I went to the RHS Grow Your Own weekend at RHS Wisley yesterday. To be honest I was a bit disappointed. Just a few staff on a bit of field showing you how to dig, how to plant potatoes and how to plant a tree. Then in the model vegetable garden there was a glum looking gardener with a cowboy hat answering questions. No tents, no exhibition, no stalls, no market, no shopping.. it was widely advertised, and if 70% of all seeds now sold are vegetable seeds, I was expecting more!
So I went for a lovely walk elsewhere in the gardens. Peaches grown in the UK have to be kept fairly dry during Winter to protect them from moisture, so they are mostly grown under glass, or protected from the rain with a plastic sheet.
A plastic polytunnel shows what hardy Winter leaves you can grow with just a little protection, cabbage, spinach, salad leaves.
Garlic was looking good in the model vegetable garden.
And I visited an old friend, the fruit orchard. I've never visited this time of year before, normally the trees are laden with fruit and you can't see from one end of the orchard to the other. It was just like meeting an old friend whom you know well... but naked!
So I went for a lovely walk elsewhere in the gardens. Peaches grown in the UK have to be kept fairly dry during Winter to protect them from moisture, so they are mostly grown under glass, or protected from the rain with a plastic sheet. 
A plastic polytunnel shows what hardy Winter leaves you can grow with just a little protection, cabbage, spinach, salad leaves. 
Garlic was looking good in the model vegetable garden. 
And I visited an old friend, the fruit orchard. I've never visited this time of year before, normally the trees are laden with fruit and you can't see from one end of the orchard to the other. It was just like meeting an old friend whom you know well... but naked!
:) Nice. Thank-you.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the RHS missed an opportunity there - what a shame.
ReplyDeleteA visit to Matrons garden would have been more educational and more fun!
Celia
x
We bought a nectarine last year so are keeping our fingers crossed for some flowers.
ReplyDeleteFab photos! Thankyou for sharing them :-) Love 'n' hugs, Mel xx
ReplyDeleteHello Matron...I must agree with Magic Cochin that all who attended would have learned more and had more enjoyment if they'd visited your garden. Interesting to see how the espaliered peaches were kept dry to protect their lovely blooms.
ReplyDeleteTheanne
Hi Matron,great to visit this garden a few times during the year to see how things grow and change over the season.
ReplyDeleteAm waiting for the peach to blossom here...
ReplyDeleteHi Matron,
ReplyDeletewhere did you get your poly-tunnel from? It's the sort of thing I'm looking for.
David - not my poly-tunnel! this was at RHS Wisley!
ReplyDeleteSounds like they weren't very organised, I would like to pay a visit in the summer to see the veg gardens in full swing.
ReplyDelete"It was just like meeting an old friend whom you know well... but naked!" You made me laugh, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI attended a gardening event on the weekend too. At mine they gave out wood oven pizza.
mice
ReplyDelete