19th June

Despite the gap in entering events, I have been pottering around. Last Thursday I bought a pot of French tarragon after hearing a chef on the radio say that it was far superior to Russian, and why they are both called tarragon is beyond him. Last Friday I potted up some seedlings and started feeding the sweet peppers (Feed on Friday is the commercial motto, replacing my scheme for last year which was to feed after listening to Gardeners’ Question Time on a Wednesday). On Saturday, as my wife was constructing a flat-packed wardrobe, I was allowed to be unhindered in the garden, whilst under the constraint of having a 1 year old to look after. I strimmed the edges of the lawn with a strimmer that is temporarily residing in my shed, then the whole lawn got a close haircut – more bulk for the compost bin! The roses were coming out in force at this point and a few of the bedding petunias were flowering. All four hanging baskets are looking good, with the ones containing trailing petunias being absolutely stunning. I have been to the allotment Tuesday and Wednesday to do some watering and weeding, but from Monday I have been under the weather and so have not done too much. Today I trimmed some of the privet hedge with secateurs – a slow job, yes, and not a brilliantly neat and flat finish! The bin of nettle tea is a most disgustingly smelly vat now but it is ready to use as long as it is watered down to the colour of weak tea.

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