Kitchen Garden Forum

Morning all,

Another lovely day. Just off to the plot to get the last of the spuds planted

Good Morning Geoff, yes it is where we planned on going but changed our minds as it was rather misty with lots of high cloud and if we are going to make the effort of walking high up then we want to be able to see the distant views of the other mountains. So we have changed our walk to Monday. Good Morning PJ/OHYour both up nice and early, I did too much yesterday and got sun burnt on my neck, I ended up in bed at 9.30 and only woke this morning at 8am. so I have missed the early morning. The dawn chorus is in full swing now and I did not even hear that. Working on our back garden today with sun tan lotion on.

Please can someone tell me what to do with the parsnips as I have never been successful in growing them.

Is it too early to put peas in as our beds have not been covered with anything to warm them up?

Hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend so far.

Catherine wrote:
Please can someone tell me what to do with the parsnips as I have never been successful in growing them.

We sowed our parsnips yesterday as it wasn't windy - seeds tend to take off if it is.

We make a shallow trench which we fill with compost (bagged kind). Then water it well. Then make a drill in it and sow the seeds and then cover.

This is kept well watered. This year we have had to put some chicken wire 'cloches' over to stop the fox from trampling across the seed bed. Cats too tend to roam across.

We've done this for several yaers now with good success - fresh seed every year. Saying that has probably put the kiss of death onto them for this year!

Dear Catherine, the dawn chorus was exceptionaly good this morning.

Peas will be fine to sow whenever you are ready.

And regarding the Parsnips, i sow the same way as Glallotments, with the exception that i sow four or five seeds in a little cluster, every nine inches, station sowing they call it.

And yes, i'm very much enjoying the weekend.
Just come back from the allotment, got my runner bean sticks in place while it's nice and dry.

Same here with Parsnips except I cover with a cloche to warm it up first and put it back after sowing with a dose of slug pellets. I station sow an F1 - just done it!

Thank you, OH, the feast went beautifully and, yes, I made too much food! One of our sons-in-law made a delicious tiramisu and and one of the teenage granddaughters had baked a birthday cake for her cousin who was 21 last week. They are obviously much better cooks and bakers than I am! I am more the 'throw-five-vegetables-in-the-pot-and-cook-for-20-minutes' type of cook.

Hi Glallotment and OH I will attempt once again to sow my parsnips as you suggest, and see what happens.

Monika, glad to hear your party went well.

I have just been watching Countryfile and the weeks weather mentioned possible hill snow!!!!! I got married on the 8th April 1994 (for the second time) and we had torrential rain and then snow in the evening. Today it has been cooler but very pleasant, later thsi week they are taking about possible rain and a clearer weekend again.

More cloud here today, but yes OH,

mower came out again to cut the back lawns,

strimmer re-charged aswell

Dear Donedigging, i'm after a good apprentice to help with the allotment grass paths.

Think I might be too old for your apprentice position

Plant fair today at work....well attended..not a record but useful to the chosen cause of greenhouse rebuilding....

Mainly sunny..but that Easterly breeze was a bit keen...

Dakota N473DC noted flying by...in from the coast..passing us at 10-53am.....

Clive.

Eight X 30' rows of potatos planted, squas bed prepared, garlic cloves and onion sets planted, early row of pea seedlings planted out, balding head well burnt.

Sounds as if we would make a good team then Donedigging.

Another cool breeze blowing out there this morning Clive, glad your plan fair went well.

Did you collapse in the armchair last night Peter, a good days work indeed.

No gardening today, did my speed walk this morning, out at 5.53am back for breakfast at 6.25am and now 7.30am we are off to the Lake District to do our walk as it is supposed to be the best day of the year, though there is frost on my car windscreen this morning.

Dear Catherine, have a good time.