that visit which I have left are the labels. I have subsequently grown lavender from seed which has been quite successful and as we are supposed to be in line for some global warming we have been exhorted to grow drought loving plants. One little hedge grown in an ideal pot in full sun was swamped with water earlier in the year and looks decidedly miserable although the other one which is embedded in poor dry soil, is looking much perkier.

This is the time of year when anxiety dogs me when making the Grand Tour of the 'estate'. My route never varies as I wander round, cup of tea in hand, leaving no inch of ground unscrutinised. I have to say there are still several patches I pass where I keep my eyes firmly closed and mutter to the poor beleaguered plants that I promise to do better shortly - sounding like an old school report. I peer anxiously at the soil where I have carefully sown the vegetables, hoping to see some tender wee shoots breaking through - have the pigeons or slugs spotted a tasty morsel for their breakfast? Or has the gentleman in the sleek fur coat viewed an easy repast underground? After much labour I erected a (hopefully) rabbit proof fence and, although they cavort round the garden in the early morning munching the clover, they have, thus far, not penetrated the confines of the vegetable garden. Well, not yet anyway!

I read of a novel way of controlling mealy bugs, aphids and red spider mite by squirting them with a jet of water of one part chilli peppers with four parts water. As I am growing a forest of jalapeno and scotch bonnet chillies I will definitely give this a try. A word of caution, always wash yours hands thoroughly after use, as chillies are a real irritant! And how about this for a novel way of protecting hostas and delphiniums from slugs - infuse artemisia absinthium in boiling water and spray round the base of the plants. But remember, this solution is very harmful to touch or drink, so use with great care. With all these warnings, I am very tempted to let nature take its course.

Floreat Hortus