What I Did Today Archive 2008

[cede]

still digging the plot, but starting to feel that i'm getting there! took toddler with me- big mistake!after 10 mins of sitting still eating seeds and raisins he suddenly took off on the rampage... had to cut our trip short and headed home. does anyone else have this problem?! anyway did get broad beans planted and covered and having much fun in the greenhouse, like everyone else sowing seeds madly.

[bwfc07]

Nipped up to the lottie at 2:15pm after work measured all the broken windows so am going to get my tools out now and cut the purspex which i got yesterday from work and hopefully al get them all in b4 weekend dont think i will get much else done on the lottie b4 the weekend due to work

i will post a pic of the G/H after the windows go in

[Mrs Dobby]

Mr D went down to the plot to get started whilst I had to go to another branch to help out with their stocktaking today (they needed the help, and I'll need the favour repaying when my stocktake comes around I'm sure), so he was on his own all day in the cold and very windy weather!

He managed to get 1 1/2 of the 14' by 5' beds for first early spuds dug over, they were heavily weed infested so took him a bit longer than he anticipated, but its looking good for us to be able to plant out our chitted first early spuds tomorrow (when I get back from going to my old branch to sort out my Performance Management Agreement and find out what sort of a payrise I'm going to get this coming year!)

Its the last day of my holidays tomorrow, although I'm supposed to have had 12 days off in reality its only been 6 as I've had to work a weekend (no other management in that weekend, and as I've just taken over its too critical that we have a good start to the week to keep morale rising and to proove to the team that we can do it, so I sacrificed my weekend for the greater good!), had to go to a managers meeting, had to go and sort the wages input and do a point of sale order on one day (the new Deputy Manager isnt fully up to speed with the new wage system, so rather than let it go wrong it was in the branches best interests for me to go in and do it), help out today at another branch with their stocktake and tomorrow go to have my wage rise discussion! Ah well, at least its money in the bank for my career!!

[Snadger]

Sorted out something today that hopefully will affect the rest of my life!

I hope to have six Rhode Island Red chickens very soon so I'll have to get my finger out with foxproofing there proposed home at the allotment. The guy I've bought them off could land at any time with them!

Finish at 3.00pm tomorrow so i'll try and catch a couple of hours before the dark sets in doing some work on there new home!

I'll be like a kid with a new toy!

[veg4681]

sowed various seeds today but in smaller qty in my favourite miracle Tiramisu tray.

In the first row, sowed herbs of Genovese Basil, Coriander, Chinese Celery (from momol) and Flat Leaf Parsley this was followed by 2nd row of 6 seeds of Perpetual Spinach followed by a third row of Chinese Cabbage, Watercress and Broccoli Wok Broc (aka annual summer sprouting). Fourth row of various pepper seeds of dolce de Bergamo (from bunzie), Friggitello F1, Lipstick, Marconi Rosso and Turkish Napia type (from chrisB from her Turkey holiday ). 5th row with 6 seeds of Turnip Golden Ball, 6th row with 6 seeds of Beetroot Boltardy and 7th row of 6 seeds of Beetroot Burpees Golden. Hope the rows & columns of seeds location stay intact. After I was done, I realised I had missed out the Kohl Rabi and Radish China Rose . For the record, managed to lose the Egyptian White anyway in the compost . Guess it wasn't to be.

Tuesday today, it was Sunday when I found my first solitary vine weevil in the greenhouse on one of the strawberry leaves, crushed it with a cracking sound but still got me depressed and in a state of panic for a day or two.

Sarian F1 strawberry from 23 odd seeds are dying out despite germinating, down to 6 microscopic seedlings, will they ever graduate into adulthood. Poor things, have mercy on them to fulfil their destinations.

The onion sets Red Karmen are only just starting to shoot that were planted about a month ago but left in the unheated greenhouse.

[FoxHillGardener]

last night after work planted some tomatillos and aubergines in the heated propagator. Have been tying to hold back til a bit later but no luck!

[Mrs Dobby]

Got to the plot late today, as my Performance Management Agreement was late in starting (one of my colleagues was taking some time to try and argue the boss up on his grading and payrise), but after a good 2 hours going through my performance for the year I was happy to receive a High grading, the second highest grade possible and one that is very rarely awarded, so a good payrise for me!

