Autumn Bits and Bobs.

[retropants]

My old allotment neighbour always says...they've got 2 chances!

[Westi]

The wildlife is getting really out of order down here. Opened the tunnel today to find weird things chewed up & all over the place. I keep a couple of those microfibre clothes in the tunnel to clean myself up of excess mud before getting the bus, it was confetti, along with my plant markers in there & a sharpie & a pencil & even holes in the plastic wire netting fence to keep the dog off the plants. I did a reckie around outside & in & found a little mouse nest under the staging, which was empty of residents then found a raggey torn area about 8"x6" in the poly cover. I think I can rule out mice! I only had gaffer tape to mend it, but also found some camphor balls in the shed & broke these up around the perimeter as rats aren't supposed to like it, & also splashed some Neem oil around for the same reason. It is banned but was not using it on crops.

So much for the 'To Do' list, but I did manage to cut down 2 beds of asparagus, so only 1 to clear & fingers crossed can tackle the last bed & all the weeding when down next!

[Westi]

As kind of anticipated the rats were back, but unable to tell if actually gained entry through the tunnel cover but they tried as more loose patches. (Pic below). There were no new nibbles on anything inside so might have got lucky with all the moth balls & smells I put down. Tunnel tape came today so will have extra security!

All asparagus cut down & bagged & 1st bed half a bed weeded. Should have done more but got distracted with the weeds in the pots on the staging as mostly bulbs & the pots were pretty compacted as a result. Of course as started thought I might as well finish, so cut down the blackberry I train around the shed; (mainly to keep the shed standing) & weeded all this area. At least I will be able to start painting the shed when finished with the asparagus straight away without any more weeding for a bit!

REUaTi5UT+yhG+oHs7u9cw.jpg (2.57 MiB) Viewed 9734 times

[oldherbaceous]

That looks as if it has been melted, Westi….probably just my eyes…..

Started digging one of the allotments, really slow going, now I know my back and hip are starting to change my life a little!!

[Westi]

That was my first thought when I spotted it but up close it is all chewed!

Fully understand the aches & pains slowing down your progress, I'm still waiting for my back to fuse where I popped the discs which the consultant said would happen 'when I got older' & pain would go? Should have pressed him on what older means in numbers! I've kinda accepted progress is going to be slower on the plot, but still very frustrating at times as I don't like going home with a bed 1/2 done, but could be worse!

I hope you find a way to manage your back & hip. Maybe some physio to get things back in alignment?

[oldherbaceous]

My hip is worn, as are a few of my lower discs….I find just keeping active is the best thing….just keep thinking how fit I used to be, I could dig for 12 hours and still didn’t feel that tired…..just done two and a half hours of digging and I know i’ve done them…

[Clive.]

Had a little tidy of a patch of garden just at the back of the house. It has been home to dahlias a few years ago...and may be again .but had got a little lost recently.... I had treated myself to some crown imperials and thought I had a home for them but having read of one of their less healthy attributes have decided against a location by the paling fence and gone for a more central internal location, the small section of the old dahlia plot.
Only a little rectangle but it necessitated some deep digging and forking to cleanse the area...hopefully that should fit their well drained want..

So on to plan B for the other area..maybe 3 Aster ericoides 'blue wonder' on the paling fence side..and later look out for some nerine to go house side of the asters....and that will need much cleansing too..as a day lily was set in that bit 25 yrs ago..and mingling with it is lily of the valley...

I think my head is keener than body too...but I've got to keep thinking of a move forward plan/distraction..

Meanwhile, Radio Caroline North is on this weekend

C.

[oldherbaceous]

A decent amount of snow this morning and freezing hard now….

[Clive.]

Likewise here. Before I looked out this morning I had thought...didn't hear it raining, as they said it would.. It evidently had arrived a little more quietly

There's still a little lying about here.

Heading out to work it had more or less run out with a mile to go to the work gates....but a day for weeding out oxalis and 'mind your own business' around the big old greenhouse floor...

1.5 C out at the moment , says my weather station..sensor on North side house wall...hidden in the winter jasmine...

C.

[Westi]

Bottled it today & stayed at home. I did get ready & went out to check but quickly changed my mind as the puddles were frozen & lot's of these to navigate to get down to the bus, no snow though but way cold. I also knew the plot roads would be dodgy as they already are as just recently they patched the roads & my lane got the last of it & it was more clay than gravel. It turned out a good call I think as it did not warm up enough to start the melt until lunch time in the close so no way plot would be workable.

Tomorrow is heavy rain, so Friday it will have to be but nice sunny day & 4C min, 8C max. I hope my patching has held as found a 2nd chew site in the tunnel so untied all my laminate sheets around the plots & secured them along the tunnel sides with stakes & used the poly tunnel repair tape that came to totally secure them to the tunnel so they don't get caught in any breeze & loosen. Just been online to get a new sonic repeller & some deterrent spray....I will stop these pesky rats!

[Westi]

Well the weather played fair today so I got down without any issues, different scenario when I got down to the plot as lot's of ice around. Probably looked weird to any body passing but I had to hoe the frozen ice off the path, as it looked like a bit of a quick freeze layer & not deep enough to just bash it but too slippery to navigate.

Beds all frozen so collected up all the leaves, which were once in a neat pile hidden at the back but had blown everywhere. It was actually pretty quick to get it up as the top layers were frozen so just threw them into the bags, so should break down quickly when it warms a bit. Had a wee bit of time left so even started cutting back the trees. The under gardener was a total pest & hindrance as slipped on the ice so lost her bottle & was all clingy.

Well Bert's coming tomorrow, so hunker down every one, big rain & wind with this guy so stay safe. We are only on a yellow warning but the quay has been upped to orange as like always the waves will crash over the barriers & potential for debris damage to the rails, not to mention being washed out if anyone silly enough to get too close - or park too close. Bet the RNLI are not looking forward to it as generally they have to get involved in one thing or another!

[oldherbaceous]

Not very nice here, so been doing a few things in the greenhouse.
Can’t believe we are heading towards the end of November….

[Clive.]

I think the current rain may have been preceded by a little more wet snow, certainly in the big garden this morning there were a few bits that seemed new, not just the sharp frost left from recent days. At home here there was still snow on the shady side of the lawn this morning but that has now nearly all gone. Temp up from 2C to 7C now...doesn't feel it with the wind.
One night this week really tested the frost protection and the number on Min reading in two greenhouses had gone unusually low.?

Not venturing far today, some newsletter typing started this morning....and soon time for some Co-op cottage pie for lunch... with added local element, Radeo peas from the freezer..

C.

[Clive.]

Certainly a rough lot this morning and dark...but very mild 16C at present.

I decided to ignore alarm clock for an extra hour...which became two hours.!

Very pleased that I had that big conifer taken down earlier in the year...and my old radio aerials too...I sort of miss the aerial pole more than the conifer, as the conifer removal spurred me on to sort that border side....but then the aerial was relative to a hobby which I currently have ceased being involved with and it was thus sensible to have it lowered...the stub of the pole remains with its bird box on it.... The most sturdy bird box support pole ever....

C.

[Westi]

It appears the rain might be going to stop soon which will be handy as temp above average & plot might be dry enough to work tomorrow. Personally in my small patch down here it was certainly wet but not too bad; but I only ventured to the local shop for some cat food, filling my time indoors doing the chores that were overdue. Oh & chasing my wheelie bins around the close, I'm sure that counted as entertainment though to the neighbours, but they were pretty quick to help as mine not the only ones & cars in the line of fire!