What I did today 2025

[ameno]

Spent almost two hours trying my hand at bud grafting on my new persimmon tree. It seems they sent me the wrong variety (I wanted Fuyu, but whatever they sent me definitely is not that), so I thought while I try and pursue a refund, I might as well make use of it. So I took some buds from my existing persimmon tree and grafted them on.
Never done it before, but after a shaky start (I wanted to use T-bud grafting, but the bark would not peel off easily, so I had to use chip budding instead), I got 9 buds grafted on. I think I managed to do them fairly well, so I am hopeful they will take. As long as at least 3 take and actually grow next year, that should be enough.

[Nicos]

Wow ameno…fingers crossed they take!…far beyond my meagre gardening abilities!

[Containergardener]

Tied some things in.
Pruning.
Weeding in some gravel.
Watering.

[Peanut]

Where did you get your persimmon from ameno ? I bought a bare root bog standard one last year but it turned out to be DOA from gardening express, and I am still pursuing them for a refund or replacement,

Would you recommend any particular varieties?

[ameno]

Where did you get your persimmon from ameno ? I bought a bare root bog standard one last year but it turned out to be DOA from gardening express, and I am still pursuing them for a refund or replacement,

Would you recommend any particular varieties?

I got my newest one from Cedar Nursery (landscaping.co.uk).
Despite sending the wrong variety, I would probably still recommend them for buying a name variety. So few places in the UK offer names varieties, and the tree itself was a good sized healthy tree when it arrive. It's not really their fault that it was the wrong variety, anyway, as they are only the UK seller. They don't grow the trees; they import them from a specific Italian nursery (which is part of why they are a little costly, as they have to pay for plant passports). It's still their responsibility, mind you.

As for variety, a non-astringent variety is probably better, as you can eat them whilst still firm and thus they take less time to ripen (they need a fairly long season). I grow Fuyu as it's non-astringent and known as a reliable cropper, but there are others.
I live in Somerset and mine ripen in November. You need mild autumns, really, as the fruits can only withstand down to about -1c before they are damaged, so although a light early frost isn't a problem, a harder frost is. The fruit will also hang on the tree and continue ripening even after leaf fall.

[Containergardener]

At mum's this time:
Cut grass and edges
Weeding
Deadheading
Pruning

[Peanut]

I got my newest one from Cedar Nursery (landscaping.co.uk).
Despite sending the wrong variety, I would probably still recommend them for buying a name variety. So few places in the UK offer names varieties, and the tree itself was a good sized healthy tree when it arrive. It's not really their fault that it was the wrong variety, anyway, as they are only the UK seller. They don't grow the trees; they import them from a specific Italian nursery (which is part of why they are a little costly, as they have to pay for plant passports). It's still their responsibility, mind you.

As for variety, a non-astringent variety is probably better, as you can eat them whilst still firm and thus they take less time to ripen (they need a fairly long season). I grow Fuyu as it's non-astringent and known as a reliable cropper, but there are others.
I live in Somerset and mine ripen in November. You need mild autumns, really, as the fruits can only withstand down to about -1c before they are damaged, so although a light early frost isn't a problem, a harder frost is. The fruit will also hang on the tree and continue ripening even after leaf fall.

Thanks for all that information Ameno. I shall definitely look at getting one, they are such delicious fruit and having something like that to eat so late in the year would be fantastic and a real treat.

[Jungle Jane]

Yesterday I lifted a bag of potatoes & planted four geraniums in the bag that have been waiting to be planted for ages but I didn’t have any spare pots. I also cut down the leaves off a big tub of potatoes,I was supposed to lift them today but I forgot all about it until I was watering this evening,when I’ve lifted those I can plant three marigolds in that tub,they’ve been waiting on the patio table. I’ve been removing lots of grape leaves so the sun can get to the fruit.

[MelanieSW]

Started to tidy up the strawberry bed, lifted the plants, manured and dug in some compost before putting them back. Managed half the bed before being defeated by the sun.

[Containergardener]

Pticked out/potted on chard, mizuna
Planted out some sown beetroot and thinned out some others already sown direct
Re located mizuna/caterpillar fest to the bin
Re located a verbena bonariensis from veg bed elsewhere, don't know where that came from as i don't have the plant
Got rid of some old mint

[Mark Rand]

Cut through the gherkin stems at ground level, since I've pickled all I can use and will be opening the first batch tomorrow. I'll clean them out tomorrow. Need to trim the leaves of the cucumber and tomato plants at the same time and have a bit of a tidy up.

[Peanut]

Watered the greenhouses and most pots. Took the netting off the brassica beds and gave them a good weeding and de-caterpillaring, took forever!

[Nicos]

We got so far behind last year with our Autumn clear up that we decided to make a bit of a start whilst the weather is dry….and warm-ish!
We always leave loads of places for wildlife to over winter , but we sort of over did that last year having been distracted with various health and family issues. So this year we plan to get ahead.

Feels very strange to be doing this in August, but it really is feeling more like mid September but with the odd hot day thrown in.

OH borrowed a friend’s self propelling brush cutter yesterday to cut down our now dead long grass areas in our field.
They’ve looked wonderful this year with insects and wild flowers but they’ve vastly flattened in the rain last week and now need reducing in height to encourage next years growth. Anyway…it was rattling quite a bit and stuttering and on closer inspection wasn’t useable- so it’s being collected tomorrow to have a full service and the missing housing bolts being replaced! How on Earth our friend hadn’t noticed is beyond even me!

So today will involve more pottering and some cutting back. Fortunately not many apples have fallen overnight so I’ll be giving the stewing of apples a miss today for a change

[Snoop Puss]

Self-propelled brushcutter... I need to know more, Nicos. Sounds like just the kind of thing I could use.

[Nicos]

I’ll get a photo of it for you Snoop. It’s a Staub make