Gardening Tips for June (Part 2 )

Unlike most of you lucky people I don't have a garden. I have a patio which only gets the sun for about 20 minutes every other Tuesday. Now I'm not complaining, I'm very happy with my patio. It's just a bit rubbish for growing stuff.

The sun, this morning.

Now obviously I could invest in some lovely terracota pots and a nice 4 metre long raised bed, but in the end I'd still end up growing shit the hard way. i.e. NOT in the ground, and let's face it, if it ain't in a pot then it doesn't need watering as much, it needs less fertiliser and basically, mud is free. (Unlike compost, which costs the bloody earth to buy from Homebase.) Anyway I digress. One thing that I do have though is an allotment. I am very aware that I'm very lucky to have one, but I'm a lazy bastard and can't be arsed with visiting it every day so basically everything I grow there, I try to start it off at home.

My patio, this morning. Notice that Margo is still trying to learn how to tell the time.

One of the best investments I've made this year is my little plastic greenhouse. Or as the manufactures call it, a Wall Garden. Which if you ask me is a bit old fashioned. If I sold them I'd give it a cool name. Something like Plastic Greenhouse 2050 or Sun Catcher PRO or similar. It's very good. And very cheap.

Sun Catcher PRO (2012 model), this morning.

Last years model has been repurposed after the cover fell apart, possibly due to the fact it was in direct sunlight. It now adds height and structure to the patio, and it also means I don't have to bend over to water stuff. The lower shelf has also been converted into a little cat shelter by the use of 2 tiles on a rubble sack. You can often spot 2 little kitties huddling under there when it's pissing down.

Sun Catcher 2011. (Feline Version) This morning.

I've just realised that I've completely gone off the point I was originally intending to blog about. The only tip I've shared involves a rubble sack and 2 cats.

I give up.