Pictures taken in Granny’s garden

Something I have thoroughly enjoyed this year is my garden. It has become my happy place. Somewhere I can get lost in my own thoughts, pottering around and getting muddy. It is only a small modest sized “back yard” very much the typical Victorian terrace “garden” with brick walls and paving slabs. I have filled it to the brim with potted plants and we have a raised bed in the corner which I have grown our own veg in. It has been a learning experience to say the least but I’m enjoying the trial and error.  My first huge mistake was buying loads of plants on in the morning and then leaving them in the car for a day and night and then wondering why there was so much condensation in the car! I forgot plants breathe - nearly suffocated the poor things but they were all ok in the end. 

I couldn’t have done any of it without my granny though, she has been on the other end of the phone most summer laughing at all my gardening questions. Which compost shall I buy? Why do the leaves have black dots on them? What is this plant? Why has everything wilted?  Why is my cosmos growing taller than me? What flower is this? How do I repot the seedlings?

She knows her stuff, having owned a garden centre for well.. A long time- since my mum was younger - I only have to describe a flower and she can tell me what it is and how to grow it.  She has the most magical garden full of wildlife, too many frogs, vegetables to pick and eat and lots of pretty flowers, hiding places, and the odd snake which is only seen every couple of years.  Her garden is my second happy place and I like to think I get green fingers and love of the garden from her. ( I grew more string beans then her this year so I beat her at something!) 

This year I have grown:

String beans… which I actually thought were peas so waited for them all to get super big only to then realise that they were not peas and once they got too big they were actually very tough and not very nice at all!  I actually found them very easy to grow- meaning I didn’t havn’t to do much to see the results. 

Raddish  - I planted hundreds… too close together and all at the same time. A lot of them didn't grow very big because they didn't have room too.

Chilli peppers - I successfully grew 4 of these! Woo. Delicious. Very mild.

Paprika  - The slugs got there before I did! 

Autumn raspberries - I have had about 10 of these. They have all been absolutely delicious but I wish there was a lot more! Going to try and have them in the veg patch next year rather than a pot.

Tomatoes - I have load which have grown and not one has gone red yet… I also have lots of flowers which havn’t turned into actual tomatoes (last year I had about 20 tomatoes).. Some smaller than a 5p haha. Some bigger. Next year I’m going to try and plant them in a planter a bit higher up so they get more sun and maybe put them in a little green house. 

Lettuce - I got one pot of this. I think I must have picked it wrong as it didnt grow back and look forever to wash. Going to try and grow a different variety next year.

Courgette- I have them coming out of my ears we have go many. I was very surprised at how big the actual plant got. It is absolutely loving life. they grow so quickly. we’ve had around 20 courgettes off one plant so far. 100% growing next year. Its been delicious.

Strawberries - We’ve had three…. three!! and the plant was given to me by granny whos strawberries plants give her hundreds.. I’m not sure it loves the Manchester climate.

Things I brought and have kept alive :

• Acer tree - loves our shady spot just outside the back door, she's doing very well and has grown a lot since we first got her.

• Eucalyptus - a small plant from Toms mum and dad for my birthday. Now a beautifully full very pretty plant. 

• Herbs - granny gave us these as a housewarming. They are all still alive and we have been enjoying rosemary, mint, thyme and chives.. They grow fast !! 

• Lavender - The bees are loving it since I repotted it in a bigger pot and its grown to be really full and bushy. 

• Jasmine - its not grown that much but its still alive… 

So all in all I have really enjoyed getting to know my gardening this summer. 

It honestly is so therapeutic and so rewarding to watch everything grow - even if not very much and havn’t been too put off by the lack of produce and I’m about to start googling what I can grow over winter.. Carrots? Unions? That kind of thing. 

So whether you have a garden, balcony, or even just a window sill I encourage you all to give it a try!