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is anyone else feeling real gardening despair?
First some positive facts: 1)I completely and passionately love gardening - so I've had loads of joy and relaxation and interest this year, which isn't to be ignored.
2)realistic expectations about how much I can produce from my tiny plot/pots
3)terrible rainy rainy weather.
4) tromboncinos, sorrel, kale doing brilliantly
OK. BUT...here are my results to date (and don't laugh at me) (much):
1)tomatoes struck down with blight - a few handfuls edible, most probably won't ripen in time, and the rest made into chutney which am not sure I even like...pitiful I know.
2)maybe 3 handfuls of blueberries, 3 of raspberries, 3 of wild/alpine strawberries.
2a) Two INDIVIDUAL (not handfuls of) normal strawberries. 8 indiv. blackcurrants, 12 goosegogs, 5 whitecurrants. 2 wineberries. 2 sticks of rhubarb, maybe 4 blackberries - that really is yer lot.
3)not a single bloody apple
4) 2-3 tiny courgettes per plant before pulled out due to rot
5) reasonable but not huge amounts of rocket, chicory but hardly any 'normal' lettuce
6)2 individual as yet unidentified huge squashes
7) nothing from homegrown chillis and aubergines, nursery seedlings of chillis with 3 titches between them, nursery seedling of aubergine dead.
8) 4 slightly ropy cabbages.
9) about 5 handfuls of mixed beans so far.
10)0h yes and not forgetting about 7 broad bean pods.
WHAT IS THE POINT?
yes, great joy in the doing. but misery in the reaping...and b/c I have little space every tiny failure counts. Soft fruit particularly disappointing. not a cheap business, either.
Have fed soil and plants, guarded against birds (netting), searched for slugs most nights (yes), reasonably sheltered and reasonable sun I think, tended the little blighters like my own flesh and blood. Am I just a rubbish gardener?
I know most of you are super experienced and will tell me to buck up. But it's just a wash out and I'm feeling very sad.
First some positive facts: 1)I completely and passionately love gardening - so I've had loads of joy and relaxation and interest this year, which isn't to be ignored.
2)realistic expectations about how much I can produce from my tiny plot/pots
3)terrible rainy rainy weather.
4) tromboncinos, sorrel, kale doing brilliantly
OK. BUT...here are my results to date (and don't laugh at me) (much):
1)tomatoes struck down with blight - a few handfuls edible, most probably won't ripen in time, and the rest made into chutney which am not sure I even like...pitiful I know.
2)maybe 3 handfuls of blueberries, 3 of raspberries, 3 of wild/alpine strawberries.
2a) Two INDIVIDUAL (not handfuls of) normal strawberries. 8 indiv. blackcurrants, 12 goosegogs, 5 whitecurrants. 2 wineberries. 2 sticks of rhubarb, maybe 4 blackberries - that really is yer lot.
3)not a single bloody apple
4) 2-3 tiny courgettes per plant before pulled out due to rot
5) reasonable but not huge amounts of rocket, chicory but hardly any 'normal' lettuce
6)2 individual as yet unidentified huge squashes
7) nothing from homegrown chillis and aubergines, nursery seedlings of chillis with 3 titches between them, nursery seedling of aubergine dead.
8) 4 slightly ropy cabbages.
9) about 5 handfuls of mixed beans so far.
10)0h yes and not forgetting about 7 broad bean pods.
WHAT IS THE POINT?
yes, great joy in the doing. but misery in the reaping...and b/c I have little space every tiny failure counts. Soft fruit particularly disappointing. not a cheap business, either.
Have fed soil and plants, guarded against birds (netting), searched for slugs most nights (yes), reasonably sheltered and reasonable sun I think, tended the little blighters like my own flesh and blood. Am I just a rubbish gardener?
I know most of you are super experienced and will tell me to buck up. But it's just a wash out and I'm feeling very sad.
and i should know.
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