It's amazing the difference in two days weather. Yesterday was wet and very cold had the heating on in the house all day. Today glorious sunshine all day turned the cenral heating off first thing this morning and still haven't put it back on yet.
Managed to get some more lottie dug over today, it was quite nice digging and even with all the rain yesterday the ground was quite dry.
Cut up some more old carpet to put on the paths. Went round with the trowel and dug up all the creeping thistle that is just starting to show through the soil. Only a couple of weeks now and the mares tail will be starting to show as well.
Planted out the 15 hispi cabbage, 15 broccoli ironman and 15 summer psb. Then made some fleece covers to go over the top of them. Don't usually have any problem with pigeons but there is always a first time and better to be safe than sorry.
Opened the front of the growbag frame that has the pots of potatoes in and they have been subjected to the lovely sunshine all day.
Tomatoes are doing very well and the first batch will soon be ready to go into 1lt pots. Have loads of peppers and aubergines but cant get them to grow past the seed leaves, maybe I'm just impatient.
Also planted out some perpetual spinach and rainbow swiss chard.
Pricked out some bronze arrow lettuce and some cabbage red drumhead.
Broad beans sown autumn are looking good and there is a lot of flower on them, only hope the insects have found them alright. There are bees about as I found a good god almighty size one in the porch today. Did my deed for the day and helped it get outside.
Temp in greenhouse got up to 31 today and that was with the door open, frost forecast for some parts of the country so have put all the fleeces on and lit the paraffin fire.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday 25th March 2008
Picture of the two tomato/growbag frames in the garden. Don't think the covers are all that strong and am hoping they will survive any wind that we get. Still I've got plenty of repair tape ready. At least when I get the tomatoes in them they will stand a better chance against the blight than if they were out in the open. The one on the left has a tray each of broad beans, cabbage, rats tails radish and parsnips.
Completed filling up the second raised strawberry bed with home made compost and topped off with a bag of purchased compost. Planted out what plants were in pots in the greenhouse and need about nine more to fill the bed. Will await for some runners rather than purchase any more plants.
Weather has been great today and I've had a good day pottering around the garden and lottie.
Put up another growbag house and have moved the three bags of potatoes into it. Picture above.
Had the first casualties of the season, one marketmore cucumber has damped off and one seedling of achocha has gone funny and looks a bit sick. No doubt they wont be the last.
Planted out some red sun shallots which had been started off in some 1lt pots. Roots looked good and they should romp away now.
Completed filling up the second raised strawberry bed with home made compost and topped off with a bag of purchased compost. Planted out what plants were in pots in the greenhouse and need about nine more to fill the bed. Will await for some runners rather than purchase any more plants.
Weather has been great today and I've had a good day pottering around the garden and lottie.
Put up another growbag house and have moved the three bags of potatoes into it. Picture above.
Had the first casualties of the season, one marketmore cucumber has damped off and one seedling of achocha has gone funny and looks a bit sick. No doubt they wont be the last.
Planted out some red sun shallots which had been started off in some 1lt pots. Roots looked good and they should romp away now.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday 24th March 2008
Had a busy day shifting topsoil, compost and paving slabs. not as young as I used to be and I'm shattered.
Sown a few more bits and pieces,Tumbling Red tomatoes, Aubergines Chinese Ancient, cucumber an Italian variety, Sweet peppers variety unknown, tomato Tamina and started parsnips off on some damp kitchen paper, White Gem and Avonresister.
Some of the blackeye and flagolette beans have started to germinate, 3 blackeye and 6 flagalette not many but I didn't really expect any so a bonus really.
Pricked out the 6 gherkin seedlings into individual pots.
Started to fill the second strawberry bed and will finish that off tomorrow weather permitting.
Sown a few more bits and pieces,Tumbling Red tomatoes, Aubergines Chinese Ancient, cucumber an Italian variety, Sweet peppers variety unknown, tomato Tamina and started parsnips off on some damp kitchen paper, White Gem and Avonresister.
Some of the blackeye and flagolette beans have started to germinate, 3 blackeye and 6 flagalette not many but I didn't really expect any so a bonus really.
Pricked out the 6 gherkin seedlings into individual pots.
Started to fill the second strawberry bed and will finish that off tomorrow weather permitting.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday 23rd March 2008
Had a day out at Trago Mills down in devon on Thursday. Good place for cheap stuff, bought some 1lt black pots 8p each, bought some derris seeing as it is being withdrawn from sale.
Purchased a small kiwi fruit and another blueberry. Potted on both the kiwi and blueberry as they were in smallish pots. Also purchased another growbag greenhouse, only £8.25.
