Back in the day before sewerage was the norm, every house in Australia had the dunny ( outhouse) against the back fence and every bed had a chamber pot underneath. Every back yard also had a lemon tree next to the dunny and this received many liquid offerings . It was known as “ chambermaid’s delight”. It is still common to see lemon tree branches hanging over the fence in the dunny lane in older suburbs.
The can in the outhouse was removed at dead if night by the dunny men ( nightsoil carriers) usually once a week. Out in the countryside it would be an earth closet.
Some parts of outer western and southwestern Sydney were not fully sewered till the 1970s
I sometimes wonder if my garden lies over old farm buildings - one corner of the lawn is particularly blond in dry weather - except for a patch of lush green. Possibly the site of the cludgie.
In my very distant childhood, my father was stationed at a rural police barracks. So rural that some of the policemen grew vegetables in the back yard. One of them had a particular dislike of another, so he would piss on his leeks. Which grew magnificently - but for some reason no one would take up his free offers of them.
Oh dear! And this comes the day after I read an article (no fooling!) on the subject of how to use your own urine to fertilize your garden plants.
Oh double dear. I just noticed... So he took a leak on the leeks?
Remembering the non-existence of indoor plumbing in my grandparents' I dare say there was quite a lot of ad hoc fertilising. Plus the animals of course. The resultant state of affairs was known as 'clabber', as in those haunting lines from a local bard -
Divil a wan in our townlan' was claner rared nor me
But Ahm livin' in Drumlister in clabber to the knee.
Something to do with the oestrogen in the urine if human females, although I can't remember what its effects are, or if there was any scientific basis for any such claim.
Something to do with the oestrogen in the urine if human females, although I can't remember what its effects are, or if there was any scientific basis for any such claim.
I’d be prepared to bet there is no scientific basis for that assertion.
Mid-October and yesterday I picked outdoor tomatoes, a ridge cucumber, a couple of courgettes a handful of runner beans and some raspberries.
The tomatoes and cucumbers are still flowering and setting fruit, but growth and ripening has slowed down considerably, so it is probably time to pick all the green tomatoes and clear out the plants. There is one cucumber that might make it to edible size if it doesn't get too cold in the next week, and a serving of beans in the same state, so I will leave clearing those containers for a little longer - there is plenty else to do.
To my horror, the Knotweed has been gardening today. This worries me beyond words - it's hard enough finding the wild horses to get her into the garden at the best of times, but when I have to cancel them because she's gone out there herself...
Mwanwhile I've dug the bit I was least looking forward too of the allotment without breaking either me or the fork, and gone some way to getting last year's project of a pond underway - again, without breaking me. TIAGT.
The garden is in Lovely Autumnal Ruin mode. The grapevine has clusters of black grapes - but give this is Scotland, they are tiny and 90% pip - lots of flowering plants have topped their withering stems with one last burst. The rose is coming into bud.
I have given the lawn one last mow, and collected the bulbs for replanting.
On the verge (nature strip in this part of the world) a neighbour has a mandarin tree. We've discovered it is infested with stink bugs. We spent an hour picking them off and cutting them to kill them. Now we have orange stained hands. Fortunately, the stink smell washes off.
(Not gardening exactly, but we are doing the annual week of bird counts.)
We did that with our neighbours yesterday. We probably took 80 bugs of the tree. That's all we could find for now, but we will check again when it stops raining.
I planted "Christmas potatoes". They were being sold by the local garden centre as "plant now, for potatoes at Christmas."
They had all started to grow and had about four inches of stalk and leaves. They were looking very promising. We had a hard frost on Thursday night, and another, milder, frost last night. All the visible parts of the potato plants have collapsed. Will they perk up again?
The occasional hard frost is to be expected at this time of the year, so I would have expected any potatoes marketed as "Christmas potatoes" to be frost resistant.
Ah - I fear that marketing has bitten you. They may well produce spuds at Christmas, but they will need to be kept warm - potato plants are notoriously sensitive to frost. TBH, I'm a bit startled that they'd even try selling them like that in Aberdeenshire.
The plants should come back (as there's lots of ooomph in a tuber), but unless you can protect them utterly from any more frosts, they'll just keep gettingfrozen to the ground.
I think that's your best bit - or cloches? Or even both... Another year, in pots in a greenhouse would be my suggestion (assuming you have one...), but even so I'd watch the forecast like a hawk.
