I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some rain at the moment. There's some forecast for Monday, but everything that's been predicted in the last few weeks has disappeared before it reached us. I have some nematodes for wireworm to water in but they're best put in after rain. They need to go in PDQ as ...

Moved my chrysants outside today so was able to plant my last batch of tomatoes, 18 beefsteaks, 6 each of Cherokee Purple, Burlesque (new to me, anybody grown it?) and Cuor Di Bue. IMG_5011.JPG Hi Geoff, I grew burlesque toms last year and have more on the go this one. They're a lovely tom - big, f...

My chives have gone forth and multiplied with abandon so I'm going to cut a load this afternoon whilst their tender and tasty, then pack them into a bag for the freezer. I don't blanch them or anything, just snip or slice into little pieces, then straight into a freezer bag and into the freezer. I w...

Afternoon, stopping by to say hello on this warm afternoon in deepest darkest Dorset, and looking forward to the rain forecast for next week. Our heavy clay soil has been behaving a lot like concrete for the last two weeks. Things are picking up in my raised beds - my asparagus has started coming th...

Update: I ate it. It was delicious

These are my greenhouse strawbs that I allowed to take over the borders. An early French variety, ciflorette. Can't wait! I'm doubly pleased as I promised hubby that I'd do my best to have home grown strawbs ready for his birthday on 4th May, which is looking likely now. A nice treat.

Quality control is so important, isn't it OH?!

I've been continuing work on clearing, digging and topping up my raised beds which were neglected last year due to eye issues. It's so good to see them coming into productivity again. I've got plenty going on in the greenhouse and put my tomato plants (still in pots) back in there today after bringi...

To see this! I've been watching it like a hawk for the last week, now it's a question of who gets it first tomorrow - the woodlice, hubby or me, in that order of probability.

I'm afraid every one I have found in my greenhouse has been promptly stepped on and squished. I have used nematodes this year but they can take a while to get settled in so I resorted to a heavy stomp. Very quick and chemical free, too.

@Colin2016 - how long does a full battery charge last? Roughly how many hours of pumping do you get from it?

I should have added that this type of thing is probably more relevant than ever as we move into a peat-free world as peat-free composts generally don't have the same water retention qualities of previous times and need to be kept constantly moist as they're much harder to get wet again.

I really must get out and tackle topping up my raised beds. I've had some bulk compost delivered but it's some distance between the compost and the beds with a muddy lake in between the two, not ideal for dragging a wheelbarrow through! I might enlist some help on that, though, as time is ticking wi...

Has anyone tried these? I'm having a look as although I can run a hose on a time out to my greenhouses, our water flow and pressure are so low, the water doesn't make it through the tubes to all of the outlets, only 50% at best. I can't get a mains power supply out the greenhouses due to distance. I...

My greenhouse sowings are coming along nicely, with plenty of brassicas and flowers. Some duds from old seed that I took a chance on, so I've already re-sown with newer seed. I suspect that seeds that languished in my greenhouse last year got too hot and have gone crispy, so I shall have a sort out ...