Today built another propagator, just big enough for 64 individual pots. Heated with a soil warming cable. No top on it but it is only for potting on stuff that isn't frost tender.
Spent an hour or so on the lottie, planted out the cabbage Hispi, could have left them another couple of weeks but getting short of space and plenty of other cabbages for backup. Covered them with some enviro mesh to keep the birds off. Nearly forgot to put down the slug pellets.
Hoping to get out there tomorrow and do a bit of digging weather permitting. Also want to get the other strawberry bed up and running.
Pricked out alpine strawberries, moss curled parsley and tamarillo. Sowed some florence fennel.
Purchased a small kiwi fruit and another blueberry. Potted on both the kiwi and blueberry as they were in smallish pots. Also purchased another growbag greenhouse, only £8.25.
Today built another propagator, just big enough for 64 individual pots. Heated with a soil warming cable. No top on it but it is only for potting on stuff that isn't frost tender.
Spent an hour or so on the lottie, planted out the cabbage Hispi, could have left them another couple of weeks but getting short of space and plenty of other cabbages for backup. Covered them with some enviro mesh to keep the birds off. Nearly forgot to put down the slug pellets.
Hoping to get out there tomorrow and do a bit of digging weather permitting. Also want to get the other strawberry bed up and running.
Pricked out alpine strawberries, moss curled parsley and tamarillo. Sowed some florence fennel.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday 19th March 2008
Wed 19th Mar.
Had a seed sowing session today have put in Tomato Black Cherry, Pepino, Kiwi Fruit, Cucumber Burpless Tasty Green, Leek Colossal and Autumn Giant 3, Comfry, French parsley and Lettuce Little Gem. Greenhouse is starting to look a little full and I haven't even thought of marrows, pumpkins, courgettes and squashes.
Also managed to get out on lottie, a really nice day,and planted two more rows of potatoes both Sarpo Mira. Was also given a few shallots so planted them straight into the lottie. Have started the second bean trench, having put the sticks up on the first one. I can get 12 plants on either side of frame. Am aiming at three seperate frames and will put one variety on each of the six sides. Found some dried black eye beans and some flagolette beans in the kitchen cupboard so am trying to get some germinated. Nothing lost in trying.
Had a look around to see what is and isn't growing. Most of the Tomatoes, peppers and aubergines are doing great, all the non tender veg except broad beans are doing exceptionally well. Have 1 cape gooseberry, 1 golden berry and 4 lemon grass, still time for more to appear yet.
Just to show how long the leek season can be with a selection of varieties. These are still standing well and as yet no sign of bolting. Only wish I could remember what variety they were. Am doing a lot better this year with labels. (fingers crossed)
Must try and hold the camera still when I take photo's. This is inside th new tomato house but is currently looking after stuff that is not frost tender. At the back is cabbage and broccoli and at the front lettuce onion and beetroot.
Not very clear but this is garlic Cristo only started about 3 weeks ago and looking really well, not as far on as that planted last Oct but catching up fast.
Broad beans sown last Sept, full of flower and good looking plants, just hope there is one or two bees about to pollinate.
Still trying to play catchup.
Tuesday 18th March
Chinese artichokes arrived from Marshalls, so planted them up in individual pots. Parsley moss curled is growing well so transplanted into individual pots (15) also transplanted 15 cabbage Etoile into ind pots
Had a seed sowing session today have put in Tomato Black Cherry, Pepino, Kiwi Fruit, Cucumber Burpless Tasty Green, Leek Colossal and Autumn Giant 3, Comfry, French parsley and Lettuce Little Gem. Greenhouse is starting to look a little full and I haven't even thought of marrows, pumpkins, courgettes and squashes.
Also managed to get out on lottie, a really nice day,and planted two more rows of potatoes both Sarpo Mira. Was also given a few shallots so planted them straight into the lottie. Have started the second bean trench, having put the sticks up on the first one. I can get 12 plants on either side of frame. Am aiming at three seperate frames and will put one variety on each of the six sides. Found some dried black eye beans and some flagolette beans in the kitchen cupboard so am trying to get some germinated. Nothing lost in trying.
Had a look around to see what is and isn't growing. Most of the Tomatoes, peppers and aubergines are doing great, all the non tender veg except broad beans are doing exceptionally well. Have 1 cape gooseberry, 1 golden berry and 4 lemon grass, still time for more to appear yet.
Just to show how long the leek season can be with a selection of varieties. These are still standing well and as yet no sign of bolting. Only wish I could remember what variety they were. Am doing a lot better this year with labels. (fingers crossed)
Must try and hold the camera still when I take photo's. This is inside th new tomato house but is currently looking after stuff that is not frost tender. At the back is cabbage and broccoli and at the front lettuce onion and beetroot.
