Micro and Klein Garden Journal 2025.08.31 / 大小庭の記録
August ends today, time flies! In my area, the warmth has returned a little, which somehow gives me a sense of excitement.
Micro Balcony Update
This week I had one big surprise on the balcony: my kumquat suddenly burst into bloom with countless flowers and buds 😮 Just a few days ago I thought the kumquat might be taking a break this year, so this really amazed me.
Speaking of thriving, the bonsai chili peppers are also turning red in great numbers. Besides the pot in the photo below, I have two more plants in planters, so it looks like this year I’ll be able to supply all my chili needs just from the balcony 🙌
Oh, and for the first time in a while I took a wide shot of the whole balcony. As you can see, it has turned into a little jungle next to the kitchen. I'm so happy to see the greens.
The “Klein” but Big Garden
This week I went to the garden once by bike, and just now again with my daughter by car. The garden always sends us home with plenty of gifts.
One thing I love about growing zucchini and cucumbers is that you can harvest them at just the size you want. Store-bought zucchini at this time of year are often too big and sometimes bitter. My daughter happily took the small cucumber straight in their lunchbox. That kind of thing is one of the joys of gardening.
The mystery tomato that’s been growing so vigorously seems to be a Green Zebra with striped green skin. Every year I end up with too many seedlings and lose track of which is which—something I really want to improve next year 😅
The Hive fig trees that were growing on the balcony were so vigorous that their roots started poking out of the pots. I transplanted two of them into the garden, while keeping the rest on the balcony in case the winter turns out harsh. I hope they’ll like their new home in the garden!
This week my cordless vacuum cleaner arrived—a little early birthday present to myself, ordered for woodworking, sewing, and cleaning the shed. It’s from Makita, one of my favorite brands, and the battery can also be shared with their brushcutter. That makes me think I might buy the Makita brushcutter next year. I took the vacuum to the shed this morning and gave it a try—works great! Now I can finally start maintaining the shed properly.
** By the way, I need your help. It seems that some animal has been coming and going in the garden, as I’ve been finding droppings. I wrote earlier about molehills appearing, but this droppings seem larger—maybe a cat? Or a small dog? Nature always brings animals, and that can’t be helped, but I’d love to find a way to deal with it. If you’ve ever had a similar situation and found an effective method, I’d be happy to hear about it. **
To-Do for Next Week
Next week it’s already September. I’ve been raising autumn/winter seedlings, and once they get a bit bigger, I plan to transplant them into the garden. Since they’re leafy greens, I’d really like to solve the “mystery droppings” issue first 🥹
I’ll also start sowing lamb’s lettuce soon, and continue with shed cleaning.
That’s it for this week’s balcony and garden update at the end of summer. Wishing you all Happy Gardening 🌱
8月も今日で終わりですね。はやい！私が住んでいる地域ではちょっと暑さというか暖かさが戻ってきて、なんともワクワクした気分になります。
マイクロバルコニーの様子
今週はバルコニーでびっくりしたことが一つあって、金柑にいつの間にかものすごくたくさんの花とつぼみがついていたのです 😮 数日前には今年は金柑はお休みかななんて思っていたので、本当にびっくりしました。
もりもりといえば、盆栽唐辛子も、たくさんの実が赤くなっていっています。下の写真の鉢のほかに、プランターに2カ所植っていて、今年は唐辛子をバルコニーからまかなえそうでうれしいです。
そうそう、久しぶりにバルコニーの全体を入れて写真を撮りました。こんな感じで、台所併設の小さなジャングルと化しています。
"Klein"だけれど大きい庭の様子
今週は自転車に乗って一度、さっき子供と車で庭に行ってきました。庭は毎度あれこれお土産を持たせてくれます。
庭でズッキーニやきゅうりなどウリ類を育てると好きな大きさで収穫できていいですね。この時期お店で見かけるズッキーニは多すぎて苦いことがあって。小さなきゅうりは子供がお弁当にそのまま入れてうれしそうに持って行きました。こういうところもガーデニングの楽しみです。
がんがん育っていて、種類が不明だったトマトはどうやらグリーンゼブラという緑の縞模様のトマトのようです。毎年苗を作りすぎてわからなくなってしまうのを来年はどうにかしたいです😅
バルコニーで育てていたHiveイチヂクはものすごく元気で、根っこが鉢から出ていたので、2鉢は庭に地植えにしてみました。残りは冬が寒かった時に備えてバルコニーにキープしています。庭を気に入ってくれますように！
今週は木工や洋裁のおとも、小屋の掃除にと注文していたコードレスの掃除機が届きました、ちょっと早めの自分への誕生日プレゼントの一つです。大好きなMakitaのもので、バッテリーは草刈機と共有できるとのことで、来年はマキタの草刈機を買っちゃおうかななんて。今朝小屋に持っていて、ちょっと掃除をしてみるとよい感じで、ようやく小屋の手入れを始められそうです。