I have re-read the instructions. On the front, in large letters it says "Plant now for new potatoes at Christmas. Plant July to September. Harvest November onwards" But the small print says "In cold areas, or where the soil is wet and heavy, it is better to lift the potatoes by the end of October."
I couldn't lift them at the end of October because I'd have had to plant them in August, and I bought them later than that.
I think you’ve been had. Yes, any amount of frost will kill them to the ground, and if the frost goes too deep into the ground and freezes the tubers solid, they’re toast. I’m supposing that you have actually planted them deep enough to see regrowth, but the tuber fuels that growth out of itself—that’s what it’s for, from the plant’s point of view—so if frosts are going to keep happening where you are, abandon hope of edible potatoes till at least next summer, if not fall.
Something to do with the oestrogen in the urine if human females, although I can't remember what its effects are, or if there was any scientific basis for any such claim.
I’d be prepared to bet there is no scientific basis for that assertion.
Piss is piss
Pissy thing to say but true. Both my missus and I along with our two dogs make sure our garden receives regulate spritz of urea. I suppose if one was determined to concentrate all of it on a compost pile it might make it a might challenging for the ladies. But we try to spread it around so not a problem here. What limits is from spreading everywhere is the two story building next door with windows facing us. Plenty of fence, tree and shrub sheltered spots nonetheless.
Meanwhile our wet season has finally arrived and my often parched plants are showing their gratitude. My ‘Fuyu’ persimmon tree has only now put on autumn colors.
Not advice exactly, more experience. When I had the garden blitzed 3 years ago, I sowed meadow mix/wildflower over the patch with the little apple seedlings. And I did get a vigorous return of red clover, vetch, cornflowers, poppies, dog daisies, red campion - plus all the stuff already there - creeping buttercup, cleavers, couch grass, wood avens, bindweed etc.
Actually, it was all quite attractive.
However, it did get very overgrown and tangly, and apt to choke the little trees. So I have been selectively discouraging it ever since (flowering things get a pass, clover otoh can be quite thuggish). I'm moving towards ornamental grasses, ferns and clumps of stuff (mainly monbretia).
However, that was all in a small area. If you have an actual meadow-sized meadow, then the wild abandon may not be the same problem.
However, it did get very overgrown and tangly, and apt to choke the little trees. So I have been selectively discouraging it ever since (flowering things get a pass, clover otoh can be quite thuggish). I'm moving towards ornamental grasses, ferns and clumps of stuff ...
Inspired by a visit to Great Dixter I planted a meadow garden that winter with similar results though less lush. In my Mediterranean climate water is scarce in all seasons but winter and weeds abound in every season. It was the most demanding in terms of time and energy of any garden project I’ve ever tried. I gave up after two seasons. These were taken summer of 2009.
After giving up on the meadow I went to defined beds and pathways to limit the need for watering. From May of this year looking down from an upstairs deck to where the meadow had been.
Oblox! It seems - I've only seen messages, not pics - that the allotments have been visited by vandals. This is a git as it's the first episode in the 17-18 years I've had a plot out there. Even if my plot is away from those affected, it still sucks for those who are.
@Boogie I like the sound of the meadow How large (or small) a meadow is it?
One key thing to remember about wildflower meadows is that they need to be grazed or mowed to take off a lot of the grass at the end of the season. Otherwise it all grows up and often chokes out the flowers... A couple of good places to contact or look for info at would be your local Wildlife Trust (central page here), and Plantlife. They can advise on local species of plants and sometimes for sources as well - I know of at least one good seed company that does meadow mixtures.
The good news is you can have your say in that space fairly ‘soon’ and the upkeep won’t kill you.
Thank you. My space is larger but not large enough to allow for a proper meadow garden. With a crew of just this one writing, it is probably a bit too big.
How gorgeous is that? And I love "Mr Happy!" um, didn't mean to say it quite that way...
These Echium crosses are quite variable. The one in the center was this past year’s largest. I took it out about a week ago after it completed its biennial destiny.
We were out this morning picking raspberries on our allotment. And not 2 or 3, but a bowl full. I believe it's the 5th of December, and in London. We always get them in November, but this is amazing. So here's looking for Christmas rasps!
Comments
The can in the outhouse was removed at dead if night by the dunny men ( nightsoil carriers) usually once a week. Out in the countryside it would be an earth closet.
Some parts of outer western and southwestern Sydney were not fully sewered till the 1970s
Oh dear! And this comes the day after I read an article (no fooling!) on the subject of how to use your own urine to fertilize your garden plants.
