Winter Bits and Bobs.

[Clive.]

-5C upon setting off for work this morning with -7C noted in the village west of my work location and only half a degree less cold upon arriving.. -2C by lunchtime...and 0.5C on the way home this evening. Rain? next....

C.

[Geoff]

After getting down below -7°C it gradually warmed up so by the time the precipitation started this afternoon it surprised us by falling as rain, already 4.6mm. I want to dig the polytunnel beds, particularly the potato bed, but I didn't fill some barrows with compost in preparation so I'll have to wait for the compost heap to thaw. My Black Fluid arrived today so I've drenched the inside of the greenhouse I heat, certainly smells the part, will have to see what the algae looks like in a day or two. Seems quite economical at 300ml for a watering can. Next week will be off to look for seed potatoes.

[Westi]

Isn't it weird how things like to break down in pairs. New TV for us, old one bit the bullet but not for delivery until tomorrow than the washing machine decided to flood.I know what's wrong with the washing machine which is quite a small problem, as when the builders were here & moved it they tightened the clear out pipe so tight I can't loosen it & I darn't get any pliers out or the like as only plastic. I'll find me a strong chap to sort it out!

[snooky]

Now that I have turned 80 my pension has increased by a whole 25 pence per week!In the same delivery the taxman wrote that my tax codes were changing because I owed the Government money from my savings interest.What is given by one hand is taken away by the other!!!

[oldherbaceous]

Looks like we are in for a rough ride, weather-wise……

[Clive.]

We still have frozen ground...not sure how that's going to take the predicted downpours...

C.

[Westi]

It must be going to be rough as they have put a red warning out for Cornwall & some other areas. You don't see the red one much at all. We have warnings for strong wind but no rain at the moment but maybe some power cuts.

[Geoff]

Well that's the body transplant completed, should set me up for the season. Sadly it was only making a good wheelbarrow out of one with a corroded frame and one with a split body. For once the stormy weather didn't get this far North.

[oldherbaceous]

We had very little of the predicted bad weather, thank goodness…..a hard frost this morning, so very slippery on the lane this morning!
Now it looks as if we are in for a very mild spell indeed….
I see we have had a few new posts put on the forum, from new members but, some were written quite a while ago, so doubt if they will come back, even if they do get a reply!

[Clive.]

We had an inch of rain in the gauge yesterday. This morning though I looked out to a fair covering of snow. Roads were fully white over on the way in to the big garden whilst nearer it was falling as sleet but freezing on surfaces..

Better on the return run fully black roads at first but still only tracks through to black in snow nearer home and spread to fully brown slush in the town and on my road.

..and bright sunshine now...

Thinking, I was very fortunate to have got on with the back garden here at Christmas time when conditions were more go-able.

C.

[oldherbaceous]

Lovely and bright here now….took another trailer load of bagged horse manure over the allotment earlier…getting a good heap, so there will be plenty for whoever wants it! I’ve been pulling a large sheet of black plastic over it to keep the rain out, and it’s also helped to rot it down quicker too.
Sorted a load of logs out for someone and done a little sorting out, in the greenhouse …now time for a cup of tea!
Your timing of doing your back garden, was second to none, Clive!

[retropants]

The new roof is complete! Very fast workers, looks fab, house seems warmer.

[Geoff]

I'm off to buy my seed potatoes tomorrow. The last few years I've grown 4 Swift in the polytunnel, planting in February to eat in late April / early May. I also plant 8 Charlotte that follow on from them. I used to grow Rocket but think Swift have a better flavour but I'm wondering about changing again to Lady Christl in search of flavour. Which do you think is best considering speed, yield and flavour?

[oldherbaceous]

I used to grow Lady Christl but, swapped to Swift for the speed that they were ready for harvest……I found Swift didn’t taste quite as nice, but as Cook said, “they are still far superior to what you can buy”! And I did find Swift may be a little lighter in yield.

[Clive.]

We had a garden centre visit last week for the big garden and went with Lady Christl, Casablanca, Foremost. Lady Christl went onto this years list due to them being favoured by my colleague for flavour.
For no other reason than we wanted three first earlies, Caledonian Pearl that we had grown for a couple of years left the list..
We then got Nicola, Charlotte and Kestrel.
Dear old Maris Peer missed out this year...I always like to grow that as it was the very first potato I ever grew with my grandad in 1969. Maybe the hint is there that I should get a bag for the home garden

Gone are the days of growing in large pots, to get some extra early, at either location.....

..and on my dinner plate tonight was Gemson...from the Co-op.

C.