Kitchen Garden Forum

Getting a bit bored at home so thought I would see if the bus was running tomorrow & would pop down & bring the seed boxes home to sort. (Yep, forgot again)! Lucky I decided to check as it seems updates are being made to the service; which technically means not enough drivers & the Granny bus is the first one to have it's service pulled. It seems quite cruel to leave them without transport but in the bus defence there is only a handful of users in winter & Sunday is limited opening times. Oh well back to normal on Monday so can try to remember to bring it home then...already written it on my hand & on top of the To Do list.

Not foggy down here, but pretty dull & quiet, even really quiet along the beach. Obvs still some recovering from the Xmas madness maybe?

Fog about gone here at last, nearest approximation to daylight we've had for ages, even Ribblehead viaduct has re-appeared.

Still really misty here…..it’s dripping off the trees!
Got some nice daffs opening along the road….they look rather gay….

There is still a tussle around this way between the fog and the sunshine. I have gone by the written forecast and have opened the greenhouse windows a little for condensation to drip away and let things breath a bit.
It is now very noticeable the movement in bulb growth, with a few snowdrops now having upward facing buds. A couple of winter aconite flowers showing and winter honeysuckle in flower...meanwhile the fuchsia microphylla has shrugged off cold, so far, and is still covered with flower.

Cup of coffee and then see if the spade or fork will start up..

C.

Sunshine? What's that? Beginning to think that space probe they have been on about is bigger than they let on.

The mist did lift in the end but, there was thick cloud so still rather gloomy!
It looks like we are in for more Wintery type weather next week, with some very strong winds, yet again.

Managed a little more soil inversion today. Took up the wire from where the Radeo pea row had been....it was a bit clarty on the top but it is turned over...and spotted that weather forecast too.
I even managed another 10 mins after 4pm, having come back in from the big garden via a quick food shop...that'll make it workable right up to home time next week....given a light night.

Couldn't quite finish up to the path edge just now as ran in to a few roots that needed teasing out and it was actually getting too low light to discern them...and I didn't want to trip up my door step again....

The far end corner of the garden is a little lost...I didn't get it sorted this time last year and hence it's nearly grassed over and some of that I see is couch...!

C.

Well weather holding to go down tomorrow but the wind warnings are back for Wednesday. Still yellow but updated to 'very' strong winds rather than just strong. Sunrise seems to be remaining fixed at 08.09, frustratingly; but I have figured out a system to see the numbers on padlock if needed. I found one of those lighters with a torch on the side in the drawer & it's a way better light than the torch which was cumbersome & heavy as well, but keeping my fingers crossed someone will go down early to feed their chickens & leave the gate open.

No list tomorrow as I just have the 3 smallish onion beds & the Chinese bed to sort...obvs other chores as well, but these beds can be seen from the lane & they stand out like a sore toe with everything else looking tidy. Next job is covering the cleared beds as not keen on weeding these again. I note this evenings news saying bad weather with snow & big proper wind up North so keep safe & tucked in at home if this covers your area.

A bit blowy out there already….

Certainly is blowing...it seemed to be running a little late getting up relative to the forecast but the gust numbers here are now listed to be in the fifties until 9am.

In the back garden I switched to the other side of the path and have sorted and dug the area between the old greenhouse and little shed. I left some chard in place, it looks a little frightened but, if the weather allows it, I might get a couple of feeds from it. Pruned the two blackcurrants and hand weeded around the rhubarb and finally gave the rhubarb a good top dress of compost from the heap..

C.

Well the wind is now coming up to speed so have rounded up the critters & got them all in & secured the wheelie bins. Most of the fireworks have been cancelled & not even any backyard ones going off, but it would be pretty foolish for someone to even consider that. Hmm? Just as I wrote that, they have started in the next close!

Still looking OK for Thurs to go down, but not keen seeing the -2C but should sort itself quite quickly as going to be sunny. Have a lovely New Year's day everyone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody. The old year certainly went out with a splash. 57.4 mm yesterday and another 24.9 mm since midnight, 3¼ inches. Let's hope for a more straight forward season with rather more sunshine, my solar panels were almost 10% down last year though it wasn't quite as wet as 2020, the wettest I have records for (1,761 mm compared to 1,824 mm, 2023 was only 1,540).

Happy New Year,
I was thinking it's a wet lot out there this morning..but daren't say that now....haven't got the gauge out but whilst it was wet here, thankfully not that wet. It certainly blew plenty over night...and I'm extra pleased that I pushed on with some work in the garden which was marginal on the wet side some days ....but it wouldn't be go-able today.

C.

Happy New year from me too…..the puddles are all full again now!

Rain & big gusts all day today so didn't even venture out far with the dog, just went round the block but with lots of branches down it required using the road more than the footpath, mind no risk as very quiet & barely a car passed. Still looking good for tomorrow but it will still be quite wet I expect, but they have changed the -2C to +3C which makes me happier as it shouldn't be icy.

I only want to finish the Chinese bed & get the Pak Choi in as it's getting a bit leggy, but if the time I will dig the watercress out in the tunnel & pop it in the flood bed, I'm pretty certain that bed will be nice & moist at the very least! Been cheering myself up checking the sun rise & slowly but surely it is getting lighter, can't wait!