Oh double dear. I just noticed... So he took a leak on the leeks?
Divil a wan in our townlan' was claner rared nor me
But Ahm livin' in Drumlister in clabber to the knee.
Sadly not an option for the ladies.
I've heard of using a bucket indoors to take out.
I’d be prepared to bet there is no scientific basis for that assertion.
Piss is piss
Been there done that.
The tomatoes and cucumbers are still flowering and setting fruit, but growth and ripening has slowed down considerably, so it is probably time to pick all the green tomatoes and clear out the plants. There is one cucumber that might make it to edible size if it doesn't get too cold in the next week, and a serving of beans in the same state, so I will leave clearing those containers for a little longer - there is plenty else to do.
Mwanwhile I've dug the bit I was least looking forward too of the allotment without breaking either me or the fork, and gone some way to getting last year's project of a pond underway - again, without breaking me. TIAGT.
I have given the lawn one last mow, and collected the bulbs for replanting.
(Not gardening exactly, but we are doing the annual week of bird counts.)
They had all started to grow and had about four inches of stalk and leaves. They were looking very promising. We had a hard frost on Thursday night, and another, milder, frost last night. All the visible parts of the potato plants have collapsed. Will they perk up again?
The occasional hard frost is to be expected at this time of the year, so I would have expected any potatoes marketed as "Christmas potatoes" to be frost resistant.
The plants should come back (as there's lots of ooomph in a tuber), but unless you can protect them utterly from any more frosts, they'll just keep gettingfrozen to the ground.
The forecast for the next fortnight is for mild weather, not dropping below zero, so that might give them a chance to come back.
I couldn't lift them at the end of October because I'd have had to plant them in August, and I bought them later than that.
I don't have a greenhouse.
Rats!
Pissy thing to say but true. Both my missus and I along with our two dogs make sure our garden receives regulate spritz of urea. I suppose if one was determined to concentrate all of it on a compost pile it might make it a might challenging for the ladies. But we try to spread it around so not a problem here. What limits is from spreading everywhere is the two story building next door with windows facing us. Plenty of fence, tree and shrub sheltered spots nonetheless.
Meanwhile our wet season has finally arrived and my often parched plants are showing their gratitude. My ‘Fuyu’ persimmon tree has only now put on autumn colors.
https://flic.kr/p/2nY5zUg
These are some plants that like this season in our mild coastal California garden.
https://flic.kr/p/2nY1C6b
https://flic.kr/p/2nY4tJp
https://flic.kr/p/2nW49Wo
1 Podranea brycei vine
2. Bolivian Sunflower
3. Greyia sutherlandii
Any advice/experiences gladly accepted. 🙂
Actually, it was all quite attractive.
However, it did get very overgrown and tangly, and apt to choke the little trees. So I have been selectively discouraging it ever since (flowering things get a pass, clover otoh can be quite thuggish). I'm moving towards ornamental grasses, ferns and clumps of stuff (mainly monbretia).
However, that was all in a small area. If you have an actual meadow-sized meadow, then the wild abandon may not be the same problem.
Inspired by a visit to Great Dixter I planted a meadow garden that winter with similar results though less lush. In my Mediterranean climate water is scarce in all seasons but winter and weeds abound in every season. It was the most demanding in terms of time and energy of any garden project I’ve ever tried. I gave up after two seasons. These were taken summer of 2009.
https://flic.kr/p/6wHfZP
https://flic.kr/p/6wHcLc
After giving up on the meadow I went to defined beds and pathways to limit the need for watering. From May of this year looking down from an upstairs deck to where the meadow had been.
https://flic.kr/p/2nmLCJS
One key thing to remember about wildflower meadows is that they need to be grazed or mowed to take off a lot of the grass at the end of the season. Otherwise it all grows up and often chokes out the flowers... A couple of good places to contact or look for info at would be your local Wildlife Trust (central page here), and Plantlife. They can advise on local species of plants and sometimes for sources as well - I know of at least one good seed company that does meadow mixtures.
@MarkD all three photos are glorious!
The good news is you can have your say in that space fairly ‘soon’ and the upkeep won’t kill you.
Thank you. My space is larger but not large enough to allow for a proper meadow garden. With a crew of just this one writing, it is probably a bit too big.
These Echium crosses are quite variable. The one in the center was this past year’s largest. I took it out about a week ago after it completed its biennial destiny.