Winter bits and bobs.

[Geoff]

We survived Eowyn with a bit of fence damage, a pole dislodged on the pergola and some tree debris that will need collecting up. Only one brief dip in the electricity just enough to reboot things. It was mighty windy though but unfortunately the wind speed part of my weather station isn't working so I don't know how bad.

[Clive.]

Forecast gives another dose of high winds this afternoon/evening, this way on...already picking up and a sharp wind chill to it, having just ventured over the road to the post box.

Had a little ride out to a couple of independent garden centres locally this morning...first visit was really to partake of a car wash but thought I ought to take a look around....so the usual happened..not planning to grow potatoes.....but came out with a bag of Maris Peer..that's the first variety I grew with my grandad in the late sixties when it was the latest greatest new variety. It's still quite a staple for farm/supermarket. Also picked up a few shallots....Hermine and Meloine.

Checked out the big terracotta pots...a recce on behalf of big garden requirement.
Then on to second smaller location....10 x 7ft canes were on my shopping list..but came out also with a rather nice looking jar of pickled onions and some Howgate Wonder cooking apples....

C.

[Westi]

Pretty much rain & wind all day so hunkered in, cleared a bit this afternoon then a repeat performance tomorrow. Thursday is the next decent day with just a moderate breeze & some sun, then back to rain & wind until next Wednesday. Rules out any big dig jobs; ground elder lives another day! Will be OK in the tunnel & 2 days should be enough time to prep the soil & do some sows on the staging.

[Westi]

Whoop! Weather report remains correct & I can go down tomorrow...sunny & a gentle breeze! Tunnel prep yourself you are going to get pampered & the bonus is Saturday is also pretty good so will be able to finish quicker than I anticipated. Must remember to pick up my spuds from the lottie shop & not get too engrossed though, I was supposed to collect them last week!

[Clive.]

Lovely still, sunny blue sky (at times) day making a welcome change from the recent winds...bit cool on the fingertips first thing but later nicely warm in the greenhouse with windows on vent and doors open..

Loads of birdsong to be heard.

C.

[retropants]

I must do something in the Garden. It's so soggy, I've not wanted to go out there. Maybe a bit of a tidy up over the weekend to get started.

[Westi]

Well all great plans etc. Weather correct & not too cold so was a happy bunny.....until I got to the plots! My membrane paths had been all blown off on both sides, the pegs & metal stakes all over the place & frayed from where they were flapping against the trees & raspberry canes. The old membrane under these were still pegged in. I now have a slightly narrower upper layer along the paths, but workable. The strange thing was this must have been a significant blow but had nothing exceptional at home.

It was time consuming but I did manage to do one 1/2 of the tunnel, but not quite finished. I rang the neighbour as he lost his shed door, & he suggested it was probably because the farmer finally got to cut down the hedge row after several years & I think he may be right as the hedge row got quite a significant trim, I can now see the trains again. The farmer also took a tractor along & grated out all the saplings coming up his side. Added bonus is I will be able to see where the wee birds nest are so can watch the development of the chicks.

[oldherbaceous]

Still battling this Flu/Covid thing, also have a bacterial throat infection, so on antibiotics….will be so glad when I get some energy back!
I noticed we had a fair amount of rain last night, early morning, so quite wet out there.

[Westi]

Sorry to hear you have been out of sorts OH. Covid is still doing it's rounds & I've heard from several folk who have it. All say they can only imagine how bad you would feel with the original Covid before the vaccinations. Unfortunately so many folk never took up the offer of the jab which is why it continues & like all these bad viruses it morph's, so potentially those not jabbed are passing on a slightly different virus than those covered by our jabs.

I note many older folk are wearing their masks again; I have one with me but tending to just avoid folk & wait back while they rummage for their groceries & I'm back to having the hand gel in my bag & I do use it pre & post visits....just in case!

[Geoff]

Planted potatoes under tunnel cloche in polytunnel today, 4 Swift and 8 Charlotte. They'd chitted nicely so hopefully they'll do OK. Lovely day so raked up a lot twigs from recent gales. Took a White Beam tree down yesterday that was shading the orchard so a good bonfire is planned if it says dry for another day or two.