さてさて、一つみなさんに相談があります。庭を何か動物が行き来しているようで、糞が落ちているを見かけるようになりました。以前もぐら塚ができていて・・・という話はここに書きましたが、もぐらの糞よりは大きい感じで、猫？小さめの犬？なんなのでしょう。動物がいるのは自然なのでしょうがないのですが、どうにか対策をできるといいなと思っています。同じような状況でこんな対策をしたら効果があったよ！などありましたら教えてもらえるとうれしいです。
来週のTODO
来週はもう9月。秋冬野菜の育苗を進めていてある程度大きくなってきたら庭に移植しようと思っています。葉物なので、移植前に上に書いた謎の糞問題を解決したいです🥹
ノヂシャなどの種まきもぼちぼち始めます。あとは小屋の掃除も。
そんなこんなの夏の終わりのバルコニーと庭の様子でした。それではみなさん、Happy Gardening！
About the mystery droppings: if it’s a cat, laying chicken wire flat on the soil under a thin layer of mulch stops them from stepping in or digging, and seedlings can still grow through the mesh. A motion sensor sprinkler also scares off both cats and small dogs pretty fast, and doubles as garden comedy. Are the piles buried or left right on top? That little clue can help tell cat from dog.
Hi @arm008, thank you for the tip! They are directly on the soil or mulch ... Ah so it can be a cat? But a bit for those from cats. Or a big hungry cat/cats? 😄
Using chicken wire sounds good. Unfortunately my plants grown already but I think I can squees some. I will try it :) Motion sensor sprinkler sounds interesting too. I will see what kind of options are there at a garden supply store.
Again, I appreciate for your help ☺️
On top of the soil usually means not a cat, since cats often dig and try to cover. Big, single logs can be dog, while ropey twists with berries or fur point to fox. You can slide flat chicken wire in between your plants, snip small holes for stems, and pin it down so it hugs the mulch. If you try the motion sprinkler, start with a narrow arc and low sensitivity, and if you’re curious a cheap night cam can ID the visitor fast.
Ah so, cats dig! I thought it's more like something dogs do. There were no twists and berries so it an be a dog. But I wonder there is a wild dog in Germany?? Some neighbor releases their dogs? Camera may work ;)
Yeah, cats are the ones that dig and try to cover their business. Dogs usually just drop and go, often near edges or paths. Wild dogs in Germany aren’t really a thing, so if it seems dog-like it’s probably a neighbor’s off-leash visitor, though a fox is also possible and theirs often looks twisty and placed on something obvious. If you’re finding disturbed soil I’d still bet cat. A cheap wildlife cam for a few nights will tell you fast, and the flat chicken wire plus a motion sprinkler should stop whoever it is.
Great work and nice to see someone else here growing "Green Zebra" as well. :)
You definitly should give "Rutje" a try, absolutely great breed.
That "left overs" question was answered already well by @amr008, in the end a picture of some "left overs" would most likely clear up the situation, even this may sound a little strange to ask for. :D
About the cam that was mentioned: Most people got old phones laying around - use "Alfred Cam" (used it some time, it's free and works fine) or similar apps and place it out there, this way you can be sure 100% about who is visiting your garden.
Thank you for another great advice! Old phone camera is an good option. I try camera when the chicken wire trick doesn't work. I wish it will be fine soon.
Would place the camera first, so you know what "you are deiling with" since maybe the fence on the ground will not be working. :)
Your balcony has become a lovely green space. The chili plant looks very healthy and strong. Green plants always bring a relaxing feeling at home.
Totally! I cannot live without the green friends ☺️
I really enjoyed reading your update! As a gardener, I can relate to the joy on harvesting fresh vegetables and fruits. Nothing compares to homegrown zucchini and cucumbers. Putting some natural repellents like citrus peels or even used coffee grounds around the area might help. Wishing your more harvest soon.
Hi @dreamrona, thank you for the advice! Good to know natural repellents like lemon peels and coffee grounds work, I have them in my kitchen already and they don't cost ☺️ I'll try the natural repellents solution -> chicken wire -> camera. I'm really thankful that @gardenhive is so supportive!