Not very clear but this is garlic Cristo only started about 3 weeks ago and looking really well, not as far on as that planted last Oct but catching up fast.
Broad beans sown last Sept, full of flower and good looking plants, just hope there is one or two bees about to pollinate.
Still trying to play catchup.
Tuesday 18th March
Chinese artichokes arrived from Marshalls, so planted them up in individual pots. Parsley moss curled is growing well so transplanted into individual pots (15) also transplanted 15 cabbage Etoile into ind pots
Wednesday 19th March 2008
Pot of carrots sown begining of Jan, True leaves have started to grow nicely.
Monday 17th March
Sown seeds of Achocha,Perpetual Spinach Beet. Also sowed two gutters of Peas Jaguar. Have been having a problem with germinating parsnips so have now resorted to trying germination on damp kitchen roll.
Starting to be busy time of the year and a bit of catching up to do on the old blog.
Sunday Mar 16thSown 15 ind pots of Autumn King carrots, 15 pots of broad beans (will keep trying to get some germinated) and planted 50 onion sets (Setton) into indivual pots.
Managed to get onto lottie and dug over the potato bed. Then planted Valour, Cara, Sarpo Mira, Pink Fir and Charlotte. Hope we get a good start like last year and no late frosts. Above picture is of two of the potato tubs in the greenhouse. Working on 12 weeks they should be ready for harvesting min to end of April.
Monday 17th March
Sown seeds of Achocha,Perpetual Spinach Beet. Also sowed two gutters of Peas Jaguar. Have been having a problem with germinating parsnips so have now resorted to trying germination on damp kitchen roll.
Starting to be busy time of the year and a bit of catching up to do on the old blog.
Sunday Mar 16thSown 15 ind pots of Autumn King carrots, 15 pots of broad beans (will keep trying to get some germinated) and planted 50 onion sets (Setton) into indivual pots.
Managed to get onto lottie and dug over the potato bed. Then planted Valour, Cara, Sarpo Mira, Pink Fir and Charlotte. Hope we get a good start like last year and no late frosts. Above picture is of two of the potato tubs in the greenhouse. Working on 12 weeks they should be ready for harvesting min to end of April.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Wednesday 12th March 2008
Greenhouse and lottie are going along nicely at the moment. It has been rather wet of late and I haven't been able to do much in the way of digging or planting on the lottie and most of the work has been done in the greenhouse.
Germination of parsnips have been erratic even in the controlled environment of the greenhouse, however I have now got enough for a small row to be transplanted on the lottie but will wait a few more weeks till the seedlings get a little bigger. Peas and carrots are however doing a lot better and I have three short rows of peas already planted out and I have sown some more (Jaguar) this afternoon. Carrots I have two pots with good seedlings in onoyher two pots sown but not yet up and I have two short rows planted out on the lottie.
The three trays of brassicas transplanted into individual pots are doing well and will be ready to plant into the lottie in about three weeks. Summer PSB, Broccoli Ironman and Cabbage Hispi.
Received the apricot tree from Marshalls and also purchased another apricot from Wilkinsons. Will be interesting to see which one does better as one was £5 the other £19.
Some of the tomato seedlings have been potted on into individual pots (6 Sungella and 1 Tamina) I will have to resow Tamina as only one germinated. Transplanted into seed tray lettuce salad bowl.
Planted out the garlic cristo into lottie. Managed to do a bit of digging today ready for the parsnips.
Picked the last of the brussel sprouts, only thing left on lottie now is leeks, PSB and a few cabbage (winter and spring)
Three tubs of potatoes in the greenhouse are looking good and greenery is well over the tops of the bags, still need to do a bit of topping up with compost yet.
Germination of parsnips have been erratic even in the controlled environment of the greenhouse, however I have now got enough for a small row to be transplanted on the lottie but will wait a few more weeks till the seedlings get a little bigger. Peas and carrots are however doing a lot better and I have three short rows of peas already planted out and I have sown some more (Jaguar) this afternoon. Carrots I have two pots with good seedlings in onoyher two pots sown but not yet up and I have two short rows planted out on the lottie.
The three trays of brassicas transplanted into individual pots are doing well and will be ready to plant into the lottie in about three weeks. Summer PSB, Broccoli Ironman and Cabbage Hispi.
Received the apricot tree from Marshalls and also purchased another apricot from Wilkinsons. Will be interesting to see which one does better as one was £5 the other £19.