[Westi]

I've not got my spuds yet, but they are in, just got to coordinate my days down the plot to when the little shop is open. Nearly did today but I couldn't wait or I'd miss my bus & they only run 2 hourly on Saturday. It will work out soon as weather is looking better so more will be down who may have keys.

Tunnel completed today, all dug, fed & ready to rock, just got to put the wee mesh fence around the beds to deter the dog. Quite a few finds in amongst the weeds so planted out 7 Rabb plants & 15 Pak Choi into a free bed outside & tucked them in with micro mesh, sacrificed a few more finds that weren't worth saving. Monday will be moving what leeks are in & heeling them in what will be the summer squash bed. A quick hoe & feed & that is done, then the celeriac & swede bed will be cleared. I will do the sows before I move onto the last section which is chasing bind weed & ground elder in the Rhubarb & then splitting the crowns & extending the bed. Felt good seeing the tunnel looking pristine, well if I ignored the fox damage in the cover. I was kinda disappointed I never found a cache of fox stolen eggs or whatever with my digs as it would have clarified why he took a liking to ripping plastic. I have a birthday this month & my wish is to get the tunnel recovered, but still reluctant in case Fox takes a liking to the new cover, but no damage for a while so maybe the sonic repellers are deterring him?

[Westi]

Where has everyone gone???

Got quite a bit done today as caught the 2nd early bus again, dog was well happy seeing her older folk friends on there, they were perplexed with me on the bus with a new rake in more black plastic than needed . Could just about see the lock numbers but got in OK & pretty much no-one else on the site the whole time I was down so no spuds yet! Cleared the leek bed & heeled in the extra's on an empty bed, got some usable swede from the next bed & managed to dig & feed that bed. Sorted the netting & tidied the little metal shed, compost 2 finally covered & snugged in with some compost accelerator I'm trying. All the canes & stakes tidied & in their own buckets, staging sorted....how come when you write it down it seems so trivial! Broke the fork today as well so my bus friends will have another question about what's in the wrapping, but the broom is next as already delivered & going down next but it's naked..no pointy bits!

[retropants]

I've ordered some bare root patio climbing roses for either side of the back door. I've had the pots since the summer! Just need some good rose friendly compost (any suggestions?)

[Westi]

Well near enough finished the plots now & today took the new broom down. The fork does not come to tomorrow but I wanted to get cracking so weeded & dug over the last 3 beds. No fork but used the shovel to dig the bed & put the new rake through it's paces breaking up the clods. Shovel was fine but took ages smashing the clods but completed. Plan is to cover these so they should break down a bit more as certainly not a fine tilth currently. While it was still & calm I took the opportunity to weed spray the fence line between the plots, way too time consuming trying to dig it out especially as I was a bit over enthusiastic pinning the chicken wire back down after the last big clear.

Next it's tackle the ground elder & split the Rhubarb. I finally bought a book on weeds & very interestingly ground elder is edible & apparently young leaves are used in mixed salads....won't be trying that with mine though as neighbour sprayed his side. It is fortunate I am sorting the rhubarb as should be able to get it all untangled from their roots & as it's not as deep or brittle as bind weed should be able to clear most of it.

[Westi]

Is everyone OK? Gone real quiet on here.

I'm not having much fun down here; Mr kindly shared his Norovirus with me & he was over it in a couple of days, but I think it likes me more. Since found out he wasn't washing his hands with soap & water which is it's nemesis & just using gel so contaminating the taps etc. The compost I bought for the little guys in the propagator has been contaminated & just full of weeds but new bag arrived today so big disinfect & clean out & re-sow tomorrow.

Work begins next Wednesday on the garage conversion which is going to be called the studio, which is the council's term. I think it is causing a few scratched heads as Mr's mobility scooter won't fit through the front patio & there is a skip & delivered materials to factor in so limitations on the drive space for him to get out; left that with them to sort. Once it is demolished they will start on the outer wall & remove a fence panel at the back & put some netting along to keep dog in so will be OK for him to get in/out. Fortunately I can fit through the door!