Apple Harvesting

It's almost apple harvesting time, and this is a very exciting year for me! I have a bumper crop of 43 apples!

Six years ago I bought a self pollinating apple tree that I have grown in a pot. Over the years, I've averaged 13 apples each year (expect in 2013 when I had 0 apples). This year I've taken extra care; I've ensured the tree didn't dry out; I was careful in Spring and throughout Summer to take off leaves infected by little green caterpillars that ALWAYS infest the tree and eat the apples. I have fed and fertilized. (And I pruned last year).

A view upwards. It may be hard to believe there are 43 apples but there are. However, some are going to be too small for eating. I just couldn't bare taking any off. This year is a bit of a quantity competition!

These apples have fallen from the tree naturally (not counted in my 43). The tree has shed quite a few apples over the Summer, a natural process. Of course, I'm not sure what variety of apples they are, as the label is long gone and I never recorded what variety I bought.
So looking forward to eating my organic apples this year!

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

The Beauty of Spring...

Just a few photos to show the beauty of late Winter, early Spring....

crocus,
snowdrops,
daffodils

= 

gorgeous colour!

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Pottering in the Garden

When I 'work' in the garden, I don't consider it a chore... I consider it a bit of play time. It's a time to get my hands dirty, do something messy, get creative, and try something new. Pottering about has become one of my favourite past times. 

Earlier in the month, walking around our local Garden Show, I was struck by all the great ideas others have come up with, and it was great to see young people and children getting involved in the show. 

Here are some playful and creative ideas from our local Garden Show...

The winning 'Team Garden Challenge'  was created by young Level 2 Horticultural students. I've seen this design idea used a number of times, and it's always eye catching and effective. I particularly like the old boots planted with alpines. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Above: Local schools get involved in creating 'edible gardens' - this one has a cute little chick made from an egg shell with what looks like watercress growing from it, along with sage, chives, and other herbs. 

Above: Growing lettuces and herbs from recycled plastic milk or water bottles is a great way to start a mini garden in a small space.

Above and below: School children use recycling boxes to plant up mini edible gardens. If you look closely they're really clever and packed with lots of great plants.

Above: Recently, I was pricing clay herb pots and they were quite expensive. The use of plastic bottles to grow strawberries, herbs and lettuces are a great idea, and children would enjoy this as their own little garden patch to look after.

May is the month for garden shows... this weekend I'm visiting 'Bloom in the Park' in Dublin (the 'Chelsea of Ireland'). It's the first time I've managed to make it down to the garden festival, now in its 9th year, and I'm really excited (camera ready!). Hoping for lots of inspiration (and good weather! (raincoat ready)). 

For more information on the Dublin show click here.

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Magical Gardening Month of May

With the warmer weather, lots of growth can be seen daily throughout the garden, which is very exciting.

Pictured, veggies grown from seed sown last year are growing rightly - kale, chard, spinach, parsley and Winter lettuce 'Arctic King. These have all over wintered and thrive in Spring/early Summer. I imagine many of these plants will begin to bolt soon so I've been harvesting and trying to use as much as I can.

In the clay pot, I have Wallflowers 'Choice Mixed' grown from seed in Aug/Sept last year. I've been a bit disappointed with the number of flowers (not much of a show) but maybe there's more to come. This is the first time I've grown Wallflowers so I don't know much about these plants. On the plus side, they provide some early colour. 

Chard and Kale are staples in my garden. They contain lots of vitamins and minerals and are easy to grow. I've now sown chard and kale seed for the coming year and will plant into the garden at the end of May. These tasty greens compliment soup, casseroles, sauce based dishes, as well as stir fries.

Rhubarb with some bendy looking stalks. Rhubarb crumble is on the menu today.

Hostas are emerging and looking really pretty. Non-edible to humans? They're a tasty treat for snails and slugs. I try to keep an eye these plants before they become shabby, half eaten plants.

Recently I purchased some value pack bulbs and I manged to get the Acidanthera Peacock Orchids for 10 pence / 15 cents per pack marked down on clearance. I'm wondering if they have an invasive nature and if they tend to multiply like crazy as do some bulbs like crocosmia? I definitely don't want something that multiplies and is difficult to remove. 
Has anyone ever grown Peacock Orchids, and any tips?

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Simply enjoyable weather

A little seasonal arrangement (pictured left) has lasted and lasted. It's simply a plastic  pot with some twine tied around it, and bit of greenery/pine covering the container and pushed into the sides. 

It's planted with a few daffodil bulbs and pansies. It also has a few shrub cuttings stuck into it. I've been amazed at how long the pine and shrub branches have lasted considering they are just stuck around the edges of the container (no roots on them). This little seasonal container has been outside since before Christmas and it looks like there will soon be daffodil blooms as well as pansy flowers to keep it going.  

I'm afraid I didn't make it. It was bought for £5. A good idea for a low cost container!

Its been a bit colder  lately with some snow. 

