We grilled our homemade burgers on the BBQ yesterday evening and had a lovely time of it.

After we had finished cleaning up, I was standing on the terrace watching our local birdlife and muttered "Oh, the pigeons are back on the gazebo again!"

My husband, who was hanging laundry, overheard this and burst out laughing.

"Thats the most middle class thing you've ever said!" Says he, jokingly.

Had to giggle, especially as when I was a kid I was convinced that people that owned gazebos must be royalty or something. Cause gazebos are FANCY!

Pictured: our not so fancy, pigeonless gazebo in our slightly overgrown #garden, including some of our early summer #raisedbeds

First nasturtium bloom! The carrots, rocket, lettuce, and garlic are doing nicely. The tomatoes remain comedically tiny. I planted out early for fear I would kill them during a recent foreseeable time of neglect. They're alive, but not thriving. The potatoes are doing well though, which is a relief with 3 of 14 beds devoted to them. I might only be a few weeks from harvesting one, so I best start more seeds in the greenhouse this weekend. Oh the tragedy. A small flowerbed is an opportunistic snipe from the lawn after pulling out a thorny bush and just chaos scattering seeds off-season. The pansies are delightful and one lone marigold made it. Represent! #growityourself #raisedbeds #garden #gardening #bloomscrolling #horta #porto
I finally had serious time in the garden on Sunday. What is going on with the nasturtium? On Saturday a generous friend gave me some plants: strawberries, mint, tomatillo, pomegranate, avocado. I potted them up for now while I think about where to plant out. Surprise fruit trees are fabulous but take thought. #growityourself #garden #gardening #horta #estufa #raisedBeds #porto

#ClimateResilient #Gardening: How to Adapt Your Garden to #ExtremeWeather

ECO gardener, Nov 14, 2024

Excerpt: "Gardening in Extreme Weather

Gardening in extreme weather can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can protect plants and maintain a healthy garden:

Choose Weather-Resistant Plants
Opt for #DroughtTolerant, heat-resistant plants in hot climates (like succulents or lavender) and hardy, cold-resistant species in colder climates (like kale or coneflowers).

Use #Mulch to Retain Moisture and Insulate
Applying a thick layer of organic mulch helps regulate soil temperature and retain moisture, making it essential in both hot and cold conditions.

Install #ShadeCloth or Row Covers
In intense heat, a shade cloth can protect plants from direct sun, while row covers offer frost protection during cold spells.

Water Smartly
For hot weather, water early in the morning to reduce evaporation and avoid wetting foliage. In winter, water during the day when temperatures are above freezing to help roots absorb moisture before the ground freezes.

Consider #RaisedBeds
Raised beds help with drainage in #WetClimates and can warm up faster in colder weather, giving plants a more stable growing environment.

Wind Protection Strategies
Use windbreaks like shrubs, fencing, or netting to shield plants from damaging winds that can dry out or freeze foliage.

Invest in Hardy #ContainerGardens
For extreme weather, container gardens are versatile—easily moved to sunny spots, shady areas, or even indoors as needed. [I do this with tomatoes and other plants]

Optimize Soil Health
Healthy, well-drained soil holds moisture better in heat and protects roots from frost damage in winter. Regularly add compost to enrich soil.

Use #ColdFrames or #Greenhouses
These structures create a controlled environment, extending the growing season and protecting plants from temperature extremes.

Keep an Eye on Weather Patterns
Staying informed about sudden temperature changes can help you take timely action, like covering plants or adjusting watering schedules.

With these tips, you can create a resilient garden that adapts to extreme weather challenges while keeping your plants thriving."

Learn more:
https://ecogardener.com/blogs/news/climate-resilient-gardening

#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeGardening #FoodSecurity #ClimateChangeAdaptation #GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO #GardeningChallenges #ResilientGarden #Resiliency

Climate-Resilient Gardening: How to Adapt Your Garden to Extreme Weather

To create a climate-resilient garden, focus on practices that enhance sustainability and adapt to climate change. Key actions include growing food to reduce waste, composting, increasing biodiversity with native plants, incorporating trees, and minimizing hard landscaping. Utilizing renewable technologies can further improve garden sustainability.

ECOgardener
Want to grow more veg in less space? 🌱 Check out our blog for tips for square foot gardening. 🛠️🌿 Read more here 👉 https://vegplotter.com/blog/the-trick-to-square-foot-gardening #gardening #raisedbeds #GYO
Make an Instant Raised Bed for Less Than a Coffee

Most people assume raised beds are a pricey garden upgrade - but the truth is, you can make one in minutes for less than the price of a coffee using simple materials you may already have lying around. Here are three of the best!

GrowVeg
Tomato planting day! 6 seedlings of black krim, Roma, and a yellow cherry plus a few direct sow since I was trying for 8. Carrots are coming along well. Lettuces look to need thinning. The odd cup-shaped fungus returned amidst the garlic but not so bad. And I don't know my local birds but meet a cheeky little fella who might be the nasturtium raider. #garden #gardening #raisedbeds #horta #porto
It was a warm day, so I finally fully uncovered and weeded my bed and planted some spring crops..probably a little late on those, but I'm sure it will work out. I pulled out a bunch of bittercress and mugwort, which I harvested for salads and tea. The mugwort is drying right now. Then, I cleared some space and sowed French Breakfast and Cherry Belle radishes, dragon carrots, upland cress, mache, miner's lettuce and Evergreen Hardy White scallions. I'm experimenting with sowing the fast radishes on top of the carrots, to save space and keep the soil loose. We'll see if it works. The cold-tolerant greens maybe should have been sown earlier, or kept for overwintering greens, but we'll see what happens. Meanwhile, the kales and sage are fairly happy for now, the garlic seems to be having a great time, both rosemarys are not thrilled, and about four daikon are still hanging on to bolt. I also noticed one of my strawberry plants has some blooms. If it's doing that this early, maybe I can assume they're a June-bearing variety and try to go from there.
#nature #gardening #zone6b #zone7a #allotment #raisedbeds

Allotment 2026
Went to the (new) allotment. It was super muddy. Digging over a set of smaller raised beds was much easier than a whole plot though.

The onions we planted earlier are growing properly, and I dumped three bags of manure on the potato box.
Read More 👉https://piku.xyz/allotment-2026/
#blog #Onions #RaisedBeds

Allotment 2026

Went to the (new) allotment. It was super muddy. Digging over a set of smaller raised beds was much easier than a whole plot though. The onions we planted earlier are growing properly, and I dumped three bags of manure on the potato box.

Farcebook
Big day for the #raisedBeds. I made #diy bamboo frames and completed planting everything in the shown February plan (h/t growVeg) except for under the archway. I need to rethink that space because I may not have killed all of the chu chu I was given in October, so how does everything fit now? My 18 potatoes are planted--I think the remaining 82 can go to the neighbors with chickens and a rooster. Previously planted, garlic is coming up! Nothing from the previously sown carrots & greens yet. It should be a good Spring.
#garden #gardening #porto #portugal #growityourself #organic