Kitchen Garden Forum

Already under way up here, Onions were sown a few weeks ago and are already shooting up in the conservatory, Red Baron again as we got on well with them last year.
Email came through to order seed tatties, so they are ordered, Anya, Rooster and Java, the later I have not grown before.

No seeds sown yet, apart from Broad beans, directly sown over the allotment!
I’ve ordered, Swift, Charlotte, Kestrel, Rooster and Cara…..

My onions went in seed trays on 1st Jan - also Red Baron, plus Beds Champion (of course) and shallot Matador. I've had luck for the past couple of years with sowing old school in seed trays in seed compost then pricking out the best seedlings into deep-ish modules of homemade compost (garden compost + vermiculite). The shop bought peat-free stuff seems to run out of steam before they are ready to be planted out. Sowing in seed compost allows me to be sure what comes up is the onions and not weeds. The only disadvantage I've found so far of this method is having to weed your modules !

trying to get on with the winter digging but ground still frozen in places and some parts saturated after last night's heavy rain.And it was a pleasant day for digging today.Annoying,
Onion sets,shallots and garlic sown before Christmas showing green shoots and looking good.Daren't sow Broad Beans direct because the Field Mice,which we have in abundance on our site,will sniff them out and have them away.The resident Fox family isn't controlling the Mice because of the "do-gooders"(idiots)who feed the foxes with their left over meat scraps.Indeed, one such person buye carcasses of chicken etc.from the local Chinese Takeaway to feed the darned things.She does more harm than good and can't see it.Hence the high population of Field Mice and Rats.

I haven't been down to the plot for a while as reports to me say it is still frozen; however today would have been a nice mooch around day to see what is thriving or dying but other things on. Just had a look & Saturday seems ok but nothing good after for over a week. Shame really as the temps look a lot kinder. I'm gonna claim it as a good sign that spring might be not too far away.
New TV comes tomorrow as ours went kaput on Xmas day, it is way too quiet without some background chatter. New kitten is confirmed coming next Wednesday so that should liven the place up a bit, but of course he's grounded until he has all his jabs & stuff. All the critters are way to quiet & sedate, especially the missing guys mum. I'd challenge anyone that says animals don't have feelings!
Pic is of the new lad, Ringo!

Kitty is too cute, hope it hasn’t destroyed too many household items and is settling in well.

Finally started to sow some seeds and it did make me smile when I saw the first sprouts peeking through the compost. Have finally decided on a plan for the garden but decided I will need help to achieve it due to family commitments currently. Looking around for a gardener to help as it will be ongoing and I need to try and keep on top of the ground elder which the ducks and chickens help with a little; but once it gets into its stride in prime growing season even their best efforts are in vain.
Noticed the cuttings I took of the elderly shrubs I want to keep but as young, tamed versions have started to grow quite strongly in the conservatory so it’s definitely game on for 2026 .

Seems rather quiet in here. Anyone still around?

Perhaps everybody thinks not logging on will save fuel.

I have had three different types of Lettuce seedlings chewed off, over several nights, so I thought it might be Woodlice…..but it turned out to be mice…..why they just chose the Lettuce and none of the other seedlings, i’m not sure, but very annoying!