What I Did Today Archive 2009

[sewer rat]

OH insisted I start to tidy up our garden today, as it hasn't been touched for 2 years now. Since I started up my own business growing veg I just couldn't find any enthusiasm when I got home to stay on top of things so it kind of reverted to the state it wa sin when we moved here almost 8 years ago..
Anyway, to begin with I split all the logs lying in a heap by the back door and filled two and a half sheds with them, so we should have enough for next winter now. Then I cleared up all the debris from when my mate Barry the stonemason and I rebuilt a section of the stone wall that had collapsed after 140 years of standing on absolutely no foundation at all. Then I weeded the beds either side of the back door and along the back wall. Tied the Clematis Montana to it's fence rails as it was getting a bit unruly. General clear up of rubbish.

Just got a message from my mate who was at a farm machinery sale for me today - I am now the proud owner of a tractor mounted scarifier (not the lawn type) - for the princely sum of £30.00 Happy Happy Happy!!

[Herbie]

Had great expectations of getting some gardening done today but had to help OH do a number of DIY jobs!!! Finished the new fire place (which is lovely) helped re-shelf daughter 1's built in wardrobe. OH has started daughter 2's built in wardrobe. Doors to be done tommorrow. How do Teenagers manage to amass so much stuff! Daughter 1 had at least three black bags of rubbish. Grrrrrrrr. Only need to decorate the hall and living room which will be started at the end of March. Oh and repair and paint kitchen ceiling from the leak.
Tommorrow I have been promised a minimum of 2 hours in the garden. I did manage to water toms and take some flower seedlings down to the greenhouse so looking forward to Sunday.

[Glutton4...]

I made the decision not to buy the plastic for the Polytunnel this year. I don't have the money at the moment, and I have the use of my folks' greenhouse this year. The real reason, however, is that the soil is still not really workable, despite having had a good covering of old horse manure on it since November. So I will dig it over again, and plant my spuds in to help break up the soil ready for next year. I bought too many seed potatoes (as you do!) anyway, so this way they won't be wasted.

This afternoon I managed to weed/dig-over three of my Dad's raised beds - no mean feat with 16 chooks 'helping' - I think our plot is seriously short of worms now - anyone want any super-protein eggs?!

[blito]

today, i have mostly been.. .digging. lots and lots of digging, and not a bit of tresure to show for it

[bramble]

Spent today potting on my tomatoes into 3inch pots. All are doing well and seem to be growing quickly.
Am also potting on some Petunia seedlings which are tiny but hopefully will be worthwhile.

[FionaH]

Planted out spring onions, will leave other tray in gh to see which does etter, put some sweet peas by the bean frame. Weeded and pottered

[di]

Yesterday....I finally got plot one totally dug!!!(Yippee!!!)
Also got several more rows of onion sets in!
(message to Glutton...we have also decided that this year isn't the year we'll be making a polytunnel...would have been a rushed effort & we have lots more pressing jobs...TBH I'm a little miserable about it,but if we're going to be spending that kind of money & that much effort,we'd rather get it right first time!!)

[BarleySugar]

Today we planted some more carrots in containers and some salad leaves. We also pricked out another trough of watercress seedlings and replanted some overwintered geraniums and fuchsias. The early experimental tomatoes are positioned in the unheated greenhouse, with fleece at the ready for night time. I had to put the lemon bush and peach tree outside to make room, earlier than I hoped but the forecast looks Ok for a few nigth yet.

[Two_Sheds]

- planted my shallots and Red Baron onions
- weeded flowering weeds: speedwell, pink dead nettle, groundsel & chickweed

picked 6 radish, 6 leeks and 4 spring onions, PSB, kale & pak choi

My over-wintered broad bean plant is in flower (it was pruned last summer but not dug up)

[miffy]

Got in my first earlies and re weeded the spud bed again!! Helped Mr Miffy build four more raised beds, had a lovely chat to the ladies two plots down. Put in some more garlic and sat and enjoyed the sunshine with my OH. Peace at last

[MaureenHall]

I bet I'm not the only one with back-ache today! I've been to the lottie and our local "Street Scene" who prune the trees in the town, shreds them and then disposes of them very kindly dropped 2 wagon loads on our site for us to use on our paths. Problem is that they've dumped the whole lot right at the vehicular entrance to the site so no cars can get in! As the new Secretary I thought I'd show a bit of initiative and start shifting it by the barrow-load to a more convenient place. A few other allotment holders came to help after a couple of hours but there's still loads to shift! I've got some nice paths now Still more to do though

[FionaH]

Weeded, pottered and planted out some coriander.

[coreopsis]

When I look at you lot,it makes my fingers itchy but I said to myself to not to start anything outside till beginning of April.
Anyway,I had a busy day today(catching up for yesterday's bad weather):
-3rd(and the last) bed for legumes ready,got rid of the rest of kitchen waste(hopefully worms find it soon)
-dug over tattie plot(enough for 2 rows of Desiree and 1 Pink Fir Apple)
-dug over another piece of ground and made 2 beds for all the roots(3rd one to be ready soon)
-finally planted garlic as it was growing inside the box(better late than never)

I'm a wee bit tired

To everybody with chooks-I have big spaghetti in the ground working overtime(just to make you feel jealous)

[sewer rat]

Tidied up 2 x 50m rows of Chard.
Sowed 50 Globe Artichoke seeds
Sowed 1000 Hispi Cabbage seeds
Sowed 1000 Golden Acre Primo Cabbage seeds
Sowed 50 x 1 litre pots with leeks (approx 30 seeds per pot)
Sowed 108 cells of Spring Onion a la PW method
Sowed 100 Kalibos cabbage
Sowed 100 Swiss Chard seeds
Raked one half of tunnel ready for lettuce
Watered my babies up at the walled garden.

[selfraising]

First job today was to try and fix the pond pump, changed the fuse, still nothing. Mains was fine so decided it must be the pump. Took the pump out and fitted a new one to the hose, turned on the power and promptly got soaked cos the hose had two splits in it! Disconnected the whole lot again, cut the hose back and re-connected, we now have water pumping through! Then dug over my raised bed and raked it. Planted Anya spuds in grow bags (and have looked out fleece sacks just in case!). Sowed Strawbini, Red cos lettuce, green cos and radish French Breakfast.