What I did today - 2017

[the big lebowski]

today me and my dad cut the new panels for the greenhouse and took it down to move it up to the plot ,v pleased ,one step closer to getting it set up also i put my onion sets and chillis in the shower and gave them a good drink

[forgetmenot]

Gave the man a quick tour of the plot. His general knowledge is improving, he can now differentiate onion leaves from couch grass He filled up my water butts as I watered everywhere else. Everything is looking good - flowers on straw plants, tonnes of flowers on the blueberries and greenhouse mangetout buckets and beginning to shoot up. I have plans this weekend to build a pallet storage bench. The man is getting roped into it. He says its not possible but that's what he said about my pallet greenhouse which has withstood several gale force winds so lets see who is right at the end of the weekend

[Snadger]

Gave the man a quick tour of the plot. His general knowledge is improving, he can now differentiate onion leaves from couch grass He filled up my water butts as I watered everywhere else. Everything is looking good - flowers on straw plants, tonnes of flowers on the blueberries and greenhouse mangetout buckets and beginning to shoot up. I have plans this weekend to build a pallet storage bench. The man is getting roped into it. He says its not possible but that's what he said about my pallet greenhouse which has withstood several gale force winds so lets see who is right at the end of the weekend

Well done that man!

[burnie]

Well yesterday to be accurate, first Leeks in one of the raised beds, more in reserve if required.

The chicken wire stops the Blackbirds pulling the plants out and stops the cats sleeping in there/using it for a toilet.

[Martin H]

This morning I did some watering and weeding, then covered my first two rows of potatoes with fleece to protect against potential frosts early next week.

I've still got some beds to fork over, but the ground is like concrete at the moment. Unless we get some rain very soon I'm going to have to give them a thorough watering one evening then come back the next day to do the job.

[johnjohn]

Yesterday when I went to the plot to check on my mates polytunnel watering system (he's on holiday) I noticed my outdoor first earlies were showing beneath the fleece. I was back today with the intention of mulching them with grass clippings and re fleecing but even though the paths were only cut a few days ago the clippings in the bin were already clumped together and my experience of using them whilst they are like that is that they create a hard crust on top of the compost and are difficult to spread so I've decided against it. Tuesday looks like it might be a frosty morning so I might double the fleece on the bank holiday?

Apart from topping up his water containers the other thing I did yesterday was to get 10 MFB's planted with the leftover Roosters, one spud to a pot,it really was just a quick visit.

Today I got another 3 rows of maincrop spuds in, this time Sarpo Mira as blight insurance. Also cleared out the brassica cage/netted tunnel and managed to harvest 3 small cauliflowers (Mrs JJ on my return "blimey, but you can't grow cauliflower.. " ) and the last kale.

In the polytunnel watered the spuds and re fleeced, also watered the spring cabbages and the 5 or 6 remaining (un eaten by a mouse-2 rows sown ) over wintered broad beans that are flowering splendidly. Oh, and also the flowering strawberries - I was going to chuck these in favour of using the space for melons or a mangetout or two but the fruits are quite developed so now think I will keep them and maybe put in some late dwarf French beans in their place towards the end of August.

Before coming home took some pictures of this year's first flowers in the wild flower meadow.

Just enjoying a glass of wine in the bath, ahhh

[Baldy]

Potted on a Bhut jolokia chilli that a firend had picked up for me - she (the chilli) is staying in doors this week as the night look a little cold - then into the GH on a heated mat next weekend if temps look ok.
Been away at work so main priority was watering of GH at home and GH and pots on the plt. A few little sedlings had crisped out - but most plants were ok.
Potted on tomatoes and some less ferocious chillis.
. Next door neighbour has informed me that he's killed 8 rats over the last week . Other side found one in their kitchen - probably gifted by their cat. I'll soak my compost bins tomorrow morning and then give them a turn in the afternoon - but there's been no indication of rats there - better to be safe than sorry.
Started digging out the old strawberry bed at home - t'will be the site of a pond - I've probably overdone it a bit and will be aiming to take my usual therapy shortly. I'm numbing the pain at the moment whilst I wait for family to clear the bathroom. As its a Bank Holiday I'll probably be allowed to have a bat tomorrow as well

[Jay-ell]

Done a bit of uncomfortable gardening today - weeded underneath the hawthorn hedge - not ass bad as the last couple of times and I was mainly pulling out some odd brambles, nettles and some holly. Didn't see the ground elder, just the uncomfortable weeds.

