PLANS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS / WEEKEND

[Tigger]

I grow them in the ground once it warms up a bit, but I try and keep them going all year round by sowing each week into big pots which I keep in the tunnel. I also plant a few early potatoes in the autumn into big pots and bring them into the tunnel. They'll be ready to eat by the end of March.

[Monika]

Gosh, you are all a bit early, aren't you? Might you not come to rue this forewardness (if there is such a word)? Surely, we can still have hard frosts! I wouldn't dare sowing anything outside until March and even then under fleece.
I shall be digging in the green manure and then covering some beds with black plastic so that the worms can do their job in cosy surroundings. I will also prepare the climbing bean trenches, marrow plot and sweet pea rows with well-rotted manure.

[lizzie]

Can't sow anything here at all yet as the light levels are still quite low, plus my greenhouse is unheated. I haven't bought my seed spuds yet so will have a look and decide what I want to get. I don't chit them anyway, I just throw them into the ground.

I've got a list of seed that I want to buy so will probably order seed spuds at same time. I might go to the lottie and dig some ground over tomorrow. May also clear out the greenhouse and do a general titivate.

Then again, I might just stay at home and eat chocolate cake whilst planning the next stalking campaigne on Herby

Monika - How is Skipton? I know the area quite well as, years ago, my mum and dad owned a caravan between Ingleton and Bentham and we used to go to Skipton market quite a lot. Is that chippy still there at the corner of the car park where they used to sell the best tasting fish and chips anywhere? Is the Red Lion still going too? They used to do a mean steak pudding with huge chunks of prime local beef.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Lizzie, i would love to see you presenting a gardening programme, it would be so much more fun than the ones that are on at the moment.

These stalking plans sound interesting.

[lizzie]

I think the gardening programmes and books make it sound more complex than it is. I know that different crops need different things, but all you do is chick a few seeds in a pot with some compost, water it and label the pot. When they get bigger, change pots.

I think it's a bit like raising kids, you keep putting them in bigger things until they're big enough to be booted outside permanently

As for the stalking.... tell me Herby do you own a bunny?

[oldherbaceous]

I'm very impressed you put a label in, Lizzie.

I don't know quite what you mean by bunny, but no i havn't got a rabbit.

[lizzie]

I label everything otherwise I haven't got a clue what anything is.

Now, where are my night vision binoculers?

[Monika]

Hello Lizzie from Liverpool! Skipton hasn't changed that much over the last 30 years that I have known it, except that it's busier every season. Today, a brill sunny one, all the parking places were taken by 11 o'clock, Luckily I live in a village about 2 miles outside so I walk in to do my shopping (can't drive anyway). But, sorry, your favourite chippy is no more, it's now rebuilt as a posh restaurant. Did you know, by the way, before it was a chippy, that building housed the gents' loo? My husband always felt quite uncomfortable buying fish and chips there!

[lizzie]

I never knew that Monika...... they made the best fish and chips ever. So tasty....

I'll have to get to Skipton again. It has one of the best markets i've ever been to with loads of local produce (whell, there was last time I went) Maybe in the Autumn.

That car park always was busy. We used toget there for 10am to be sure of getting a place, and that was 20+ years ago. We used to go with my dad and he's been dead 18 years so I'm going back quite a lot

[oldherbaceous]

Theres a really good frost this morning, so i'm off to spread three 25kg sacks of lime on my allotments while the soil is hard enough to walk on.
Better mind where i'm putting my hands when i get back as they are sure to be freezing.

[oldherbaceous]

Job done, i must say it didn't feel cold at all as there is no wind.
I bet the old girl that over looks my allotment, will be thinking the frost is taking a long time to clear when she looks out this morning.

[oldherbaceous]

I have just swept my chimney now, i am surprised any of my neighbours speak to me with all the banging about i do on a Sunday.
I'm off to pick up three metal wire veg baskets that i got on Ebay for 99p last night, a good bargain i am thinking.
A mans work is never done.

[Primrose]

Goodness OH, you were up bright and early. Just hope your allotment neighbour's cat doesn't tread all the lime into her carpet. It might get more than it bargains for when licking its paws. Incidentally, is liming like this harmful to animals if they lick and digest it? Now don't get too enthusiastic bidding away on Ebay and putting in false bids for all those expensive purchases. I haven't figured EBay out yet but sounds like you got a bargain.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Primrose, i have a [cats keep off] sign on my allotment, so my liming won't be a problem.

I'm sure the lime is not harmful to animals by spreading it this way, i hope not as i wouldn't want to hurt any animal.

Ebay is very good for a bargain, but you must set yourself a price and stick to it, and not get carried away in a bidding war.
I have bought some different bits and pieces that i have been after for years, and just have not seen them localy.
This is coming from someone that used to moan about Ebay.

[Malk]

Better late than . . .

Nugget and I made it out to the plot twice last week to enjoy the sun. He likes sleeping in it. I dug and weeded my flower and strawberry beds and started digging up the rotted woodchips on my path that will need replacing.

It was lovely on Friday, bright and almost warm. Sunday was cooler, but still dry enough to work.

Nugget's going to nursery on Friday afternoons now, so I'll have at least a few free hours to get out to plot. Will try to do some writing too. Feel guilty, but some me time will be nice.