A number of kind readers as well as an Oxford contemporary, L, have either expressed surprise that I am such a keen gardener or have asked for a progress report. Well here goes. I start with the small field behind the barn which was six foot high in weeds when we arrived and contained a number of abandoned metal structures hidden by those weeds. As you can see in the first photo, it is now a new orchard of about 30 trees, mainly plums, apples, crab apples and pears but with the odd fig, a dog’s arse tree and a tayberry. At the end of the orchard is the top field where one day I hope to keep goats. I have planted five edible olive trees from Greece, three mulberry trees and a sweet chestnut around the edge. That is all WIP.
After four years the trees are all fruiting.
On the far edge of the vegetable garden, the area once known as the jungle, where my garden borders the lane down to our house, there is now an established lavender hedge from top to bottom. As you can see it is in full flower and, in August, Joshua and I will be making cordial and ice cream from the heads. The trees I have planted down the side of the lane are cherries. The birds loved them. There is also an old damson tree and a cooking apple tree and both are looking good for fruit this year. Looking at the oold orchard by the river we will be drowning in apples come late September. With a new electric scratter expect industrial scale apple juice production.
This photo looks up the garden. The old tree is a plum tree which still fruits. What looks like weeds on the left is the main strawberry patch. All the strawberries are now harvested and either frozen or turned into ice cream. So this patch is now covered with weeds. Come the late summer those weeds as well as the oldest strawberries will be grubbed out. On the right is the first vegetable patch containing marrows, squashes, chillies and then a bank of winter potatoes and some radishes which should be ready in a few weeks.
Now the next three photos are of the next patch up parallel to the large strawberry patch. What you see here if you look very closely are a couple of rows of leeks and a couple of beetroot as well as plenty of weeds which I try to keep in check. Next to the beetroot are three sweet potato plants which are meant to climb up the frames I put there but don’t seem to understand that.
On the opposite side of the patch from the lavender are the fruit bushes,the next two photos: raspberries, domestic blackberries, blue berries, blackcurrants and gooseberries.
At the top of the lavender wall in the far corner of the garden are rhubarb plants which have been a great success. Behind them I now have planted more trees: mainly apples but also two peach trees and two pomegranates although I fear that one of them may not make it. The other is flourishing. The last photos in this quartet are of a new plant for 2024, a vine, designed to produce edible grapes which seems to be prospering. His little brother is faring less well but I have not given up on him yet. The vine sits behind and between the two peach trees.
Above the sweet potatoes, are a cluster of marrows and squashes (you can see the flowers). And behind that, working from the vine side to the lane: the main beetroot crop, some leeks and carrots before the tomato plants, again you can see small flowers. There are a couple of photos where, if you look closely you can see a green marrow and yellow courgettes starting to grow bigger. There were also lettuces planted here a week ago.
This is the three part compost tip, now full and mature. It was used for the first time this year for fertiliser and will be more productive next year.
The next two are of the top patch: early potatoes, shallots, garlic and peas. Something happened to the onion crop there and it has failed.
These are the pumpkins, three of them. Very much a fingers crossed experiment.
These are the tomatoes. We had a small first crop last week, I am hopeful for a decent main crop. Behind them are two rows of chillies and peppers
Finally a small herb garden with mint, fennel, chives and more. There is a larger herb garden at the end of the new fruit orchard with rosemary, more mint, more chives and a curry plant.
