The Potting Bench Diaries – 21st June 2023

Well – what a week of weather we’ve had since the last update! The heat has been quite unbearable on some days (especially if you’re a hairy gardener like I am!) but then between the heat there has been the odd thunderstorm which has really impacted on the garden and not in a bad way at all. To top it all off there was a visit out to BBC Gardener’s World Live too, more on that at the end. But, first we’ll take a pit stop with our latest geranium…

Earlier in the year I shared some new bare root perennials I got from the ever wonderful Lizzie over at The Rose Press Garden one of which was a Geranium ‘Summer Skies’.

We’ve had the very first blooms this week and boy did they not disappoint! Gorgeous double blooms that will stick around all summer long – all being well. We’re slowly building up a bit of a collection of Geraniums, which I think some people think are old fashioned – but I for one, welcome their blooms!!

Just a smidge further down this particular border is a rather large Buddleia, which I think I might just have to move.

I planted this some time ago and realistically, its in the wrong place (for our garden) as it encroaches on the rest of the border when its in full bloom. The trouble is that I haven’t got anywhere else for it to go really so it might be a case of trying to give it away to a friend…would you like it??

A quick glance at the garlic and onions at the weekend and I think its just about time that the garlic should be coming up soon.

I think I’ve read before that its tradition to plant garlic out on the Winter solstice and to pull up your harvest on the Summer solstice, which in the UK is this week! The garlic this year seems to have done well and a gentle tug on the plants indicates strong bulbs! Come back next week for a harvest update!

And finally, in huge news – I’ve interviewed Alan Titchmarsh for the podcast! Last week I had the pleasure of being at the BBC Gardener’s World Live press preview afternoon and the even bigger pleasure of spending some time with Alan. Sadly our time was only very short due to Alan’s intense schedule at the show but hopefully you’ll enjoy the episode all the same. We discuss the gardens at this year’s show and much more.

You can listen now, here!