The comments on last week’s post were very reassuring. We all have those moments of stepping on, cutting off or killing one plant or another. I was most struck by the thoughts that this all about learning to forgive ourselves and that enjoying what the garden gives are the most important things. So this week, as the days shorten and the leaves begin to turn, there are a few growing successes to share.
One
A few weeks ago it seemed that the figs would remain green and would all have to picked off. Suddenly they started to ripen and each day brings more and more. Most importantly I think I am getting to them before the squirrels!
Two
More by the power of nature than my gardening skills I have managed to grow a strong crop of parsley from seed. They were started of in a pot, transplanted into the greenhouse and a few more seeds were direct sown. Having a steady supply of parsley is a first for me.
Three
Also from the greenhouse is a photo of those peppers I was muttering about last week. These are continuing to grow strongly and early problems with end rot seem to have disappeared. The variety is supposedly Long Red Marconi, described as a mild sweet pepper. But these have a bit of kick!
Four
The basil growing in the greenhouse keeps on going. I’ve made some brilliant pesto and it is regularly used for cooking.
Five
My eye popping aster is in full bloom. It grows at the shadier end of the border and even there I am beginning to find it a little too bright! I namby-pambied about giving this the chelsea chop this year. In the end I gave it a layered chop which has produced great flowers at about 50cms. Those stems that were left unchopped must be at 150cms now and needed staking. I had a nose around to see if I could identify the variety and came up against the great re-naming debate. I name this one Aster ‘Tall and Bright Pink’!
Six
Back to those squirrels again. The recently completed wood facade to a breeze block structure at the end of the garden is a great place to perch and enjoy a different view. Seems that the wildlife are also appreciating a new lunch venue and bring in their own food! All our apples were picked and juiced a few weeks back. Perhaps we missed one at the top of a tree. The result of this year’s apple crop was 33 bottles of juice. Last year we had 73 bottles. I’m not complaining!
Mr P host of this meme, is having a busy weekend away from the garden and politely asks if someone could mow the lawn for him. Sorry Mr P, I can’t help out as I will be too busy reading everyone else’s posts!
n20gardener 
As I said on Twitter, your figs look tasty … I have to take a look at mine this afternoon, but I guess it’s over here. One thing I’m sure of is that my basil is dead. I’m envious of yours to eat with my late tomatoes .. Still 5 or 7 tomatoes and it will be finished for this year too .. sigh …
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I am still picking the figs! But yesterday decided that my tomatoes were finished, Autumn is settling in. I’m keeping the basil for a little longer though.
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Last fig yesterday for me… 😢 a rescue of one still well protected from birds. The others are too small and won’t mature.
Pesto sauce with your basil?! 😋
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Congrats on your Parsley. I’ve only grown it successfully once and never tried again. It’s a tricky germinator isn’t it?
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I’ve always found parsley tricky. This year it was slow to germinate but once I moved the seedlings into the greenhouse it really got going.
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Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Andenken an Alma Pötschke’. Trips lightly from the tongue doesn’t it. Might be, I think it’s fairly widely available. I’d stick with ‘Tall & Bright Pink’. I have seed of that pepper and basil (purple) to try for first time next year, both SoS inspired.
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That is a mouthful – hard to say and I certainly can’t retain all the letters in the right sequence to spell it! I might be tempted to add New England to my version! Good luck with next year’s seeds.
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Parsley is fabulous to have in the garden. I sowed some last year and it self-seeded all over the place so I have to hunt it down. Aster ‘Tall and Bright Pink’ is a fabulous flower and very pink! They are lovely to have in the garden at this time of year.
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Interesting that your parsley self seeded. I always find germinating it tricky. I will leave it in the greenhouse and see what happens!
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I shall try growing some from seed indoors too, as finding it in various pots is tricky! I had some in my raised herb bed but that seems to have totally disappeared!
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I’m thrilled for you that you got to enjoy your figs before the wildlings got to them. A lot of my garden went to feeding them this year. I so need a green house! It would also allow me to grow year round. I hope you get to enjoy your apples! 🙂
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The birds and squirrels do get to feast on many things in the garden. But it is good to see them around.
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Tall and Bright Pink is a perfect name for her. She wows the eyeballs for sure. Your figs look yummy and provided a test of patience free of charge, too. A great Six.
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Many thanks, the figs are still coming which is a lovely end of summer bonus for us.
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I planted a couple of parsley plants which have self-seeded everywhere. There’s always some parsley growing somewhere. Your pink healthy looking aster is a fabulous colour, and much more interesting than plain blue.
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HeyJude has also had success with self seeded parsley and I always find it tricky to germinate! Fingers crossed for self seeders from this plant. The aster is a bright spot in the garden and Jim Stephens thinks it might be Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Andenken an Alma Pötschke’.!! Just a few too many words for me. 🙂
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That’s a lot of juice! We have a Bradley apple tree so tend to make apple sauce. We’ve had so many apples this year that im Giving so many away.
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We really didn’t what to do with our apples when we first moved here, and it was a great relief to find someone who offered a juicing service. Now they all go to be juiced and we enjoy them through out the year without the worry of trying to store them.
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That’s a great service.
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Am i alone in hearing prunella scales’s voice when I read the word basil? I’ve tried and failed to grow from see a few times.
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Absolutely with you on Prunella! I am often to be heard calling the name in the greenhouse!
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Oh my! #6!
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#6 made me laugh, too. A few gardens ago, apples started appearing in our garden, which was fairly large & full of squirrels. I couldn’t find any apple trees in our neighbouring gardens, so perhaps someone put them out to attract deer. That aster is very BOLD, in the love it or hate it kind. I sorta like it. You’ve given me fig envy & as to parsley, I buy a plant from the grocery store every year & it goes wild. Sacrilege, perhaps? Anyway, glad you’re back to recognising your gardening self.
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