Spring Bits and Bobs.

[oldherbaceous]

When I used to sell a lot of vegetables, I used to get get a lot of my seeds from, Moles seeds, as they sold in larger amounts…..and the seed germination rate was always very high and reliable!
Can’t believe we are starting to suffer with early drought conditions…..

[retropants]

I know, OH. After endless rain, I now have established plants flagging, and seedlings drying out very quickly indeed!!! It's not helped by the fact, that my shady part of the garden is no longer so, having had to remove the hedge and trellis for the new neighbour (bully). I will be installing a new bit of trellis, but it will only be 1/2 or 1/3 height of the original. The ferns are drying out very quickly and I've taken out a 1 yr old astrantia which is struggling in the hot sun.

[oldherbaceous]

This strong Easterly wind isn’t helping either…..and the next 5 nights are looking very nippy, too! It was lovely working in the glasshouse this afternoon though.

[Westi]

Going down nice & early on the first bus again tomorrow to get cracking before too many folk come down. Wonder if the brassica's have woken up yet; seriously think not likely, but got lucky with a prime deal for mixed plants which are club root resistant!
Just got to move the 2nd staging out to the other side door & the area taken by it will be for the toms re-sows & then I'm off to plot 2! Luckily most beds are still covered so not too much weeding hopefully. I've prepped & covered the area for the squash & pumpkin with the membrane with the holes cut out so might do some sows. I never start these in pots, always direct as the membrane holds heat well...with a fleece nearby obvs! But will do a check of the soil temp but it's been quite sunny.

[Geoff]

Bin day today. We still haven't found a use for these extra food waste plastic bins they've cluttered us up with. With a compost heap and a Labrador the only things that seem to be candidates are chicken carcasses and the odd lamb bone, when we can raise a mortgage, and we haven't worked out a sensible way of adding them.

[Cider Boys]

Ground here is very dry on the surface, strong easterly wind does not help. I think that I will have to get the watering can out to-morrow, if I feel up to it. I have felt very tired to-day after raking up long grass mowings yesterday. We now need a little rain for the seeds.

Barney

[Westi]

Had a crazy day today. Finished on the plot so jumped on the bus to get home, but was told the bus was going to go another way due to a break down by another bus so expect some delay but OK to go on. The bus went way out past any area I was familiar with but then it broke down! He then advised that it would be 3hrs before anyone came along with a new bus! An old bloke on there advised me on the way back & said it would be quicker to walk so dog & I took his advise. An hour later still found myself going down roads going nowhere. Eventually I spotted a familiar site I kinda recognised which was by the pigeon netting all over the top so went in for better directions.

Eventually I knew some other places I had seen before so trudged on wandering around housing estates to find the way out to the main road! Then just a walk home via a short cut to our estate...but the gate out was locked & they had put high fencing around so couldn't cut through so had to trudge back & go right around. In all near 2hrs+ walking around aimlessly! Wish I had taken my phone but it was charging & thought I won't need it as on the bus! I must say that everyone I stopped were very helpful, but advice given by some was more confusing than helpful thankfully there is always a McDonalds to ask!

[oldherbaceous]

That sounds like you had a horrendous day Westi, I do hope today has been a lot easier for you!
The wind still might be chilly, but with the very bright sunshine, things in the greenhouse, needed another water at lunchtime.

[Clive.]

I've done a bit more to the almost 'lost garden' middle section on the house side of the raspberry rows today. Started though with a hoe round things in the good bit. Only two onion sets failed to show..so popped two spares in the gap. Early Onward peas are being nibbled a bit it would seem...

With the dusty hoeing done I dug another strip across....followed by lunch and a snooze.! and then forked over an easier win bit where a few potatoes were last year.
I found the packet of sweetcorn...Swift... and ventured into the greenhouse to rescue a bag of compost...sweetcorn sown and pots placed in the cold frame..logic would say greenhouse would be better...reality and its state says, no...sad to say

C.

[oldherbaceous]

Glad you are still making good progress, Clive….i’m going to be growing a sweeter variety of sweetcorn this year…..now if only the crop is a good as last year, but a lot more edible, hopefully!
Must be pretty tough seeing the old greenhouse, like that…..

[oldherbaceous]

I meant to ask, is the carrot field cleared now, Clive?

[Geoff]

It was my first day of double watering too. I've deployed the potato tent again tonight as it has gone very still and some versions of the forecast say 1°.

[Clive.]

I meant to ask, is the carrot field cleared now, Clive?

Yes, Carrot field all lifted...still with straw spread about. Part of the back field now has planning for extension of hardstanding for the agri' linked factory that is on the NE corner.
Much as it's good that business is doing ok.. I'm kind of hoping it wasn't the last crop....

C.

[Clive.]

....and to finish the day...it was time for a self inflicted hair cut.!

I'll need to remember my woolly hat in the morning....

C.