Goodness me, like so many other jobs in the garden this one is about four weeks later than normal……..but better late than never! I am getting my last lot of winter brassicas planted today from seeds sown back in April. I’m planting purple sprouting broccoli, calabrese and savoy cabbages. Oh…..and the following morning, as I finish off the jobs, I try out my new garden pinny.
Month: August 2021
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Heritage seeds & saving seeds the Koanga way.
Today my attention is turning towards seed saving to ensure a garden for next year (and many more to come I hope). Actually, seed saving is something I think about throughout the season as my plants are growing. I talk today about how I select my seeds for saving and the process I use to make sure they store well…I reference the Koanga Institute in New Zealand and have included a link which takes you to a gorgeous video of their seed bank.
On the Sofa: I get out and about – a wee catch-up.
In which I chat about getting out and about and make like Ronnie Corbett chatting in ‘the chair’….all around the houses for a wee catch up. Ach, once again my camera has decided it cannot cope with my face…….so maybe have a listen whilst doing something else rather than just watching! Ach, sorry!
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Operation ‘Garden Rescue’ starts now!
It’s time to start rescuing this garden! It’s a green jungle……and I love that…….but there are so many veggies I ought to have picked in the last few weeks…….if I don’t do it now they’ll rot and all the effort will have been for nothing. I also want to encourage my plants to continue producing. Weeding and grass trimming can come later!
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: My worst garden year ever. But I am NOT defeated!
Today I’m having a bit of a chat about my gardening year so far……it’s fair to say it hasn’t been my best…in fact, it has been my worst ever. HOWEVER……this is NOT a pity-party, rather a reflection on where things went wrong and what, if anything, I can do next year to make things better again. There’s always hope and I am never defeated!
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: The Onion Harvest.
Yay for the first big harvest in – the onions! Today I talk all things onions…..from varieties, seeds vs. sets, soil types, bed prep, on-going care of the onion crop, harvesting, processing ready for storage, storage and storage problems. It’s a proper onion fest today! My varieties this year are Red Baron (the reds!) and Sturon and Cupido (the whites). This is how I grow and store enough onions to keep me going for an entire year.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: August Garden Tour (’21).
Rather later than usual here is a tour of the garden in August. Gosh, it is very clear that the garden has been unattended for nearly a month……it’s a bit of a jungle…..a glorious jungle!
On the Sofa: Treats, running, memories…..and books.
A wee catch up as I come up for air. Argh, the camera is playing up again and doesn’t want to focus……hahaha, it can’t cope with my face! So maybe have this on as more of a podcast than a video……..ie: get your knitting out!
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Argh! The ‘B’ word!
A day when my plans change. It has been a very typical British summer this year (compared with the last two years)…….hot, sunny days for a week or so……followed by cooler days with lots of rain and lingering damp. It ought to be the perfect weather for all of our beans…….but the worst kind of weather for our outdoor grown tomatoes. I have a really close up look at mine today……
Beyond Frugal! Shopping Haul £7.45 or $10.37
You ask, I deliver! Another shopping video………my shopping changes slightly with the seasons…..so this is sort of typical for the summer….but there are always a few curve balls to contend with so this week’s shop also involved a visit to my local, independent ironmongers. There was also a larger purchase to make this week which I didn’t have the money for but…..I still got it……through a bit of effort and wiliness and outside-of-the-box thinking!
