Last June was glorious. Wall-to-wall sunshine, loads of time in the garden, things growing at a rate I could barely keep up with. This June has been… not that. It’s been so rainy that most days I look out at the garden and immediately decide I’ll do it tomorrow. Which then becomes the day after. You know how it goes.
So yes, I’m a bit behind. But things are happening out there, and I’ve got a new greenhouse this year which I’m so glad about — more on that in a second. Here’s where everything is at right now.
The New Greenhouse
The big change this year is that we finally got a proper greenhouse — one of those ones with a plastic cover. Last year I was using the conservatory as a greenhouse, and while it worked for starting seeds, it wasn’t ideal at all for actually growing things on. The solid roof meant a lot of the plants ended up in too much shade, and I lost quite a bit to that. The new greenhouse has made such a difference already.
In there right now I’ve got tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, aubergines, and peppers, plus a few other things I honestly can’t remember planting. Which brings me to the theme of this year’s garden: I have been absolutely terrible at labelling things. I kept meaning to do it and just… didn’t. So there are a few mystery plants dotted about that I’m just going to have to wait and see on. Exciting, if a little chaotic.
We do have a smaller greenhouse as well, the one we had in the old house. I think I’ll use that for the chillies and peppers when they all get a bit bigger, and the tomatoes and cucumbers can have the bigger greenhouse.
Outside: The Container Garden and Veg Beds
Outside I’ve got a fair bit on the go. Lettuce, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, chard, onions, courgettes, cucumbers, potatoes, broccoli, baby onions, mini corn, and spring onions. It sounds like loads when I list it all out, and I suppose it is — it just doesn’t always feel that way when you’re weeding in the rain.
The strawberries are there too, though they’re not doing anything wildly exciting yet. The raspberries are looking a bit sad, which is disappointing, but I’m not ready to give up on them. Sometimes they just need a bit more time. Or so I keep telling myself.
Again, the labelling situation has not helped me here. I’ve got a few things growing that I’m genuinely unsure about, and I’m just going to have to wait until they’re bigger before I know what I’m dealing with. Not the most organised approach, I’ll admit.
The Pumpkin Patch
I’ve just planted the pumpkin patch — it’s gone in a bit later than last year, but it’s in. As I wrote about in the garden tidy post, I cleared it all out over the bank holiday and mulched it down with grass cuttings, so the soil should be in good shape for them.
I was going to scale back on the pumpkins this year after going a bit overboard last time, but given that I forgot to label everything before planting, I’m not entirely sure what’s a pumpkin and what’s a courgette or squash — there’s a mix of all three in there. So the grand plan of “fewer pumpkins” may or may not have worked out. We’ll find out in a few months. I’ve basically just thrown them out there and hoped for the best, which is not something I’d recommend as a gardening strategy, but here we are.
How I’m Feeling About It All
Not my most on-top-of-it gardening year, if I’m honest. The weather hasn’t helped — it’s hard to feel motivated when it’s grey and drizzly and the garden is muddy. Last June felt exciting and full of momentum. This June feels more like catching up.
But things are growing. The greenhouse is already proving its worth. And there’s something quite nice about not knowing exactly what’s coming — even if that’s partly because I forgot to label things. I’ll do a proper update once more starts to happen out there.
What’s growing in your garden right now? Let me know in the comments!
Related posts:
- How We Finally Tackled Our Overgrown Garden (And What We Still Haven’t Done)
- Getting Your Container Garden Ready to Plant
- April in My UK Garden: What to Plant and Grow This Month
- Growing My Own Pumpkin Patch in the UK
- What’s Growing in My August Garden
- Why Your Garden Needs Wildflowers (And How I’m Adding Them to Mine)
How wonderful that you have a greenhouse! I have cacti and succulents in pots at home, but I would love to plant some red fruits; that would make me very happy.