Noone told me about blackfly...

...but I certainly know about it now.

It's hit my broad beans - not the main ones in my veggie bed, but my succession plants, which are in pots. I saw it early, googled it to identify it and thought wiping it gently off would solve the problem. But it's back and worse. I destroyed the worst plant (upon internet advice) and I'm now experimenting with organic insect treatment. Everything to date has been organic, so I don't want to let the side down now - but have I got any chance? Really?

This has all opened my eyes to pests and I couldn't sleep last night (sad I know) worrying about all the pests I might get, or might not know I have got already. Gardening was supposed to be relaxing, so this really wasn't the plan. I have to let it go and take the hits if they happen - but I can't say it's not a little gutting after all the nurture that destroyed broad bean had!

My first disappointment (but I suspect not my last)

Tomatoes. They seem simple enough to grow, provided you avoid blight. However despite using a recommended timetable, compost, positioning, and feeding, my nine plants are down to two (the moneymakers survived if you are interested - the marmande and the variety I always forget the name of, failed).

These are one of the few things I bought from plugs rather than planting from seed - and I used a reputable place. What happened? They shrivelled and died as though neglected, despite being watered and loved and being kept away from all frost.

I couldn't take the pain of failure and had to console myself by buying some more at the garden centre today - different varieties of course - about six varieties and two plants of each. It's either going to end in tears again, or in a mega tomato overload. I really hope it's the latter!

My first taste

Yesterday was the highlight of my time gardening so far, - actually it was one of the highlights of the year. My hubbie and I picked one radish each. We didn't want to take the time to pick several and make a dish (yet). We just got quite excited, picked one and ate it immediately.

I hadn't been expecting them to blow my head off though!! I'd planted the 'Zlata' variety, with the description: Unusual and tasty yellow skinned. Ours were nearer off-white in colour, but Suttons are correct, they are unusual. Fiery, crunchy and with a lingering aftertaste. I can see their potential actually. I'm going to put them in a salad with mint and cucumber and they'll pep up any meaty dish. Not for the faint-hearted, but also thankfully not like those supermarket packets of red skinned, dried out, weak flavoured radishes. These had guts. Next week I think we'll be ready for more goodies, 1st early potatoes, pea shoots and maybe some spring onions too...I can't wait.

Back to work blues

The garden has come on amazingly this weekend. The wonderful display of fruit and vegetables currently growing has finally inspired us to improve the rest of the garden too.

We inherited an overgrown mess when we moved in and it has taken us a while to clear out, landscape (well we actually had a lot of help with that part!) and generally find out what grows well and what doesn't. I'm ashamed to say we've killed a fair few plants in our time because of not buying the right kind for our greenhouse-of-a-south-facing garden.

So, this Bank Holiday weekend, we bought and planted some more shrubs, mowed the lawn and made a start on planting out bedding plants. My bedding plants from seed aren't quite there yet, but I'm pleased they have grown at all - it's another first!

It was glorious sat outside with a cup of tea yesterday afternoon, admiring the garden looking the best it has been since we moved here. My goodness I didn't want to come to work this morning! When can I go home?

Rain. My new friend.

There was a time when the sight of the heavens opening would simply cause dismay. Last night the rain came and I found myself thinking "Oh good, the plants could do with some more water!"

And I swear that my second sowing of radish grew substantially overnight. And everything else too for that matter. I do get my watering can out each night, so is this extra growth really so?

I'm not saying that I want my entire bank holiday weekend as a wash out, but I'm certainly more welcoming of rain than I've ever been before. I just hope I can get out and thin some more of my onions at some point!