Kitchen Garden Forum

The rain did thankfully run out, despite being in the forecast for yesterday evening..it looked like it headed for the North sea via the Wash and the paths were dry when I stepped outside this morning.
Great plans to put in some shallots failed though as I have a silly twingy back that came on yesterday afternoon... It was actually a fraction wet to have planted up anyway as with the return cold the damp had come up.

So I had the day at the tunnel bench potting on many cuttings and had a re-arrange on the greenhouse staging. Still a bit of lifting, twisting and turning but mostly on the same achievable level.

C.

Might have got away with the rain yesterday...but some has now been inserted into this mornings forecast ...and is indeed here..thankfully looking light and just a damping.

C.

We haven’t had heavy rain but, the soil is so sticky…..and loads more rain showing for this week…..where are the March winds, when we need them?
Just been sowing a few more things in the glasshouse!

Strange one this morning the big spots of rain stopped half way to work...and it's only 5 miles. No rain there but a colleague had come in over the Wolds and had heavy rain in foggy mist.

It's going down misty here this evening.

Whilst crops are looking good in the fields...there's some pressed in mud on some roads where exits have been made from the fields...

C.

Looks like I might get a bright day on Tuesday to finish the chores. Horrible drizzle all weekend, certainly not rain but managed to get soaked a few times. Got a wee break on Monday so hoping to go down to my favourite shop in the hope they have their spring stuff out. The shop basically buys out the contents of any failing hardware shop around the country & sells back at a keen price so time for a mooch for seeds & hand tools etc. Well lots more stuff to have a look at well, but I have no need for the big boys stuff in the other shed but will have peek.

Supposed to be OK tomorrow with rain holding off until the afternoon so you never know I might just get Lottie 1 all sorted save some weeding at the front. I've still got covers on most of Lottie 2 so no worries there, they can stay on for now until I fully finish Lottie 1 with netting & frames etc. put in place ready. Lottie 2 is the easier side as much better soil to play with.
I have a question if you don't mind. The tree guys are not going to get the plot trees done for quite a while as too busy. I would still like them to get down regardless when available & appreciate it will influence this years crop but any long term issues in this decision? Only the hard fruit to be trimmed & the hedge row. Cheers in advance, I have asked around but just conflicting information as you can imagine!

Surprised myself today & finished the chores so Lottie 1 all cleared, weeded & fed, well not including the 3 beds in front of the tunnel but they are next on the list but I don't need those beds ready as they are permanent & mixed up where I got a bit soft & shoved extra's in so everything from strawberries & flowers to raspberry canes that popped up in them.

Now I can focus on the sowing bit! I was a bit disappointed that not one brassica seedling had shown in their pot but I'm sure they will.

I got the aforementioned Shallots, Red Sun x 80 pushed in today...

Then it came to my attention that a day of rather high winds for Thursday is billed...followed by a load of rain...and then 4hrs at 1C into Saturday..

Lovely still and mild out just now, 9.5C, and as clear as a bell. I had a bit of star gazing whilst out to the bins...

C.

A pleasant dry, windy and sunny day to-day. Usual walk with my dog in the morning followed by sowing seeds in the glasshouse. After lunch I put up some barbed wire around the tops of the apple guards that I had been meaning to do for quite some time now. Sent my dog out to gather my lambs, he then expertly penned them for my son to worm. Grass is growing strongly, blackthorn has been flowering for a while now and hawthorn leaves are greening up; spring is on its way.

Barney

What a difference a dry breezy night has made...

This morning I very quickly dragged over some Christmas dug ground in the back garden with the largest size Wolf 3 tine cultivator and have pushed in 5 rows of Turbo onion sets , mostly 22 in a row. About 6" along the row and about 16" between rows.

By some miracle of non planning this has set up a row for the broad beans that is in the clear, of fruit trees and a little patch of herbaceous, such that the row can go full garden big bed width.

Thought I should get on with haste as next overnight looks mighty wet...

C.

The wind dried up everything nicely here too….but had a bit of a lucky escape at the Big House, when a fair sized branch came crashing down, just a couple of minutes after I had walked under the tree!
The rain is meant to be starting anytime now and carrying on until tomorrow morning!

Dry enough to cycle to work this morning, but boy, was it COLD! The wind is still pretty strong, I was cycling against it the whole way. At least going home will be easier!

The wind might have changed direction, on the way home Retropants!
It certainly put some rain down in the night,….the lawns are very soggy!
No more big branches down but, hundreds of little twiggy bits laying around!

I tally with lots of twiggy bits....

We had 6mm rain overnight and it has remained rather blowy all today

...and as I drove home there was some dark cloud that looked ready to send down some hail..

C.

Going to the plot tomorrow, minimum a bit low but I want to get some sows in & the netting up around these before the dog decides to help me. Hoping the brassica seeds have popped up as they have had over a week to show. Too small for mice to be interested in nicking them so they should wake up soon. If time I'll start a full clear out of the tunnel crops, I've got a lot of lettuces & some PSB for the food bank box so not wasted. Neighbours already have been given loads; just down to my fat fingers that their were so many.

I haven't got much in the tunnel to sort but want to give the area a good dig in of some of my saved compost as it's a bit compacted where lazy me just walks along the beds to weed rather then stepping over the edging outside onto the path.