Only problem was by the time we got back home and changed for the plot it was too late to get much done, so we harvested the last of the sprouts, some more leeks, some more Jerusalem Fartichokes and some parsnips for tea tonight, going to roast the roots and do the leeks and some frozen cauli in cheese sauce with some gammon, mmm!

I'm back at work tomorrow, but Mr D is going to the plot and planting the First Early spuds out, along with a few more broad beans that are ready for planting out!

[Flummery]

Went to check the greenhouse and discovered 10 of the 15 Sutton broad beans of my second sowing are just poking through. First sowing in autumn are now about 8" high and have been in the garden over winter. I had to tuck them in the other day - wind rock had loosened the roots a touch. Got more seeds to sow - I LOVE broadies!

[shirlthegirl43]

I finally got into the garden!!! Boy am I tired!

Dug out the remains of the sweetcorn from my raised bed, removed the psb that had stopped sprouting but left the one with some sprouts forming and the rainbow chard which is looking better now than ever.

Weeded and raked the vacant bit of bed, added a bit of general purpose fertiliser and planted my shallots - Red Sun and Topper. Intended planting some garlic but when I went to open the packet I found they had gone soft so I will return them to Wilkinsons.

Made a rhubarb bed next door to my asparagus bed and planted the two Timperley Early I bought a couple of weeks ago. Gave them a good load of J Arthur Bower's Farmyard Manure in the planting hole and as a sort of mulch.

Gave the 'lawn' its first cut of the year too. Now off to bed as I really hurt all over!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Pricked out 32 Brunswick red onions into individual 2" pots.

*Note to self - sow singly in modules/pots next year.

Sowed another 4 small pots with Chartwell lettuce after 100% lack of germination on the first lot. Everyone loves a trier.

[Mrs Dobby]

Mr D planted up the 2 beds of First Early spuds yesterday, so we've now got 40 chitted tubers in the ground, cant wait to be eating new spuds!!!

We'll be preparing the beds for second earlies and early maincrops over the next few weeks, ready for planting at Easter, and hopefully starting off some more seeds ready for planting out as soon as they are ready!

[Snadger]

Finally got my cordon apples and pears planted today!

I now have a Granny Smith, Cox's Orange Pippin, Bramley and Elstar all cordoned and a Sunset apple in a pot. I also have a Beurre Hardy and Conference pear, also cordoned!
Each tree is planted at 45 deg angle with an 8 foot cane at same angle tied in!
I had a chance to use the Brother label maker that I got curtesy of the GYO online veg show! I put a thin post in front of each fruit tree with the laberl stuck on it.
I also used the label maker in the greenhouse when I've planted and potted on leeks and onions. I've used white plastic knives as labels with the name printed on them!
Had a roaring fire going in the greenhouse stove but managed to force myself back outside to dig over an area and plant some Jerusalem Artichokes I was given. These are in front of the proposed chicken run so when they grow they will hide the chooks from onlookers!
Hoe'd some of my winter cabbage, patched up one of the greenhouses after the gales and set off for home in my landie!

PS Forgot to mention that I planted some Gypsophilia. The roots looked like bits of stick, hope I've planted them the right way up!

[sez]

Just spent half an hour constructing a 'germination box' from scrap polystyrene. I'm not lucky enough to have an airing cupboard or heated propagator but managed to get my first lot of chillies etc going, hoping this will speed the process up a little.

Pricked out that first lot of peppers chillies and aubs into cells, in an unheated propagator on a windowsill.

Was gonna plant my blueberry bush but its freezing cold and blowing a gale!

[Dazzler]

Put loads of plants in bigger pots today and because of this i seem to have killed 2 out of my 3 cucumber plants, as within a few minutes of putting them in there new pots the leaves started to droop.

[Litha]

I replanted 8 cucumber seeds today id managed to kill the last lot by repotting and putting them in conservatory ( next lot can live in the kitchen longer)

fetched somethings back in the house from the green house with it been smashed last night.

i was going to put my pea plants into long troughs now they are bigger with sticks but havent got round to it, been reading tons of forum info and time flew away