Spring Bits and Bobs.

[Westi]

Certainly dry on the plot at the moment, but luckily soil not cracked & hard like it has been so was able to do the re-sows. I decided not to do direct sows of the toms so set up pots with new compost to start them off. They probably would have been OK but noted some digging in the tunnel, probably mice looking at how small the disturbance is & 2 holes leading under the tunnel cover. They will be disappointed when they try to get in again, went a bit OTT with repellers & boards.

Once again I re-sowed the brassica's but I do have more up now. Popped the pumpkin & squash seeds in, weeded the strawberries & every thing got a water. I deliberately used the water from the trugs over the plots so I can give them a clean out before re-filling. My plan is another early bus down on Monday so I can re-fill them all with the hose, along with a longer general water. Mondays are always good for not having many down early as a lot are back to work.

[Geoff]

What a day all of a sudden 21.9°, celebrated with the first mid-afternoon choc ice of the season and later raspberries and ice cream as pudding. Planted the pea patch this afternoon.

IMG_5145.JPG (4.74 MiB) Viewed 737 times

IMG_5146.JPG (4.85 MiB) Viewed 737 times

[Clive.]

2C along by the river, on the way to work this morning.

When I had looked out first thing next doors flat roof was frosty white over and the spread straw in the back field was so white with frost that it resembled snow laying.

A quick look at overnight temps going forward and they do appear much more useful..

Indeed I set up two hazel stick wigwams and pushed in some Moonlight runner beans..... maybe a bit keen as I should wait 'til I had seen the first person coming back from Boston May Fair...but the bean location is on a slight slope facing South and with a big brick wall behind.

East wind has got up again this afternoon and I soon had my woolly hat on again...

C.

[Geoff]

Clive, should have said yesterday, if you are thinking of planting two new gooseberries have you thought of a red one? We have Hinnonmaki Red and it is like having another fruit in your collection, I really like the taste.

[Clive.]

Likewise, I do like the Hinnomaki red, can eat them like grapes, lovely.
but the pigeons like them too....unless netted they are there one day, gone the next with soily pigeon footprints on the leaves and a few lost feathers about..

There is even a gooseberry that shares my surname...I perhaps ought to try that one. ?
To quote RV Rogers it's... "a historic mid-season British dessert gooseberry, known for producing small, round, slightly hairy red fruits with a sweet, rich flavour. This hardy, often mildew-resistant bush is ideal for eating straight from the plant or for culinary use in pies and jams, typically reaching maturity in mid-summer"

To confuse, ...my grandpa, on dad's side, had a surname change....I think he had 'appeared early' and initially took his mothers surname......
So maybe I ought to also grow the Quince that bears that name.... also available from RV Roger...

C.

[Clive.]

8C showing on the weather station first thing this morning..

C.

[oldherbaceous]

I think we have one more chilly morning to come, but the rest look good for a while.
Just perfect out there now…..

[Westi]

Weather remaining nice so going for another 1st bus day tomorrow. 1st job will be a good watering, got some done but via the cans as the tap was on so tight I couldn't open it to attach the hose. I had a moan on the site last night & the committee guys are going to change the washers etc as think it more likely more to do with this than someone tightening it too much. Hopefully fixed it now as it does my back no favours carrying cans up & down the path to fill, totally knackered before I even start the 'to do' jobs!

I only have the very back section to tidy like weeds around the trees, fence line & raspberry canes to do but not a priority so will focus on tidying the flowers. I have outside the fence line & potentially throwing some more seeds down. Won't take too long I would think, as I also want to finish doing the last bit of the tunnel & set up the dripper properly around them rather than just having it on. Will soon be time to set up the runner frames but need some serious watering or some rain to get the canes in but have some time still.

[Cider Boys]

Caught out by another frost a couple of mornings ago, I have now found an old roll of fleece and put it over the frosted potato haulm. I bet we don't get another frost now. The ground is very dry and the flooded moors are now dry with deep cracks appearing in the soil. I pulled a Ferguson spring tine tiller through some of my garden to open it up and was able to use my walk behind rotavator to get a reasonable tilth but it took many passes and was hard work. Should have waited for some rain but I can't wait for ever. I did however manage to plant some more leeks and onion sets.

Hoping for warm rain

Barney

[retropants]

I'm considering planting out the cabbages and broccoli this week, they are only wee, but with the consistent warm weather, they should come on in leaps & bounds (hopefully). It will also mean they are protected from the butterflies, which are starting to show up regularly, as I have a nice big veg mesh cage we built last year.

[oldherbaceous]

Making my hair rustle like pea straw, today!

[Geoff]

I don't usually use T&M but if you need the odd top up free P&P with TM_TN6887W whatever the quantity. I only have 3 Kalettes come up (old packet) so £1.99 delivered seemed reasonable.

[Westi]

Hose was fixed so was able to get cracking & give everything a 'proper' water & being down early I was able to go around a few times as some fairly big cracks in some beds & with plants growing nicely, I thought if I can get some moisture deeper they will be happier. I got all the butts cleaned out & filled so all fresh water for them as full of leaves decaying & going green, not pretty!

Didn't have much time after this but did weed & edge the front outside beds....if my crops all grew as well as escaped raspberries would be good, they are cheeky gits. Anyway only the side to weed & should be easier as not that long ago I cleared it & untangled it out of the fencing. Then back to the hoeing & planting plot 2. Bit of rain coming end of the week as well but doesn't look like we will benefit from it too much as moving east.

[Geoff]

Dug a 2lbs root of potato Casablanca this morning from 1st February planting in the polytunnel. They aren't flowering yet but we have visitors this evening, hope they are impressed. Haven't grown them before so no idea what the taste is like.