What I did today 2012-2014

[Martin H]

This morning, cleared away the last of the summer bedding (!) and shortened the penstemons by about a third as suggested by the RHS. If they die I'll probably sue...

Went down the allotment for a couple of hours, did the winter pruning on the apples and pear trees, put up some supports for the sweet peas ready for spring.

Updated my gardening blog, first time in 2 months. Must try harder.

[Hazel at the Hill]

First trip to the Hill of the year - Reg-next-plot might dispair of my sporadic appearences in winter, but I see no point in getting cold and wet when there's nothing that can't be done on a fine Spring morning in a month or two's time.

The storms have caused no damage
I dug up the last of last year's potatoes (picasso, most of which are the size of my head one of which is in the oven as we speak )
chatted to Richard-three-plots-down
chatted to Woodchippings Paul and paid him his sponsorship for a 10k cross country yomp with 55lb backpacks he and fellow vets undertook before Christmas (in a rather creditable 1hr 43mins)
dug a couple of leeks
took my frozen feet and fingers home for defrosting
oh - took a couple of pics so I can update my gardening blog, first time in 6wks. Must try harder.

[Currysniffa]

Got to my plot about 9:30 started to build a raised bed for my new strawberry runners. Had to stop half way through as had a committee meeting. We had to ask someone to leave there plot today. (Not a enjoyable experience) Finished my raised bed and covered it with last years manure. Plenty of chating and cuppa's

[Nicos]

Planted out daffs
Bit late I know, but at least they are in!!

Managed to weed a couple of beds too...and suddenly the garden is looking much more welcoming

[Ananke]

Attended our first committee meeting this morning as new members, very interesting

Cut back my perennial herbs and walked away without them doh!

Went to pick my broad bean pods that I had left on some plants for seedsaving and I was too late, the pods had all split and dropped their seed, which were no-where to be found, I'm assuming they were put to good use by the local wildlife.

[Snailfox]

(Yeesterday) - Enjoyed the first decent weather in ages... turned over the compost heap, changed the way I'm storing my seed potatoes, as they are all damp, harvested a whole load of kale, planted some chive and greek oregano seeds on my windowsill to grow. Marvelled that some of my garlic has finally come up.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Yesterday, removed all the big flower pots from gh1, cleared more brambles and ivy and small trees from phase 2 growing space. Laid more cardboard on the cleared ground and weighed down with spent compost. I will be more than doubling my space - lots more hard work to do.

Mr Robin followed me about and had some snacks out of the disturbed ground. It was very cold, but nice to get moving!

Potted some of my extremely early toms (maskokta) and eager aubergines (baby ophelia) that sprouted almost as soon as they hit the kitchen roll.

Made some paper pots from the brown paper Amazon stuff in their boxes, It is perforated at conveniently spaced intervals and doesn't leave me with black fingers.

Put small quantities of an assortment of very old (2008/9) tom seeds onto kitchen roll and into bags - if they sprout then great. Saves disappointment later in the season when time will be against me.

[Vince G]

Set out 32 Maris Piper seed potatoes for chitting.

Down the plot. Dug up another grass path and replaced with acquired slabs. Dug over half the bed that is going to be alliums this year and incorporated a little bit of muck.

[toby6668]

Planted some mixed salad seeds in the propagator. Went to the plot and dug for an hour before driving to the farm to fill 30 bags with muck. Emptied the bags on my newly dug spud bed. Had a brew and admired the view for a while. Met the owner of the allotments (Lee) who was out for a walk. She kindly let me have a load of carrots, leeks and beet root. Came home and cleaned and cooked them for tea (soup). All in all a lovely day. Wish I could spend every day doing this!


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[KittyColdNose]

Set out a new large bed in the back garden, weeded, scattered some chicken poop then covered it so the dogs won't eat it like they did last year.

I also spotted some garlic that was planted two years ago, it's growing at a fair rate! But as they're in this years bean & pea bed I moved them to their new home.

Waved hello to the sprouting elephant garlic and promptly broke it.

[Two_Sheds]

What did I do today? I looked on "pets4h0mes", that's what. 12 hrs later:

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Grabbed another 45 mins after quickly scoffing lunch and cleared more brambles, ivy and whips. The sky was very heavy, the rain and hail arrived - I did not manage to cover the cleared area (it was 'too raining' as my little boy says).

[BertieFox]

Wonderful sunny day today and I finally got started in the shrub, tree and flower area which I have neglected for two years. Certainly needed attention. I have been hacking back enormous brambles, pruning overgrown buddleiahs and pulling out nettles, wild roses, and even trailing wild hops. Somewhere under all these weeds and vegetation are a lot of dormant perennial plants, dotted around between the shrubs and trees, but I have found the 'cottage garden' all planted together approach totally unmanageable, so I will be creating discrete beds dotted around throughout the area with lots of little paths leading to and around them. That way I should be able to keep the beds weeded, actually redig them and thin plants, and also know where the things that matter are located rather than the weeds. At worst, I can mow or strim the paths to keep things under control.
As it is a huge area, this is probably the only thing I will be doing for the next ten days apart from planting on seedlings and sowing new things in the tunnel.
Yesterday I planted out 185 'mache' seedlings, five to a square foot, in the polytunnel. These are growing away well now while my cabbage plants sown just before Xmas are getting very leggy. My pepper seed, various bells and chilli types, have all come up at the same time, sown on January 6th under gentle heat and coming through today, 14th January, only eight days! Much quicker than some other years, so must be the warmth of the sun assisting. Interesting to see that there are self-sown tomato seedlings in a few pots in the greenhouse which have germinated without any bottom heat. I threw these away but perhaps I should have kept a couple to see if they make useable plants! Warmest January I can remember, but what is going to happen next month or even in March?

[RaptorUK]

Did a bit today, started digging the existing wood chip path to get the couch grass out and started on the existing compost, most of it looks like grass and will be bagged and dumped, there were some brassicas in it which I recovered, mashed with a hammer and composted in my new bins.

Weather forecast was poor for tomorrow but it's looking OK now so might get a few hours in tomorrow.

[BertieFox]

Did a bit today, started digging the existing wood chip path to get the couch grass out and started on the existing compost, most of it looks like grass and will be bagged and dumped, there were some brassicas in it which I recovered, mashed with a hammer and composted in my new bins.

Weather forecast was poor for tomorrow but it's looking OK now so might get a few hours in tomorrow.

Just intrigued why you would bag and dump grass in your compost? Do you mean grass cuttings? Or grass growing? In either case this will make perfectly good compost, unless you mean these are couch grass roots. Even these can be broken down if you put them in a black poly sack for a few months.