Spring Bits and Bobs.

[oldherbaceous]

Felt quite chilly this afternoon, after yesterdays heatwave!

[Clive.]

We have just had a real huge gust of wind here a few minutes ago...sounded like it was going to put the front door in.!...really wild.!


C.

[Clive.]

The 'heatwave' has quite caught my face but as Old H' comments this afternoon it seemed relatively chill as the breeze picked up.
I see it's back down to a low of 3C overnight..

It's been quite overcast most of the day. I returned to the beetroot patch and got that sown, with water run along the open drills before placing the seed in.
Then the Radeo pea went in 3 seeds wide flat drill.

The pear blossom seemed particularly strong today..

C.

[Westi]

End of the real warmer weather for a bit after tomorrow but not bad temp wise & only drizzle mostly. I will take the opportunity tomorrow to fill the water butts as no-one will be down, but won't have to do a full water of the plots with rain coming; (fingers crossed)! Time to get on with some planting out & sowing done; wonder if the Brassica's have decided to play yet? I plan to direct sow to fill any gaps as it's getting kinda silly & a bit of an expense buying seeds all the time & I've got some neomodes too, but haven't seen too many slimy things to worry...yet!
I am a bit concerned about quality of this years seeds though as lots complaining online as well. You guys noted anything? Same supplier as usual for me as bought via the site deal but leaning toward compost being the issue.

[Cider Boys]

Cooler to-day, spent most of my time mowing the lawns and then potting on some plants in the green house. Hoping for some light rain to help me rotovate the patch of dried up ploughed ground that is very cloggy and hard.

Barney

[Cider Boys]

Well, although forcast, we had no rain. I had spent the best part of a previous day machining a part for my very battered but still functioning rotavator, so I gave it a go and although the ground was dry it did produce a workable tilth. I then sowed a row of Kelvedon Wonder peas, not by the more precise spacings used by the better gardeners but by scattering thickly along the trench followed by a quick raking over and tamping down. I then took my dog for a walk and the sky did look like rain was imminent but only a couple of spots fell, however rain is forecast over the weekend.

Barney

[Westi]

So nice & quiet on the plot this morning I decided to water the beds as well as fill up the butts as noted a few cracks showing in some of them. Managed a bit more of a clear up in the tunnel & fenced the beds in there (dog proofing) & planted the peppers which were ready.

Moved outside & did a final prep & feed of the brassica beds. Still no luck with the Brassica's so used the few plants I had & direct sowed the rest...with fingers crossed. Didn't have time to fully stake & net but did but put up plastic fencing around them. Only 2 chances with them but if they fail I will buy in plants as note they are still available & reduced prices but will have to check they are club root resistant though. In fact might look at that tomorrow while still available as I'm not over confident!

[Clive.]

I've just been watching the carrot lifting in the back field..

First tractor, on row crop wheels, astride the ridge hauling a device that 'wuffles' off the Winter protection straw covering and then throws it to one side.

Then a second tractor with a powered drum, which is on the front but set to the left side, rolls up the plastic film that is immediately over the carrot tops. Usefully this tractor is running on the straw that was first moved to the side.

Next the Grimme brand lifter/cleaner towed by a tractor on row crop wheels running astride the 12 row carrot ridge and with a device on the front that is fetching away the yellowed carrot foliage.

Tractor and trailer alongside the lifters elevator, again this one is running on the spent spread out straw..

..and hey-presto the carrots are away for cleaning and processing....and there's a lot of them....

I'm though having leeks from the back garden lifted by a Jospeh Bentley border fork...topped and tailed on the compost heap side with an Opinel gardeners knife..

C.

[oldherbaceous]

Your descriptions are second to none Clive….it’s just if i’m there watching!
I’m the first to admit, i’m not the best mechanic but, i’m feeling quite pleased with myself… a ride on mower I use, suddenly wouldn’t start, checked all the safety switches but still no spark, so was very brave and went in under engine covers to find the ignition coil….ordered a new one from Ireland Thursday, it arrived this morning, so fitted it straight away, put covers back on and it fired straight up….saved a few bob!
Will get a service kit for it now…
A bit nippy again today!

[Clive.]

I remember lifting the cowling on an old Mountfield (Murray) ride on tractor mower and finding a mouse nest of duck/goose? feathers... The tractor was parked in a garage in a farm yard where they had been plucking birds. Mouse had eaten the HT lead insulation right away..just a bare wire left...shocking.!

It's certainly quite chilly at the moment we had a grey mizzly ,drizzly start to the day, just grey now ...the sun is billed to re appear this afternoon.

C.

[Cider Boys]

Windy, cloudy with periodic rain showers and sunny intervals, all day long.
Spent day planting out Golden Acre and Red Kalibos summer cabbage plants, I have netted them so I hope it will deter the pidgeons. Noticed bumble bees on the broad bean flowers and my potatoes are now showing, had better earth up in case of any possible frosts.

Barney

[Clive.]

This afternoon after the sun re-appeared I forked over and weeded a strip of ground, after the last pea row, enough length for the 20 Caledonian Pearl potatoes that were patiently sat waiting in the back room..

There was recent established small grass tussock and encroach of twitch from the far end of the plot....the Eastern Lost Garden...

C.

[Westi]

Boring grown up day today doing the shopping in town for a change. Took ages, not that I procrastinated but no two shops were opening at the same time....what's that about? Hence endlessly wandering around while waiting, with nothing to attract in the shop windows.

I went down to the high street for a mooch as hadn't been down for ages but won't be hurrying back down when a quick trip of a couple of blocks gives me a Lidl's, which actually has more choice & way wider opening times & I even learnt how to self scan my stuff. Obvs the poor guys & girls that persevered with my training are still having therapy, not that it matters as they have gone back to having a couple of manned checkouts open.

[Geoff]

Not fit to do anything outside today. Had a potting day in the swaying greenhouse with the blustery cold wind, had to close the ventilator when the hailstones blew in. Tomatoes, peppers and chillis should be settled for a while.
I'd change supermarket if they forced me to self scan, we only shop about every three weeks so a full trolley guarantees a proper checkout.

[Clive.]

Today's little task was to rescue some of dads Tamella strawberries...I had done a similar rescue, maybe, 10 years ago.! but they were heading for lost again.!
I deeply dug over enough ground for just 10 plants where ground had become available from the leek patch.

I seem to think dad first got the variety in 1974 from Ken Muir and used to plant 3 rows full across the lower section of the back garden. He used to follow the broad bean location, and as Tamella is earlier in its first year with bigger fruit he used to set up a new bed each year. The land would be deeply dug, then compost from the heap would be spread over and lightly forked in. Plants from his dedicated nursery bed, lifted with a good plate of soil, would be planted out in late August.
Strawing and then netting was equally as precise. Whilst over in the nursery bed any flower would be staunchly trimmed off and runners pegged down for the next year.....whilst 'Cougar' cat would be climbing the fruit cage posts and laying in the top net like it was a hammock... Good old days....

C.