START OF THE GROWING YEAR.........

[Compo]

Well at least the preparations can now get underway but I have not sown anything yet, spent the day moving and spreading manure on the allotment, digging up spare raspberry canes and sinking in a barrier to stop them from spreading again. Have also trained my two year old apple tree in espalier fashion. If feels like I am getting going again, and at 5pm it was still light, just..............Bring on the spring!!

CoMpO

[Tigger]

Isn't it great? We spent our weekend sorting out autumn raspberries and the outside vines, taking cuttings from the blackcurrants, layering blackberries and attacking the veg plots (which we should have done in the autumn). Felt good to be out in the cool but sunny weather. Came in to cook Sunday dinner (and prep for Monday to Thursday as usual) tired but happy. Might even have a warm salad with duck for Wednesday's dinner this week - first of the year.

Roll on spring!

[AnneThomas]

Having succumbed to the lurgi this weekend, I have been wrapped round the woodburner (obviously illicitally installed!) with my seed catalogues, log books, etc, etc. As a beginner gardener I have a load of scrappy notes here and there, and I have taken the opportunity to sort through my files and put everything together so it is easier for me to follow.

I have also computerised a lot of things - lists of favourite varieties which I can add to as I see them (eg on this forum) and then don't have to hunt for them. Also so I can eventually log down whether I liked them and how successful they were for me.

I have also included price lists for the 'favourites' which proved interesting. For those interested in organic seed, my initial observation as I was logging the prices was that the organic gardening catalogue was much more expensive than tamar organics. But then I noticed they seemed to have more seeds per packet than tamar so thought they would probably work out cheaper. Just growing for 2 of us inclined me to go for tamar mostly as in practice I have always found them to have sufficient seed. Then life must have got very boring as I picked out 11 different seeds and did a price per seed comparison. Out of the 11, garden organic were cheaper for 6 of the varieties, meaning tamar came in cheaper. As I live in Cornwall - where tamar are based - this was good news! I like to support local as much as possible.

OK - so now it is time for me to get a real life!!

[yummyveggies]

Like Tigger I have been getting to grips with the outside grape vines ... trying to see if I can speed up on one row per hour - but must try and limit myself - long pruning sessions leave me with a numb hand at night !!

And getting over excited at the thought of a newly acquired greenhouse - lots of lovely tomato varieties to sow