Twas 17c today in Somerset, and with it not getting dark till almost 8 I got up to the plot after my tea, which was a nice change!!
Having got the greenhouse fully up and running with lots of seedlings sprouting in there, I am at last working on the ground, I have just put a handful of rocket first earlies in open ground and a second crop of broad beans. Will get onions and shallot sets in next, although a ibt late I know.
The anticipation of the growing season ahead is heartwarming, all the plot holders have been up and done something this year, which is a change from the last couple of years. My 11 year old has even 'bagsied' part of a raised bed, and is waiting for his mix of seedlings in the greenhouse to mature.
What have others been up to I wonder??
Spring Progress
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
got the lawn mower out this evening and hacked a foot or so off the grass round the house , the clippings have gone round some of the currant bushes, a foot thick mulch should retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth so i wont be strimming round them all summer.
the weeds on the veg plot are starting to move now so soil temp must be sufficient to start sowing and planting out now.
the weeds on the veg plot are starting to move now so soil temp must be sufficient to start sowing and planting out now.
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Jenny Green
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I planted out my peas at the weekend and they're looking very happy. Just hope the slugs are put off by the woodash I put around them. Trimmed the hyssop back - a bit late I know but it's taken me this long to get around to getting a hedge trimmer. I'd always done it with secatuers (how do you spell that word 
) before.
I did my first mowing a few weeks ago. Have done a lot of sowing in the greenhouse and some pricking out already. The most urgent job at the moment is clearing the grass that's grown around the bottom of the fruit trees then mulching with woodash topped by compost. Still, with the light evenings my time available to spend in the garden doubles and I've got nearly two weeks off at Easter.
) before.
I did my first mowing a few weeks ago. Have done a lot of sowing in the greenhouse and some pricking out already. The most urgent job at the moment is clearing the grass that's grown around the bottom of the fruit trees then mulching with woodash topped by compost. Still, with the light evenings my time available to spend in the garden doubles and I've got nearly two weeks off at Easter.
(Formerly known as 'Organic Freak')
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
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oldherbaceous
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Late yesterday aftenoon i decided to sow two thirty foot rows of parsnip seed, took out the drills, just opened the packet, and as if by magic, like every year the wind started blowing. 
And i bet everyone knows how easily parsnip seed is blown about.
Luckily it was a big packet.
And i bet everyone knows how easily parsnip seed is blown about.
Luckily it was a big packet.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
planted some of my shrubs on the weekend.
Stood back to assess my planned planting and decided that the Cornus alba doesn't look at all right behind the (already planted) Carpentaria. Had the Asst.Est.Mgr come and cast his eye over the plan. I'm constantly in awe of his suggestions. "Why don't we have a beer and look at it again?"
So, decided that the Spiraea Arguta would look better in that spot, and that the two Cornus would look better in the new bed in the front garden, flanking the Viburnum Opulus.
What to do with the Artemisia Limelight?
Serves me right for being swayed by its gorgeously spattered leaves, eh?!
The new bed in the back garden is still empty. The Coprosma is a difficult plant to complement. Pfft!
Stood back to assess my planned planting and decided that the Cornus alba doesn't look at all right behind the (already planted) Carpentaria. Had the Asst.Est.Mgr come and cast his eye over the plan. I'm constantly in awe of his suggestions. "Why don't we have a beer and look at it again?"
So, decided that the Spiraea Arguta would look better in that spot, and that the two Cornus would look better in the new bed in the front garden, flanking the Viburnum Opulus.
What to do with the Artemisia Limelight?
Serves me right for being swayed by its gorgeously spattered leaves, eh?!
The new bed in the back garden is still empty. The Coprosma is a difficult plant to complement. Pfft!
Where do you go to my lovely, when you're alone in your shed...
We used up the last of last year's manure heap today: spread it around the rhubarb, made four large planting holes for marrows and zucchini, but the bulk went into a long trench for the sweet peas. Now we can help ourselves to the huge pile of fresh manure which was delivered two weeks ago. We'll barrow it down to our allotment (always a hazardous job, particularly when the grass is wet, because it goes down a steep grassy slope with two sharp bends in it!), cover it with black plastic and let it mature till this time next year. Hard work but really improves the soil no end.
Went to the lottie this morning, having missed the sun yesterday, and transplanted a few cauliflower and summer cabbage plants into my brassica beds. I have 5lt juice bottles cut out as cloches and placed one over each plant and secured with a thin cane.
I know its a tad early but I have a family wedding commitment this week and then I am abroad for a week so had to put them in rather than leave them to who knows what weather.
Also I read the thread on carrot fly protection this morning and am now itching to put those ideas into practice for the season.
I know its a tad early but I have a family wedding commitment this week and then I am abroad for a week so had to put them in rather than leave them to who knows what weather.
Also I read the thread on carrot fly protection this morning and am now itching to put those ideas into practice for the season.
WigBag
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Malk
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The weather has been lovely here since Friday. So I got out Friday and Saturday to the plot on my own and sorted my potato bed, so I'll be able to plant them in a couple of weeks, finished relaying my path, weeded my bluebells and daffs and generally got on with things.
Monday and Tuesday I took Nugget out and he was as good as gold. So I got my onion bed sorted and planted some things. He slept in my shed, played in his buggy, was introduced to everyone. We sang (my neighbour is going to be really sick of Insy Winsy Spider and Pop Goes the Weasel soon) and I told him what all the beds were for and what different items were. If he keeps this up he may end up going to the plot every day.
Today the weather has shifted, but luckily we have baby things to do, though I will try to plant a few peas and basil at home.
Monday and Tuesday I took Nugget out and he was as good as gold. So I got my onion bed sorted and planted some things. He slept in my shed, played in his buggy, was introduced to everyone. We sang (my neighbour is going to be really sick of Insy Winsy Spider and Pop Goes the Weasel soon) and I told him what all the beds were for and what different items were. If he keeps this up he may end up going to the plot every day.
Today the weather has shifted, but luckily we have baby things to do, though I will try to plant a few peas and basil at home.
Welcome to Finland!!
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oldherbaceous
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Dear Malk, i can't wait until Nugget's old enough to start digging holes everwhere. 
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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Malk
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Me too, and eating worms. But I'm dreading the period when he's crawling. Having nightmares about the broken glass and nails scattered over the plot. Need to figure out some kind of containment plan.
Welcome to Finland!!
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Compo
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Am able to get up the plot after my tea now for an hour as I did again tonight, dug a couple of square meters in a long raised bed that I am making, just an hour. Still feels like I got a lot to do though but thats allotments for you, thik where I fell over was having an operation last November which set back my winter digging program, never mind will get there.
Compo
Compo
Hi Brenjon,
It depends very much on the centres you use down the row as to how many Parsnips in a 30ft row.
I grow mine with a spacing of 9" and I generally grow 90. Some are better than others and if there are too many there is always a friend who will appreciate the odd Parsnip as a gift.
JB.
It depends very much on the centres you use down the row as to how many Parsnips in a 30ft row.
I grow mine with a spacing of 9" and I generally grow 90. Some are better than others and if there are too many there is always a friend who will appreciate the odd Parsnip as a gift.
JB.