Kitchen Garden Forum

Enjoyable part of today was this afternoon when I managed to get up the plot and did some rotavating. Thanks to son in law for finishing it off.
Daughter, son in law and grandson were well into sorting the plot out ready for this years planting & sowing.
It was looking good when I left them to it.

Feeling good this evening despite the effort & energy spent on the rotavating I did.
No question, working the plot makes me feel good despite The Alien Within

Glad you've got some meaningful work done, it is the greatest therapy even without your extra problem.

Looks like normal service resumes here.

First picking of forced rhubarb today. There's always something of a ritual about this, being the first crop of Spring, rather like the long awaited first picking of asparagus, not that I have enough space grow any of that. Having it gently stewed with orange and stem ginger. I love the bright pink stems and the fresh green leaves - always a pleasure to pick the first batch.

Oh, and I've dug the garden furniture out of winter storage and put it out on the patio. How's that for anticipating a few Spring mid morning cups of al fresco coffee ? Probably a little too early for outdoor breakfasts though!

Last Chillies potted on and 5 varieties of Tomato now sown in the propagator, Red Pear and Red Cherry are new ones to me

I've never forced rhubarb as the Timperley Early is usually ready in March anyway although it's a bit later this year. Does forcing it make much difference to the texture and flavour as they say it does?

Today looked bad on the main weather report & my phone was pants too, but it was gloriously sunny all afternoon. Now tomorrow is giving the same grim news on the phone so I hope it is wrong as the Wonder Wall goes up. Whatever the wind seems light which is probably more important.

My plan is to mooch & get some things sown (or re-sown is more accurate) & entertain the dog while hubby & a lad from his work do the build. I've got biscuits & snacks & a new gas canister for endless tea, so it should be fine. What could possibly go wrong???? Sorry you (& I) have to wait until tomorrow for the outcome!

Forced rhubarb, PP: I usually force one of our rhubarb plants (Timperley Early) each year and they are softer and more tender to eat than unforced ones. This year I did not bother and the first sticks are just about ready to pull which is considerably later than usual. And I know they will be slightly coarser.

Good luck with putting up the Wonderwall, Westi. I have often seen the adverts for it and it will be interesting to know whether it really is as useful as claimed!

It is starting to look like an allotment at last.

There are new buds in the orchard....The veg beds are looking good...But don't linger in the rubbish corner.

That looks like a fantastic effort, your neighbours seem to have a bit of catching up to do!

This has obviously involved a lot of hard physical work so well done on getting it to this state. Bet you’re itching to get stuff sown and planted now so you can reap some dividends.

Well done Colin and you will reap the rewards of all your hard work....

oldherbaceous wrote:Well done Colin and you will reap the rewards of all your hard work....

or the wildlife will



Some good work been done there

Wonderful work Colin. You should be very proud.

Yeah! The Wonder Wall is up!

Well not the full 10 metres, fortunately it flexes in size hence the rolled netting attached to the frame! The reason being I planned to heel in the leeks elsewhere but there were too many & looking too good to consider moving them just yet. As we needed access to all of the inside & outside & I didn't want the leeks stomped on so made the decision to shorten it for this season. 3 1/2 hours for the boys to get up & lots of banter & biscuits, everything promised was in the pack & the photo instructions were easy to follow. We changed a few things as well to suit us like the anchor of the roof net (windy site) & the door, but I'm happy & hopefully the plants in there will be happy. Still got some finishing touches but here it is!

Very posh westi