Friday 29 September 2017

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017.

This month, most of my gardening time has been taken up with de-lawing.  I no longer have a (weedy, patchy, lumpy, bumpy, weirdly small) lawn!

We sheet mulched it, which involved digging the edges of the lawn up, laying card and newspaper over the lawn, then topping with a thick layer of bark chippings.  Bonus feature - the garden currently smells like a pine forest!

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

We also removed the stones that edged the narrow border between the lawn and the fence, which is why there's a pile of stones in the middle of the path now!

Here's what it looked like before.

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

I'm much happier now.  And once we've got the hard landscaping sorted (path, patio, shed + stompy builders stomping all over the garden) I'll plant up the ex-lawn and have lots more lovely plants and trees.

You can see I also bark-chipped over the ex-weedy patch at the bottom of the garden, as I'm probably not going to get round to planting it all this year, and the chips will prevent weeds and soil erosion, and rot down into the soil and make it nice. 

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

The bin's there because it's waiting to be planted up with a thornless blackberry plant I was given for my birthday.  I figured it was the biggest, cheapest plastic free option for a large pot, that would also stop the roots escaping and spreading through the garden.  It also matches my steel raised beds. 

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

This is my plant waiting area.  Every time I go out to garden it rains on me!  Waiting to be planted are a blackcurrant bush and the thornless blackberry - excellent birthday gifts from my father in law and his partner, it's not very often someone buys you exactly the things you were planning to buy yourself, with no prompting or clues, but this was one of those times.  There's also two hazel nut trees, an almond tree and a discovery apple tree that I bought with some birthday money I was given.  

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

This is my other plant waiting area.  There are lots of herbs waiting to be planted, including a curry plant that smells amazing and Siberian perennial onions.  I have a tray of herbs I bought from Homebase in the sale for £2 to plant too.  The herbs and trees are from Victoriana Nursery, it's hard to buy plants without a car, but I think this is a good online option, they seem pretty eco-friendly and the plants are healthy barring the odd insect hitch-hiker.  

I bought these perennial cut and come again cauliflower from Victoriana Nursery too, which I'm pretty darn excited to plant! 

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

My back garden raised beds are doing good.  I was worried I wasn't going to get any beans from my lazy housewife beans, but they're coming along now.  I had two cabbages that suffered from being eaten by cabbage white caterpillars.  I've tried to live peaceably with my caterpillar chums, because butterflies are struggling so much, so I just left them to much away happily.  I like the thought that the caterpillars have eaten their fill, and now one of the cabbages is making a comeback, so I'll get to eat my fill too.

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

There's lots of yummy salad growing too, and some beans and sweetcorn that I'm doubtful will make beans and sweetcorn before we have frosts - but you never know! 

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

This bit of the garden is really pretty right now, all the flowers seem to be putting on a final flourish before winter.  I'm planning on planting my new almond tree at the back of this patch by the fence, and I have a smoke bush on order I want to plant along here too.  There are lots of plants to move if the weather is Ever un-rainy.

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

This cute little calendula has been my favourite flower this year.  It's smaller and yellower than all the others and has flowered all summer long, I'll be saving seed from it.

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

I shall leave you with this beetle friend.  Isn't he cute!  I'm so pleased there are beetles in the garden - they eat slugs don't you know! 

Diary of a suburban edible garden, September 2017. From UK garden blogger secondhandsusie.blogspot.com #permaculturegarden #ukpermaculture #suburbangarden #ediblegarden #sheetmulching #raisedbeds

 How's your garden this month? 

 
 

7 comments:

  1. Your garden looks so lush! I have some serious yard envy now.

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  2. Good to see how much progress you've made this year. Your steel raised beds are v stylish. I've been fortunate - the last couple of days of good weather have coincided with my days off so I've been out there digging and tidying like a mad thing. (Overseen by garden robin and our geriatric guinea pig who also appreciate a sunny day). I think I need to plant a flower filled bed like yours to try to attract more pollenating friends into the garden. Hope you manage to get lots of happy planting & planning done soon.
    PS; If you ever have an excess of those black beetles pls send them to me - our garden is Slug City ;)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :) I like the sound of your garden friends the robin and guinea pig (I adore guineas but sadly am allergic to them!)
      I do love my flower bed, I love the colours but it's also always full of bees and insects which is lovely to see!

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    2. PS. I will have a word with my ground beetles and see if they can send some of themselves your way!

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  3. You have done so much to your garden! I love your achievements and all the colour and life!
    Curry leaves???? Mmmm..we use those in our favourite vegan curry recipe! I must share it with yoU!x

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, I feel like we're making progress on it finally! And yes please to curry recipe :) x

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