The long bank holiday .... priorities for the garden?

[robo]

Thanks for all the good wishes I'm hoping the chemo and radium will prove effective we have to much going on in our lives to clock out early

[Pa Snip]

Robo, please give your wife my very best wishes. Both keep your chins up and both try and keep your sense of humour.

Seems that once life starts throwing manure at you it doesn't know when to stop.

[Pawty]

Robo, I really do wish you both well and hope Mrs Robo responds well . I am always amazed at the medical profession and what they can do.

Pawty

[Pawty]

I had a day at the allotment - finally dug out the compost bin.

Unfortunately it looks like tomorrow will now be at the vets. Alfie the cat has been retching with a stuck hair ball (I assume) for 2 days. I got some special food which is suppose to help move things along, but it hasn't. He's eating but a bit upset now. Don't suppose anyone here has any advice other than vets?

Thanks

Pawty

[Westi]

Hi Pawty!

I give my cats a wee blob of butter every couple of days to help with this, but they usually just eat grass when it happens & self rectify the problem. It's that time of year for them to shed into their summer coat so I've had a few gifts underfoot - literally!

[Pawty]

Thanks Westi. I tried giving him butter but he refused to eat it - apparently only likes it when its been left open on the side for stealing.

I wouldn't normally worry (he eats grass also... lemon grass is his favourite) it's just how long it's been and he's a bit wheezy. These animals hey! Always when Mr Pawty is out of the county! The last time one needed stitches (fighting), before that it was poisoned, and before that a Gammy eye!

I just hope mr Pawty hasn't spent all our savings in las vegas !

Pawty

[vivienz]

My plantings are very limited this year, but I hope to get some salad leaf seeds sown along with some courgettes to grow on in large pots. I'm not bothering with tomatoes this year as they have to stay outside (grape vine in greenhouse) and always get done over by the dreaded blight.

[PLUMPUDDING]

I've done the opposite Vivienz, I've got rid of the grape vine as the tomatoes are more use than grapes. Can't you grow grapes outside where you are, we don't get a long enough summer to ripen them outdoors here?

Today's list is to dig up all the dandelions and bitter cress before they seed, get the top greenhouse prepared - it's been a storage space for bales of straw and shavings for the hens over winter - weed the paths and patios, plant out the broad beans. There's a second page but I doubt if I'll get through the first.

[Pawty]

So, a morning spent at the vets - Alfie certainly picks his times ... emergency appointment on a Saturday on a bank holiday weekend ....

The vet thinks it's a chest infection so he's on antibiotics. Turns out it's a cough! She was saying that this time of year is a real problem for animals with grass being cut, pollen etc.... and it may be he's developed asthma or hay fever. We shall see.

Now, back to gardening and the dreaded task of potting on. I may have grown one too many chillie plants ....

Pawty

[PLUMPUDDING]

Hope he is soon back to normal. I've never heard of a cat with hay fever. Is he a pure breed or just a moggy? Have you wormed him recently?

[Pawty]

Hi,

Thanks plumpudding. He's a moggy - short haired tabby. Had his MOT just last week.... flees, worms and flu treatment.

Have just spent hours potting on this afternoon. My spare room looks like a jungle. I always panic a bit when you pot on tomatoes and they look so sickly for a while. Fingered crossed they start to feel better soon as well!

Pawty

[robo]

I've just brought 16 asparagus tips from the plot my wife decided she did not want any ,I've just made a pig of myself it would have been better with a few more oink oink

[Westi]

Trudging on with the weeding & digging & getting in control again. My last savoy is looking tatty so will harvest tomorrow along with absolutely loads of asparagus. It looks like I've lost 2 crowns but the others are making up for it! My over wintered lettuces don't seem keen on wanting to flower & I've the week off so can see some salad lunches on the plot.

I'll get some pics tomorrow if phone & camera behaves! The most uplifting thing though is the rape field behind in full flower, such glowing colours in any light condition.

[PLUMPUDDING]

More dandelions to tackle. They seem to wait until you think you've got them all and then lots more spring out.

I'm going to see if any of my asparagus has come up yet. They were nice strong plants last year so should be producing something soon. I bought three varieties and only one survived, Ginjlim I think. The purple one Pacific purple, was lovely and tender but didn't come up the second year and the third one put up a bit of sprue and vanished.

[tigerburnie]

You could eat the dandelions........................