Looks like Buddleja to me. Probably just a blown in ‘weed’, rather than a named variety of which there are many. It is one of 5 major invasive species in the uk and will grow pretty much anywhere so not surprising it comes back after cutting it hard. Personally I would get rid of it and plant something nicer but it will flower and encourage bees and butterflies
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Yes buddleja are lovely in the right setting but I had one in the garden and it was just too big. Lots of butterflies - hence the name of Butterfly Bush. I cut it back every year but it just encouraged it to grow harder so it had to go in the end… I have seen them growing out of tiny crack in concrete and walls and of course is seen up and down railways across the land. It can cause issues and is incredibly prolific, self seeding everywhere…
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Thanks @Dave_Benson and @Foresthillnick . It’s decided, I will get rid of it. I didn’t want to until I confirmed what it was.
First tomatoes from a late February sowing starting to come through now. Red ones are ‘The Amateur’ and orange ones ‘Sungold’ - these have been mostly in a greenhouse. Other varieties in the greenhouse still a way off ripening, same as outdoor ones.
Had one squash plant die (think it was eaten at the base) andy Turks Turban has fruit but is clinging off for life as all the leaves are getting eaten alive, unlike the others.
Lots of peas but none making it home as my boys just eat them there and loads of strawberries though mostly coming to the end. Plenty of raspberries also.
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Excellent stuff! My first tom looks to be just about ripe but I may have to wait a while for a whole salad.
Plenty of lettuce here, a few courgettes, a couple of gherkins, more broad beans than you can shake a stick at, a few french beans and other bits and bobs means we are almost back to self sufficiency in veg. Had some great overwintered onions although garlic was a bit poor with some white rot knocking some out…
This is the time when everything grows like crazy - long warm days and some water in the ground and suddenly everything is galloping along.
By the way do you need any chicken stuff? We have feeders and waterers plus a few other bits - PM if needed…
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Hops in the top10, so caterpillar would be my guess.
p.s if you ever make beer and need tasting volunteers…
I don’t make beer with it, but last year it was hugely productive so maybe if someone is really motivated to get the flowers we can discuss.
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This query is about indoor growing. Does anyone has a solution for dealing with an infestation of tiny flies in compost I have used to re-pot a big house plant? (Fly paper?) I guess these are the flies I call “fruit flies” because they look like the kind you see taking an interest in a fruit bowl containing over-ripe fruit.
I had a similar problem a few years ago with some orchid compost I’d bought from a garden centre and within days of re-potting several of my orchids I had loads of tiny flies all over the flat. I contacted the company who had made the compost and they sent me a packet of several sheets of bright yellow sticky cards, with a small hole at one end to go over a stake which then was placed in various pots around the flat. The flies are attracted to the colour yellow and then get stuck on the sticky stuff! It took a couple of weeks but did work. I can’t remember what these yellow cards were called but found lots of similar things on ebay and Amazon by googling for “yellow sticky card for flies”! However you may be able to get them in Shannons - our local garden centre on Stanstead Road…
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A bit if colour from the allotment - french beans, peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, courgettes, cucumber, plums.
In all honesty my onions and garlic were a bit of a disaster, lost a lot to white rot and some if the onions hardly grew (not sure I watered them enough).
Used my last lot of ‘Spanish’ peas so decided to try and save seed from most of that crop, hopefully they will be good:
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Has anyone grown ginger? I had some in the kitchen which started sprouting, so I planted it. Seems to be growing, but very slowly. [problem uploading picture]
I always struggle with growing leafy greens in the garden - every creature wants a piece of it or wants to dig it up. I’m going to try New Zealand Spinach which apparently is resilient. It’s a bit late in the season, but I’m going to do it anyway. I’ve bought seed from a company I haven’t used before. They recommend keeping seeds in the fridge - does anyone here do that?
Pleased you managed to get some and they’re working!
Hello,
I was wondering if someone of you know someone who has a garden to share.
I’m growing vegetables and flowers on my balcony, but there is not enough space to plant all year long for different seasons.
So what I’m looking for is a green space, where the owner allows me to grow vegetables in exchange for a part of the produce. Ideally should be accessible through a gate and not the house, others sun hours, and has a way of collecting water or other ways of watering.
If you know someone please let me know, super keen to start some urban farming.
Thank you
Kevin
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Have you tried getting on a waiting list for a plot?
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@Foresthillnick do you know how I can join the waiting list for Barriedale Allotments? Many thanks
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I do!
Ill PM you as we tend to keep it quiet - it’s a small private site and there is a waiting list…
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The plots around me have a queue of around 3 to 8 years, at least looking at the Lewisham website.
I’m living between on a border between Lewisham and Southwark and being a resident of Lewisham crosses a lot of Southwark allotments out, like one tree hill.
Tending for another’s garden is a win/win for both, and maybe a faster option to have access to a green space.
Anyone had success with getting a match through https://www.lendandtend.com ?
Hi Kevin - good luck finding a garden, it would certainly be a win win though perhaps in covd times people without a side entrance might be more nervous of this?
With regards to allotments, I am sure there were some in Dulwich you could apply to that seemed better than Lewisham- I ended up in Bromley just past Bell Green and it’s been great. Huge site which had just under a year on the waiting (imagine it’s gone up now). Well worth putting your name down either way for some near you, you can always come off. I similarly gave up with Lewisham (still on the lists I believe) as they did seem long but not sure how well moving people on is being down via the council - I think the dedicated position is no longer there.
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