The Homestead Garden week to week
- Thread starter British Red
- Start date
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Young leeks look very similar to spring onions. Indeed, many of them can be cut early as spring onions. 
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/281232639735?nav=SEARCH
Or, as I bought 600 seeds I can post you a few "spares"
Brilliant thanks Bernie - don't worry about posting some on I'll risk the £1.50
I think you have nailed the ID there
They do look very different than the white perpetual sort
I think you have nailed the ID there
They do look very different than the white perpetual sort
Well, we are well into blossom season now - so please, cross your fingers that there are no late frosts!
The pears are well away
The Blackthorn is alive with bees
The cherries are starting
as are the plums
The apples will be there in a couple of weeks
The Juneberry is blossoming too
The Medlar has woken up
But the Mulberry buds are only just starting to open
The Rhubarb is firing on all cylinders now - we should have 20 crowns this size come Summer
The goosegogs are leafing up nicely too
add in the new strawberry beds and we should be okay for fruit...if the frosts hold off now!
The pears are well away
The Blackthorn is alive with bees
The cherries are starting
as are the plums
The apples will be there in a couple of weeks
The Juneberry is blossoming too
The Medlar has woken up
But the Mulberry buds are only just starting to open
The Rhubarb is firing on all cylinders now - we should have 20 crowns this size come Summer
The goosegogs are leafing up nicely too
add in the new strawberry beds and we should be okay for fruit...if the frosts hold off now!
My apple was pruned pretty heavily so us looking a bit bare at the mo.... Pear looks good as does the plum and cherry.
This week I noticed my pineberries (courtesy of Mark) are flowering
Pineberry Flower by British Red, on Flickr
as are the first of the strawberries
Strawberry Flower by British Red, on Flickr
Time to get the new strawberry beds netted up and the straw around the plants!
Straw and nets on strawberry beds by British Red, on Flickr
In other news...the early bluebells are open
Bluebell by British Red, on Flickr
and the flowering quince is lovely
Quince Blossom by British Red, on Flickr
The first apple blossom is opening
Apple Blossom by British Red, on Flickr
...and the new Medlar is budding
Medlar Bud by British Red, on Flickr
...how is it at your place?
Pineberry Flower by British Red, on Flickras are the first of the strawberries
Strawberry Flower by British Red, on FlickrTime to get the new strawberry beds netted up and the straw around the plants!
Straw and nets on strawberry beds by British Red, on FlickrIn other news...the early bluebells are open
Bluebell by British Red, on Flickrand the flowering quince is lovely
Quince Blossom by British Red, on FlickrThe first apple blossom is opening
Apple Blossom by British Red, on Flickr...and the new Medlar is budding
Medlar Bud by British Red, on Flickr...how is it at your place?
Much the same, just been out to water the containers and do a PH test on my soil. Many of the apples are in Blossom, with the rest sure to blossom very soon. The first flowers are appearing on the strawberries. My unpruned autumn fruiting raspberries are showing the signs that flowers will come out any time now.
My blackcurrants now have their first leaves, as does the grape. The oak and hazel are both in full leaf and the Primrose is looking beautiful with a heavy crop of flowers. The bluebells in the garden look like they will be in bloom by next week.
Indoors I have run out of space on the window sills. I am waiting for the weather to be warm enough outside for the tomatoes to move out there, along with the pumpkins.
Harvest wise I have been harvesting the rhubarb, which is providing it's usual abundant crop.
Julia
...We have 20+ crowns of rhubarb - of which 16 will be in their first harvestable year this year (raised from seed two years ago and planted out last year). I'm hoping for a bumper year and to be canning loads of strawberry/rhubarb compote which my wife adores (hence the two new strawberry beds).
Fingers crossed anyway!
Fingers crossed anyway!
Bloomin 'eck. That's gonna do you well. My 4 plants give me 40lb of rhubarb a year! With 20+ you're gonna be going a wee bit insane as you try to find outlets for it all.
Which variety did you go for?
J
A couple of "Timperley Early" about ten "Victoria" and the rest "Glaskins perpetual" - mainly to spread the season a bit. I really like Timperley Early but can't seem to find any seed for it so I bought a couple of crowns.
New Rhubarb Bed by British Red, on Flickr
The old bed crops more heavily of course, but I think after a year in the ground, these should do well.