Some of the tomato seedlings have been potted on into individual pots (6 Sungella and 1 Tamina) I will have to resow Tamina as only one germinated. Transplanted into seed tray lettuce salad bowl.
Planted out the garlic cristo into lottie. Managed to do a bit of digging today ready for the parsnips.
Picked the last of the brussel sprouts, only thing left on lottie now is leeks, PSB and a few cabbage (winter and spring)
Three tubs of potatoes in the greenhouse are looking good and greenery is well over the tops of the bags, still need to do a bit of topping up with compost yet.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tuesday 5th Feb 2008
Had a good day today, the apricot tree from Marshalls arrived but havn't had time to plant it up yet. Visited lottie but ground was to wet to do any digging, watered the seeds in the tomato frame. Will have to get the rest of the garlic planted out at the weekend as it is taking up to much room in the frame.
New soil warming cable also arrived this morning so changed the short one for the new longer one. This will hopefully give a better a better heat distribution. I will make a new smaller frame of the old cable.
Sowed a few more seeds. I am pleased with the results of the first sowings of carrots so had sown three tubs with Adelaide F1, Kingston F1 and Jeanette F1. these will be grown to maturitu in the pots.
Sowed two 1/4 trays with Alacante and Sub Arctic Plenty tomatoes, 8 seeds per tray. also did a 1/4 tray each of Gherkin Parisian Pickling and Pepper Chili Pinocchio's Nose. Sowed a cell tray with beetroot, Chioggia Pink and Red Ace F1, 20 seeds of each.
Had to get parafin for the greenhouse heater today but it seems to lasta fair while.
New soil warming cable also arrived this morning so changed the short one for the new longer one. This will hopefully give a better a better heat distribution. I will make a new smaller frame of the old cable.
Sowed a few more seeds. I am pleased with the results of the first sowings of carrots so had sown three tubs with Adelaide F1, Kingston F1 and Jeanette F1. these will be grown to maturitu in the pots.
Sowed two 1/4 trays with Alacante and Sub Arctic Plenty tomatoes, 8 seeds per tray. also did a 1/4 tray each of Gherkin Parisian Pickling and Pepper Chili Pinocchio's Nose. Sowed a cell tray with beetroot, Chioggia Pink and Red Ace F1, 20 seeds of each.
Had to get parafin for the greenhouse heater today but it seems to lasta fair while.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
2nd March 2008
Had a good day today, only spent an hour on the lottie putting in some more boards for the raised beds. Planted out one tray of Garlic Cristo, left the rest under cover for a few more days.
Sowed 15 pots of broad beans, the previous attempt in root trainers was 100% failure (very old beans). Pricked out 15 each of Broccoli Ironman, Broccoli Summer PSB, cabbage Hispi and cabbage greyhound. It is one of the jobs I really love doing.
Sowed a 1/4 tray of Sweet Pepper Worldbeater and 1/4 tray of Pepper Hot Jalapino. The sungella tomatoes have germinated well with 7 out of 8 growing. Have had a go at germinating some parsnip but its last years seed and germination is poor, so will have to break out a fresh packet. All the seeds in the greenhouse and cold frames are doing very well with no losses so far.
Another picture of the tomato house, which is filled with small seeds at the moment.
This is the new tomato frame that I have built out on the lottie, I had no success last year as the blight got all the tomatoes. Decided that the only option was to make a rain proof shelter. Think I should be able to get 4 tomatoes and 6 peppers in there.
Peas Feltham First out on the lottie the row closest was sown a week after the ones in the background. Will have to get plants to a larger stronger stage before putting out as the latest ones are looking a lot better and stronger.
Sowed 15 pots of broad beans, the previous attempt in root trainers was 100% failure (very old beans). Pricked out 15 each of Broccoli Ironman, Broccoli Summer PSB, cabbage Hispi and cabbage greyhound. It is one of the jobs I really love doing.
Sowed a 1/4 tray of Sweet Pepper Worldbeater and 1/4 tray of Pepper Hot Jalapino. The sungella tomatoes have germinated well with 7 out of 8 growing. Have had a go at germinating some parsnip but its last years seed and germination is poor, so will have to break out a fresh packet. All the seeds in the greenhouse and cold frames are doing very well with no losses so far.
Another picture of the tomato house, which is filled with small seeds at the moment.
This is the new tomato frame that I have built out on the lottie, I had no success last year as the blight got all the tomatoes. Decided that the only option was to make a rain proof shelter. Think I should be able to get 4 tomatoes and 6 peppers in there.
Peas Feltham First out on the lottie the row closest was sown a week after the ones in the background. Will have to get plants to a larger stronger stage before putting out as the latest ones are looking a lot better and stronger.
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