Kitchen Garden Forum

Well seem to be able to post as normal, thank goodness!

Looks as if we are in for some hard frost next week….just wish I had got more of the Winter digging done, but it’s just been to wet…..

Have been moving some pots of bulbs into the big greenhouse….lovely and warm in there, with the sun on it!

Just sown sweet pea seed in conservatory.

I’ve ordered all new strawberry plants (bare root) hopefully the leaf miner/chafer won’t come back.

We’ve been forecast snow next weekend

Looking OK down here for the moment, but that can change in a blink as we know. Will go down tomorrow for a mooch with the dog, as a couple of clearing/ weeding jobs to finish. Then next time down I will be free to give the shed a coat of paint while rain is not in the mix.

Managed to get a goodly chunk of digging done this morning and then cut the Dahlia tops down, now they have dried and laid them over the ground, where I have left the tubers in the ground…..looks a bit tidier.

Finished 90% of the outstanding jobs today, just got to weed & mulch under the trees, but no hurry for that. Home day tomorrow to tackle the garden as I haven't even cleared up after the blow & some bulbs are poking up so best not make it harder for them! The grass between the pavers has finally dried off so quite a bit of weeding to clear them as well then the broom pushing to get the sand in the gaps. Will be a bit nippy looking at the weather but I'll quickly warm up with a dash inside, but supposed to get to 4C by lunch time.

We've finally got out of Xmas mode so will be grown ups now & get tackling on the proper jobs to do at home. I'm in charge of getting the guttering cleared & covered & clearing the garage. Mr has to contact the specialist disability architects to get the downstairs facilities & extension sorted & plans done. Fortunately the disability input is covered by the government, but only accept receipts of work done by specialist trained architects will be honoured & not only are these hard to find they are also very busy due to the large elderly population down here. Knowing our luck by the time they can do ours the building costs part we pay for will be even more expensive, but I have heard as Mr is proper disabled not just older he is prioritised so maybe will be OK?

I hope all works out well on the planning and building work, Westi…..what they never seem to get to grips with is, most normal extensions are a bit of a luxury, where as any disability building work is a necessity and needs completing as quickly as possible!

Didn’t get into the garden at all over Christmas OH as it tipped down constantly here. Now the weather is a little better i.e. less rain, we have hard frost and snow. Ho hum, I’m supposed to be observing this year anyway… at least that’s what I’m telling myself. The greenhouse placement has changed 4 times so far lol.

Oh Westi, I hope it gets sorted quickly, you don’t know any friends of friends? One of the reasons we took so long finding a house was the disability thing. Happily we got a house that has already had the extension build with a walk in wet room so if the worst does happen we’re sorted. Only thing being I want conservatory doors put in so I will be able to go straight out into the garden lol.

Well Myrkk it seems they are either very busy or short staffed as every phone call was 'leave a message', but Mr won't do that so he is going to keep trying. My chore was also not done successfully either; kept putting in their phone number but engaged until I checked eventually & found it was diverting to my phone number as theirs is only 2 numbers different! I hate it when my phone decides it's clever - even if thick as can be as why would I ring myself?

We have builder friends who will do the construction bit but need the architect plans done so meets the requirements for getting the wet room stuff done for free as that will be too expensive for us on top as also adding in a bit for him to have private bed space so not in the lounge as it's very restrictive for manoeuvring the wheelchair.

I hope Tigerburnie is okay, as I haven’t seen him on here for a while !

Still haven't been down to lottie save a brief check & tomorrow is going to be no different in regards to temp & soil, so giving it a miss as well. Friday's min is going to be above zero at least, & it looks like it's staying like that for a week or two so time to get the paint brushes out.

One thing though is there has been no rain for ages so anticipating the flooded beds will be dry. Do you reckon I should just top these with more compost & cover again or should I give them a little dig as well? They won't be used until April time so don't want to be weeding them so covers will go back over, but concerned if clay level has risen it might also dry out & be too hard to work.

That’s a good point OH. Not seen Tigerburnie on her recently. Maybe they’re recovering from their festive excesses?

Westi. Would put more manure on, but instead of turning over. Would push fork in, then just lever back. Let the worms take it below ground.

Westi, I don't dig anymore. I just can't sustain it So I just add to the top and take weeds out as they come. I only have a little plot, so not too much work. I've just put a nice thick layer of manure on the surface, and will let the frost & worms take it down. It all gets a little shuffle when I'm planting anyway.