SPRING PROGRESS? What are you all up too?

[Victoria]

I've done very little, some spuds chitting, broad beans in pots waiting to go out - be too late soon, also shallots waiting to go out. Been so cold and wet here in East. Am dithering about giving up a bit of my allotment as its quite big, can't seem to get going this year, winter has seemed to go on for ever. BUT I bought two apple trees, Gala and Bramley, yesterday - so need to sort out places for them. A bit of sun over Easter would be good.

[Monika]

This weekend I am hoping to sow the brassicas into roottrainers and the second lot of broad beans (Witkiem) and peas (Hurst Greenshaft), the former into roottrainers and the latter just thickly into trays of potting compost which, when germinated, will be sown the normal way outside - hopefully, the weather will have warmed up enough to sow them outside then! The first lot of broad beans and peas will be planted out under cloches (they have been outside during the day the last week or so).

The first lot of sweet peas will be planted out with a fleece "fence" all round, not covering them. just to protect them from the strong winds which we tend to get on our allotment. The night-scented stock has germinated well in the cold greenhouse and should be providing us with some lovely scent later. That reminds me: at the moment the hyacinths smell beautifully in the greenhouse, particularly when the sun shines!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Victoria, don't get to disheartened, it will change before long, as long as we can start planting properly before May, all will be fine.

I think we have all got used to the mild Winters and very mild and early Springs.

[Victoria]

Dear Victoria, don't get to disheartened, it will change before long, as long as we can start planting properly before May, all will be fine.

I think we have all got used to the mild Winters and very mild and early Springs.

Thanks for that! seems to have been winter for ever!

[Monika]

i think you are right, OH (as usual!). Last night I looked back at my diaries which I have kept every day for more than 30 years and during the last few years we have become so used to the mild winters that we have forgotten that winters used to be colder and longer! In 1981, for instance, our village was cut off by blizzards and thick snow on 23 April and even our trusted Landrover had problems to get through. The snow stayed for about four days before slowly melting. So nowadays I am very cautious before sowing or planting too early.

[oldherbaceous]

It does seem funny looking at all the trees still in their Winter outfits, though.

[Catherine]

Hi Tiamaria Yes we have used Gordon Riggs many many times they are very good for lots of things. Have you tried Springwood! nurseries at the top of Townley Park. They do very good meadow/field grown pots at very reasonable prices. And they do a very nice hot chocolate to drink whilst you are looking round the plants. Also they do very good starter perennials at an excellent price. Check them out.

[oldherbaceous]

Morning CJS, they would certainly improve with a sharpen, and a new spring wouldn't go a miss. If you have a good old fashioned hardware shop near you they wil be able to provide both sevices.

Of course you can sharpen them yourself, and it's a fairly easy job, but i find it quite hard to explain, so i hope someone else can tell you that.

[Suzie]

I have just spent the last hour or so bagging up all my compost ready for the move - Snowdrop (OH) is still shaking his head as to why I would do this, he is a non-gardener - they never understand do they

[oldherbaceous]

Mystery over, i wondered where that posting for CJS went to.

Right must go, back to work for me at the big house.

[Westi]

Down here in the tropical end of England I have put some bits
and bobs in which are are doing OK but I have been more
interested in watching what is already planted and today got
my reward - the asparagus has broken the soil and the
rhubarb is looking pretty good.

Another week - 10 days (weather permitting) and both will
be ready to crop. Probably neither will make it home as will
probably get too carried away with these first meagre rations
and end up eating them both raw on the plot.

Westi

[Clive.]

No sign of any Asparagus yet up here in the North....

...but the Rhubarb not only looks good....it tasted good too at lunchtime today

This afternoon the last of the Brussels Sprouts were dug up and the ground forked over.

Then spent and age pacing up and down looking for my pocket knife...one of those trying to retrace steps jobs...
I had it at work this morning...that was the last place I could recall...and I was sure I remembered folding it and putting it back in my pocket..but not that sure. ..
Then...on a walk down the garden path here...suddenly my thoughts went back to the possible dismantle of the old chicken run...............bingo

I had used it to help unclip some Marley spouting...and it was on the chicken shed roof..

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

Evening Clive, i know what you mean about losing your knife, the few times i have lost mine i just can't settle until it has been recovered.
I have got another one but it's just not the same.

[Clive.]

..and this evening on the way back from work collected 3 more bags of best horse to give the compost heap an Easter treat...

I must have typed this same tale many times...where is the yawn smillie .....
.....but I do love topping up the compost.

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

We can be patient with your repetitions Clive, since you're talking compost anyway it will put us in good stride for your older age ramblings in later life.