Early Winter Bits and Bobs.

[Clive.]

Winter digging has progressed a bit more but today a switch to Hornby Dublo repairs and a 2-6-4T has had a motor clean up, missing bearing replaced from stock and had some magnetism restored to it courtesy of my magnetiser machine and the Atco mower battery for power... amazingly this project has only sat here a month...at least I am catching up with some things.

I'm pleased that the wind has diminished once more....it's been a rough lot today especially rough around 2pm.


Clive.

[Monika]

That digging looks good, Clive. I don't think we could possibly dig on the allotment at the moment, it would be far too claggy, although it is well drained. Luckily, we got most of it done in October/November, only the green manure still needs digging in.

Daffodil question: last winter there were daffodils in flower on the Harrogate road into Skipton from November onwards (I believe they even appeared on the television because their timing was so odd). This year there is not one in sight, not even green tips. Did they exhaust themselves last year, or perhaps they were mown back too early when the foliage was still green?

Narcissus Paperwhite is now coming out in the cold greenhouse, and lots of other bulbs are showing their first tips.

[Clive.]

There are some early Daffodils most years on a road side in Bilsby, Lincs but didn't get that way this year to see them...but not as early or late as Nov...I mean early at more regular flowering time.

Snowdrops just pushing through here and a few daffodil tips too. However the potted Daffs are still tucked up in some old garden hand truck sides covered up with leaf mould...a job for a few days time to check and lift them out...and distribute them between front greenhouse, back greenhouse and cold frame relative to their progress and the need for their use.

Clive.

[Clive.]

Thinking on, our late Oct/Nov Snowdrops seem to have had a bit of a year off....with only a couple of flowers and limited foliage showing.

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

Evening Clive and Monika, the snowdrops that normally flower at the end of February, are just showing their white tips, so if the weather stays as mild as it is at the present, they will be in flower in a fortnights time.

Lots of the bulbs i lightly forced, are all showing strong green tips where i moved them into the cold greenhouse two weeks ago. Just the thought of them gives me a real lift.

I have stiil got that large batch of tulips i potted up a while ago, covered in black plastic. I'm sure this helps to give them a better root system.

The ground here is far to wet to go on at the moment, so i'm well behind with the digging. But there is still plenty of time.
I do like the large lumps you leave, Clive, as you see so many people at this time of the year, knocking the lumps down to a fine tilth, only to have the heavy rains seal a crust over the top. Far better to leave it as lumpy as possible, and let the frosts do the job for you.

You haven't updated to DCC, yet then Clive.

[Clive.]

I think it would have been a bit advanced in the late 1950s to have incorporated a DCC socket.

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

I knew i should have stuck to what i know, gardening tools, that is...

[Parsons Jack]

Had a puncture on the way shopping this morning. Luckily I was alongside a supermarket car park, so got off of the main road to change the wheel. I can't remember the last time I had to do it, and it took me a few minutes to work out which way up the jack should go

My OH was very impressed with my skill and calmness whilst doing the job, so I have some brownie points in the bank now

Luckily it happened before the rain started

[oldherbaceous]

I would get cook to do ours.

[Parsons Jack]

I would get cook to do ours.

Even the wheelbarrow OH?

[oldherbaceous]

Morning PJ, i now have a semi solid tyre in the barrow, as i found cook breaking her nails evertime she mended the punture, made me feel a little guilty.

[Parsons Jack]

OH, you're all heart

[Geoff]

Question from my sister.
Anybody know a source of expanded polystyrene module trays?
I don't use them but can't seem to find them anywhere for her.

[Parsons Jack]

Question from my sister.
Anybody know a source of expanded polystyrene module trays?
I don't use them but can't seem to find them anywhere for her.

Some here Geoff

http://www.pottyinnovations.co.uk/seed-trays.html#.UsLrvrQgiM1

[Geoff]

Thanks - I found that one after I posted, all a matter of what you ask Google. Won't be long before there is a Googling GCSE.