Rain stops play

Once again I think it's rained pretty much every day this week. In fact I'm sure of it.
The weather (and work) may have stopped me going up the allotment, but it hasn't necessarily stopped me playing at the hobby, that is known as 'gardening' at home.

It's a gloriously sunny day! (except in my patio)

The cucumbers have started to flower which is nice, although as usual with my patio there is lack of pollinating insects. There's only one thing left to do. Do it myself.

Bambino Blanco, yesterday

The tomatoes are a different story though. They get the tomato sex on by being shaken roughly in the wind and rain. Obviously the Black Cherry vine tomatoes that I stupidly planted in the tiny greenhouse need to be vigorously shaken by hand a couple of times a day. Surprisingly this seems to be working and there are actually some baby green tomatoes! The tomatoes on the patio seem to be a bit slower, but they're catching up. I might even have to put some canes on them soon.

This is what happens when you plant 2 vine tomatoes in a 6ft greenhouse.

Black Cherry tomatoes. (Green ones)

The climbing french beans are doing their thing, albeit rather slowly. There are 2 plants in half a growbag. They must be over 5-foot now and nearly at the top of the shelving unit, so hopefully we'll get some flowers soon.

COME ON YOU FRENCH BASTARDS

These mini-runners were only sown 2 weeks ago for a late crop. Pretty impressed so far. They're doing even better than the ones up the plot.

English Mini-Runner Beans being mini.

The tomatillos are growing well, but frustrating. I've had plenty of flowers on each plant, but neither plant seems to have had open flowers at the same time which has made pollination impossible. Also one of the plants had a massive branch broken off. This was infuriating as it had a ton of flower buds on it. I'm blaming the cats. Or one of them anyway. I think I might blame Margo cos she's the fattest.

Tomatillos (minus one branch) yesterday

The chillis are doing brilliantly. I think I have 12 varieties, of which 6 or so have flowers on, and 2 varieties have already been harvested. Super Chilli F1 and Cayenne. Due to a distinct lack of pollinators, these are all being pollenated by hand. Ear buds are the future when all the bees die. I'm thinking of buying a factory that manufactures them, except mine will have a yellow and black stick and make a buzzing sound whenever they touch a flower.

Did I mention I don't like hot food?

Arty Guardian shot. Quite nice innit!

 One thing I am quite proud of are the Cape Gooseberries I seem to be quite good at growing even though I'm not actually doing anything. They just seem to do it themselves. Which in my opinion is a good thing. Cos I'm rubbish.

Aren't they pretty!!!