Kitchen Garden Forum

After an early spring (deceptive) hot spell, things are now back to normal - some sunny days and frosty nights. This is what we're used to and it's good to remember that an "early" spring doesn't mean we can get ahead of ourselves. We were forecast frost last night, but just before dark we got an unexpected cloud cover which kept temperatures no lower than 0C even during the drop before dawn.

..and do I here talk of a -2C for around here tonight.?

I went in to work this morning, feed cats, greenhouse and frame opening, pricked out some seedlings to trays, slight re arrange of back greenhouse full of potted on cuttings etc etc, picked all Purple Sprouting Broc' and bagged it up, re tied errant young Quince whip, rescued and potted up some Irish cuttings from lost Mint tub ...talk of Pims for a wedding party urged on this sudden rescue.
Ground was just drying on the top once more...but heavy sleet shower as I left at 12:30 saw things awash again and visitors scuttling for cover....

At home here this afternoon...just go-able enough to get on our sandier ground to knock posts in along Broad Bean row and put first retaining string along and around.

Some spent Purple Broc' to come up next and the continuation of Lady Christl Potatoes to go in.

Mum is potting on Shirley Tomatoes...only 7 of them....we needed to cut down due to realities of trying to look after things...

Clive.

Aahh, so good to be out on the allotment again, nurse finally allowed that I do not have to spend all my waking hours.lying.down with my leg higher than my hip.

Yesterday I weeded by hand 2m by 10m and raked it to seedbed quality, plus gave my little raised bed a thorough going over.

Today I did a similar bit of weeding and then planted out my banana shallot bulbs saved from last year, deliberately intended to flower for my next year seeds. Also replanted some well sprouted garlic that my weeding found where I'd.missed them at harvest time.


Moved the first of three woven plastic under-squash mulching sheets from plot 18 to plot 17. About 3m by 10m and most of the job is in the taking off of weights and putting them on in the new location, iron pipes and pallets mostly.. Superfluous once the squash plants have hidden them, but essential before then to stop it flying away.

Great to hear that you're up and about Peter, but do take it easy, bet you'll be aching tomorrow!

We had minus 4 here last night, but beautiful sunny day today.
Planted 4 rows of Harmony potatoes, but earthed them up well as a clear night sky again tonight.
Broad beans....all 42 plants ( I got a bit carried away ) are doing well and bean poles are up.
Wish my neighbour would stop shaking his head and saying " you have got the worst plot out of the three"

Hi peter, so glad you are about again, no mention of any rotovating I see.

Rotovating next week and this time it gets driven onto the lawn before I shut the gate.

Potatoes to plant, now a month later than planned, however chits are under 1/4" and -2c this morning with an icy car.

Good to read that you are back gardening Peter...

We planted some more Dahlias today and then we went to do a bit more in the herb garden......but then got a little distracted by a demonstration of a new leaf sweeping device...


It's a lot less bover with a hover......

Clive.

Well, two days of feeling very low is going to have to be enough. I know Sue would hate to see me like that, so i'm going to try and keep really positive. But i am going to miss not seeing her lovely smiling face, over the fence.

Right, very pleased you are up and about Peter, let's hope the weather improves a little so you can catch up....

Dear Donedigging, most plots are only what you make them, so i wouldn't take too much notice of your neihbour.
I suppose the bad thing about it could be, being near his plot.

Clive, i've got this thought in my head, of you grappling with the controls of your new leaf sweeping machine, beheading every plant as you go.

Morning OH

It's good to hear you so positive.

Clive

I see you've got a red one as well. Do you use that for spraying?

Spring has fled Ireland.. today got stormed off trading as the tables would not stay on the ground. All day deluges and massive painful hail storms.. Bad night ahead they say and I even heard a rumour re snow in Killarney.

Lambs everywhere now.The fields where they have gathered the ewes who are due are white with sheep.

What do you mean, "catch up", OH, referring to Peter's return to gardening health (glad to hear that, Peter!!!)? The only thing we have on the allotment at the moment are the overwintering onions, garlic, shallots and spring greens. Everything else is still either in the greenhouse, in shelter at home or not even sown or planted. With frost or near-frost for the last few nights and more forecast, as well as some nasty hail storms today, nothing will go into ground until at least the weekend.

It's more advanced at home but not much, but I've learnt that everything will catch up as it does every year!

Dear Monika, all i really meant was, Peter would be able to catch up with any jobs he hadn't done while off resting, that's all.

Dear OH,
Thank you for making me smile....as always
What I ment by having the worst plot of the three was mine is full of stones and soil that needs bulking up with manure, but too late in the season now....pelleted chicken manure will have to do until the autum
Good to see you about again

Dear Donedigging, i'm sure you will do a wonderful job with your allotment.
And you make me smile, too.