Perfect weather for walks. Pictured: Cushendall, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Of course, no snow on the beach, but very cold! Cushendun, County Antrim

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Beautiful Kohl Rabi

Kohl Rabi - what a great looking vegetable! They're so pretty I'm not sure I want to harvest and eat them. This is the first time I've grown this plant so I have no idea what to do with it or when to harvest. The seeds were started off in June in a greenhouse and planted outside at the end of July. 

Variety: Kohl Rabi 'Purple Vienna

The name of the plant means 'turnip cabbage' (BBC Good Food website).

I did a quick google search on the internet. Says the bulb can be steamed or stir fried and the leaves can be eaten like cabbage. Suppose I need to try them out soon! 

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Are your vegetables pretty?

I'm afraid my end of Summer veg aren't very pretty! In fact, they're very blemished with horrible holes. They're caterpillar infested. Growing organically, I've put quite a bit of effort into slug control this year (night safaris, etc) however this seems to be the year of the caterpillar. They're currently my top pest. Caterpillars aren't fussy either - they are eating on almost everything...

Radishes and lettuces have been attacked by little green caterpillars.

Above: Caterpillars have been found on the leaves of the Dwarf Purple Queen Bean.
Below: Turnip leaves were the first to be attacked (some new leaves have grown since).

They've munched on calendula;
They've munched on kale.

They munch on Spring Cabbage.

They're hard to see on curly leaved kale, but they are there.
I inspect the plants but never seem to get them all. Perhaps my lesson is - use netting!?!

The worse thing about caterpillars is their poo - which I've chose not to display!

Has anyone else had caterpillar problems this year?

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Suttgarter Onions from start to finish

Above: Onion sets purchased.

This was my first year growing onion and I'm happy with the results. Every time I grow something new I get a rush of uncertainty at some stage - with the onions the uncertainty came when pulling them up and how to dry and store them. I think I managed and as I didn't grow very many I think I'll have them eaten in a couple of months so the storing isn't too necessary. I really enjoy growing things I haven't grown before. Here's a little record of their start and finish in the garden.

Above: Starting to grow - The onion bulbs in the open growing tray seemed to have better root systems than the ones grown in the individual squares. Photo taken 7 May.

Above: In my new raised beds, I used the  square foot growing idea and onions took up two of my growing areas. They were planted in the bed at the end of May. Photo taken 21 July.

Above: A closer look at the onions in the bed.  Photo taken 29 July.

Above: On reflection I think I pulled the onions a bit too soon, however, the leafy stalks were starting to flop over so  I pulled them up. Photo taken 10 August.

Suttgarter onions pulled and drying. They are about tennis ball size, some smaller. They smell and taste delicious. I think I will definitely grow again next year. I'd like to grow a red onion as well. Any suggestions of an easy to grow red variety let me know!

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Weekend Harvests

Some home grown veg harvested at the weekend. I'm finally getting a good supply of courgettes and I'm trying to pick them small, however, it's amazing how quick they grow over a couple of days. I find salads and stir fries really easy to prepare and a good way to get crops eaten.

Harvested left:  Lettuce ‘Little Gem Pearl’, Mint (in the bowl); Courgette (zucchini F1)*, Courgette (yellow zucchini) 'Soleil F1'*, Spring Onion ‘White Lisbon’, Bean 'Dwarf Purple Queen'*, and a few Bean 'Dwarf French Tendergreen'* .

The Purple Queen Bean have done best this year. I'm afraid my 'cobra' bean*  flopped and the 'Dwarf French Tendergreen' bean hasn't produced very much.

(The * above indicates grown from seed.)

Onion 'Stuttgarter' - this is the first time I've managed to grow onion! I lifted them and are in the process of drying them. 

Harvested above:
Lettuce ‘Bijou’ (purple);  Lettuce ‘Little Gem Pearl’, Courgette (zucchini F1)* , Courgette (yellow zucchini) 'Soleil F1'* , Spring onion ‘White Lisbon’  

I've recently sown a range of Winter lettuces and am hoping they will take me into October for salad; although I do get a bit tired of eating so much salad!

The * above indicates plants grown from seed. My seed list is here. 

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

July Veg Update

Lots of veggies ready to harvest this month including some of my favourite easy to grow plants - turnip, courgette, beans and salad fixings. 

Its great to pop out into the garden and have veg for a salad or stir fry - without the need to go to the shops! 

Here's a little snapshot of the veg that's thriving this month...

Left and Below: Turnip 'Purple Top Milan'

Courgette / Zucchini are finally reaching a good size. Although baby courgettes are tasty too.
Below: Courgette (yellow zucchini) 'Soleil F1' is slower to progress.

Above: Bean 'Dwarf Purple Queen', started from seed in April are producing. I like to use them in stir fries.
Below: Dwarf beans grow alongside onions in a raised bed.

Above: Onion 'Stuttgarter' look to be progressing well.
Below: Radish 'Scarlet Globe'.

Above: Chard 'White Silver 2' for stir fry.
Below: More salad ingredients harvested at the weekend. (beetroot, 3 types of lettuce, spring onion, courgette).

On the not so successful side - veg I've been trying to grow but pests keep eating the seedling include pok choi and kohl rabi (however, I'll keep trying)!

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.