I do a lot of canning so am hoping to can at least 60lbs of straight rhubarb and the same of strawberry / rhubarb. Then theres some rhubarb wine to be made - although I must say rhubarb beer was, whilst drinkable, not to be repeated.
New Rhubarb Bed by British Red, on FlickrThe old bed crops more heavily of course, but I think after a year in the ground, these should do well.
I do a lot of canning so am hoping to can at least 60lbs of straight rhubarb and the same of strawberry / rhubarb. Then theres some rhubarb wine to be made - although I must say rhubarb beer was, whilst drinkable, not to be repeated.
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This is the variety I grow, crops brilliantly, tastes good, and I am often able to harvest it in February, No forcing needed.
Interesting. I have taken mostly to offering it to friends and filling the freezer. How do you bottle/can the rhubarb? I have a couple of Parfeit jars I am wanting to try.
J
Here you go Julia....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92670
Works just as well with Le Parfait type jars
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92670
Works just as well with Le Parfait type jars
Time for another round of "what's happening". So much on at the moment I'll break it into some themes
Tubers
As mentioned in another thread, I planted out my Yacon today as I don't think we will see a frost here now
Yacon Roots by British Red, on Flickr
The Oca planted a while ago is already showing
Oca Row by British Red, on Flickr
The early potatoes (which I container grow) are well up and have been "earthed up" twice. I say earthed up because this year I am not going to add any earth - I will use grass clippings, sawdust and any other mulch I have to hand - but no earth or compost. I am told this works well and want to find out!
Pot grown first earlies by British Red, on Flickr
Red
(next we'll look at the herb garden)
Tubers
As mentioned in another thread, I planted out my Yacon today as I don't think we will see a frost here now
Yacon Roots by British Red, on FlickrThe Oca planted a while ago is already showing
Oca Row by British Red, on FlickrThe early potatoes (which I container grow) are well up and have been "earthed up" twice. I say earthed up because this year I am not going to add any earth - I will use grass clippings, sawdust and any other mulch I have to hand - but no earth or compost. I am told this works well and want to find out!
Pot grown first earlies by British Red, on FlickrRed
(next we'll look at the herb garden)
Herbs
The Herb Garden is nuts this year - no delicate little thing this!
Herb Bed 2 by British Red, on Flickr
The Ramsons are well in flower - I may try a seed save this year!
Ramson by British Red, on Flickr
The Cardoon is terrifyingly big - we will have to eat some
Cardoon by British Red, on Flickr
My horehound is coming on great (thanks to Enigma) so I will try making some cough candy this year
Horehound Patch by British Red, on Flickr
The comfrey is going great guns too
Comfrey by British Red, on Flickr
I have a stack of borage to plant out (love borage)
Borage by British Red, on Flickr
The coriander is starting to show which is good - I'm out of frozen
Coriander by British Red, on Flickr
Now we have some new additions to the herb patch this year
Some Red Welsh Onion (thank you bernie66)
Red Welsh Onion by British Red, on Flickr
and wild carrot
Wild Carrot by British Red, on Flickr
so....all looking good
Red
(Fruit next - but that can be tomorrow I think)
The Herb Garden is nuts this year - no delicate little thing this!
Herb Bed 2 by British Red, on FlickrThe Ramsons are well in flower - I may try a seed save this year!
Ramson by British Red, on FlickrThe Cardoon is terrifyingly big - we will have to eat some
Cardoon by British Red, on FlickrMy horehound is coming on great (thanks to Enigma) so I will try making some cough candy this year
Horehound Patch by British Red, on FlickrThe comfrey is going great guns too
Comfrey by British Red, on FlickrI have a stack of borage to plant out (love borage)
Borage by British Red, on FlickrThe coriander is starting to show which is good - I'm out of frozen
Coriander by British Red, on FlickrNow we have some new additions to the herb patch this year
Some Red Welsh Onion (thank you bernie66)
Red Welsh Onion by British Red, on Flickrand wild carrot
Wild Carrot by British Red, on Flickrso....all looking good
Red
(Fruit next - but that can be tomorrow I think)
If you do and have a bit to spare try it in a pepper mill... it makes a very tasty alternative to pepper
I've never had access to anything other than ramsons to try Hugh, be an interesting experiment to find out
