Early Spring Bits and Bobs.

[Stephen]

Couch. Nasty.
This winter I dug out and burned one very old but productive gooseberry bush because it was enveloped by couch. I put a younger, smaller bush in its place.

[Diane]

Well done. Did you manage to save the old bush...or take cuttings...or was it too far smothered?

[Primrose]

Gooseberries and cooch grass are a lethal combination. I have a similar problem plus some deep seated cuckoo pint bulbs which hasve appeared from nowhere and got entangled with the gooseberry roots. No matter how many times I try I never seem to be able to dig down deep enough to get the darned bulbs out.

[Stephen]

Diane
I had already layered several bushes, gooseberries take so easily, so have at least as many as I can cope with. So I just moved one from the edge of the plot, where it always tangled with the netting and dropped it in the middle where it should not.
There is another older one, I have my eye on, I think it will get the same treatment next winter! Plenty of younger growth which can replace that one too!

[robo]

Spring has sprung ,blue skies the type that are on tigers pictures ,trouble is I went to the plot in my winter clothes fleecey top thermal knock strap I planned to plant spuds I was sweating passed myself within minutes but mission accomplished

[Monika]

The 'problem plant' in our garden is lesser celandine. Beautiful to look at at the moment but they have spread themselves everywhere except (so far!!) into the actual vegetable beds. I have tried digging them out, hoeing, weed killer but they seem to be impervious to everything. Luckily, of course, they completely disappear by about June, but their bulbils and roots are obviously still there.

[tigerburnie]

I managed to sow a few lettuce seeds in the greenhouse propagator and prepped the new Strawberry beds ready for planting, probably at the weekend.

[oldherbaceous]

Feels like things are starting to happen....

[Colin2016]

Official spring is here was working on plot in t shirt yesterday lets hope it continues.

Garlic & radish looking good and shallots just poking their head through as well.

[oldherbaceous]

That looks fantastic, Colin..... my Garlic and Winter Onions look well, but nothing else in yet.

[oldherbaceous]

Well a whole new day infront of us all, so what does everyone have planned?

For me, it's annoyingly hanging about for a large order of plants, that should have arrived yesterday....can't wait to start potting them up, as it gives me great satisfaction...

[robo]

Doctors with my wife then probably hospital if no hospital down to the plot plant a few seeds collect eggs and clean chicken house out its not a good time for us at present but onward and upward

[oldherbaceous]

You're doing a brilliant job, Robo!

[tigerburnie]

Keep strong Robo

[peter]

Waiting Nat West to set up a new account for our Allotment Association after some fun & games with the current one.
Then home to feed puppy, walk big dog back down town to collect daughter's car from garage.
Tidy house to mnimise wifely grumbling after her three weeks abroad.
At some point nip up rugby club and prepare bar for Ladies Day tomorrow. Unable to run it as I have to do a Heathrow run, god bless friend Kate who's going to sit with the dogs while I'm doing that.