Island Life June July 2015 June July 2015 | Page 51

GARDENING

Watering the plants
W

ith the longest days and
warmest ground temperatures
at this time of year, our plants
and crops at Quarr Abbey are already
flourishing: keeping both the gardens and
the gardeners hydrated is most important.
We have seen a mostly dry spring with
unseasonably warm spells at times. This
gave us the opportunity to get on with
some of our sowings and plantings.
Looking for zero wastage, we grow
multiples of what we need for the year’s
growing plan, and any spare are potted
on for sale in the farm shop.
All the early croppers are producing
well. The asparagus hasn’t disappointed
(as usual) and the salad crops are yielding
their daily payload. Heritage potatoes
and heirloom beans and carrots are well
on their way. For quick maturing crops
we use the ‘successional sowing’ method
which means that you sow in intervals,
ensuring continuity of produce instead of
a glut all at once.
As previously mentioned, it is so
important to keep plants hydrated during

the warm spells at this time of year.
Along with watering, weeding is essential
too. It’s easy to ignore weeds, but as
soon as they have set seed, there will be
countless more to tackle. We try to get to
them before this stage by hoeing them
off in dry weather.
In the beds and borders we have
been pruning off dead flowering heads
and tying in climbers as they grow.
Regularly supporting these plants (for
example, guiding climbing rose stems
as horizontally as possible) will not
only train them correctly, but can lead
to better blooms. Also, we support tall
perennials such as delphiniums and
lupins to protect from wind damage.
In addition; preparing trees for the
sawmill, building a willow ‘dome’ on the
woodland walk, creating a new seating
area under the willow tree in the tea
garden and maintaining estate paths
have all been projects that have seen
fruition recently.

Matt Noyce is head
gardener at Quarr
Abbey, and is
responsible for the
200 acres of gardens,
pastureland,
vegetable plots and
private woodland on
the estate.

Pictures by Matt Noyce
www.visitilife.com

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