Plunged myself back into the hawthorn hedge to plant out some ramsons in the green - figured what better way to stop invasive ground spreading plants than to plant an invasive ground cover plant that I will eat regularly.

Harvested the ramsons I just planted - boy, am I impatient or what. As I was planting out took off the scapes so they can concentrate on settling in.

Weeded.

Raked over the bean bed and started cutting the timber and adding the ironmongery to this year's bean frames - I'll finish them off tomorrow but have to decide if I want them 6.5 for tall with 1.5 foot in the ground to anchor or have them 7 foot tall with 1 foot as the anchor. The main purpose of the anchor is to push against the soil and provide resistance to stop the frame being blown over. What do you reckon - is that extra 6 inches going to make avast difference for beans?

Had fried ramson scapes with my tea - nice but push comes to shove I think I prefer three cornered leeks.

Went through my bean seeds and decided not to sow the soya beans, lentils or lupini this year - whittled it down to about 6 dwarf French and 4 dwarf runners - plus 6 climbing French and 2 climbing runners. Not fond of green beans though so I don't want to go overboard

[hamamelis]

Cleared away the remnants of the winter brassicas, dug the bed over, and buried a load of manure and wet newspaper in trenches, ready for climbing beans.

I was planning to sow said climbing beans, but forgot to take the peas down to the plot, and they're squatting in the root trainers I was going to use. I'll try and 'em planted in the next few days, but I'm working until Thursday now.

Hacked back the brambles which were were sneaking over the compost bin, set up supports for the tomatoes in the greenhouse, and mulched the bed in there ready.

Considering I only nipped down to check on the bees, I got quite a bit done, really!

[Guest]

Yesterday I had big plans that went out of the window. Instead I had an easy day of sowing, pricking out, planting on, pot shuffling and clearing pots I am giving up on germinating.

[Snadger]

After looking at the cost of 200mm pots for my late chrysanths, I've decided just to use the much larger pots I have and only part fill with compost.
Back to the plot today, but what I plan to do, and what I actually get done, very rarely match up.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Had a good few days on the plot! All looking a little more "Respectable" than it did before!

Gunna finish the deed and put Aunt at rest tomorrow! Oh n glad Kev as been able to get a bath!

[Baldy]

Bought
Gage Tree - Reine Claude Doree
Medlar Tree - Westeveldt
Nut Tree - Sweet Almond Sultane
for £4.50 each + £5 delivery - bit of a bargain so will post it on t'other thread that focuses on such matters.
Took blowaway from back garden where it b'ain't been used to the plot where it will get used but probably will be destroyed by winds. Quite a few old MFBs and pots also moved to the plot - slowly trying to get the garden into a bit of shape before its the time of year for Pimms on the lawn.
Chili hot chocolate provided by buddy on the plot helped keep me gong - though I'm soon to retire to the bath with something refreshing

[forgetmenot]

Made a storage cupboard / hardening off frame out of pallets.

[1Bee]

[Yesterday]

Dug over the rest of Bed 1, clod-bashed and removed weed roots with my lovely assistant (the 6yo) and sowed parsnips with radishes in the rows, and then supervised the 6yo sowing his very own row of beetroot (which he won't eat, but who cares? Big, warm feelings....). With the potatoes, onions and parsnips all in, I am now officially more ahead than I have ever been on the plot.