due to house moving and rotten weather. I've not moved house, but I had to fly down south to help my daughter. Seriously thinking of a move myself however. It would be nice to be on her doorstep and I don't think she'd mind too much either. Still, we've got this season to get through yet.
Yesterday was spent on the plot, but managed to get up the lottie today for an hour or so.
Took up some more bags of home grown compost and brought the level of one bed up by about 1/2". It really doesn't go very far does it ?
Did a bit of weeding and clearing up. Found the soil incredibly easy to work. Nice.
Pulled some more rather chewed at Swede Best of All. Gave a couple to the M-I-L and kept a few for myself, now bubbling away in the pot with the last of the carrots.
Tulips (left in from last year) just beginning to show, so had to take it easy with some not so over zealous weeding.
Despite it being not a bad day, quite warm really, not much activity up at the site. Infact my car was the only one there for the duration.
Might have had something to do with the football being on the tele. Having rushed back to the in-laws to watch it, I really thought I'd have been better spending another couple of house up at the lottie re-erecting the fence or something - it was really pants.
Musselburgh leeks sown at home today for eventual transferring up to the lottie.
Other half back up next weekend so don't expect to get much done. Mind you there is the fence isn't there .............................
:-D
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
That's me started
I've been a very good girl this morning.
I've been through the seed box, sorted out everything that I'm not going to sow this year and have packaged them up for my very good friend with a new plot. That's going in the post tomorrow.
I've also listed out exactly what I've got to sow this year and have frightenened myself already. The list is enormous and this is the new sensible me.
I've also found out that I'm a bit late with my Aquadulce Claudia broad beans and my Valdor Lettuce. So now I'm in a panic that I've not been down the shed to sort that out and have no idea whether I've got any seed compost or not. It's amazing how quickly you forget what needs done and when.
Ahhhhhhhhh the joys of crop growing.
I've been through the seed box, sorted out everything that I'm not going to sow this year and have packaged them up for my very good friend with a new plot. That's going in the post tomorrow.
I've also listed out exactly what I've got to sow this year and have frightenened myself already. The list is enormous and this is the new sensible me.
I've also found out that I'm a bit late with my Aquadulce Claudia broad beans and my Valdor Lettuce. So now I'm in a panic that I've not been down the shed to sort that out and have no idea whether I've got any seed compost or not. It's amazing how quickly you forget what needs done and when.
Ahhhhhhhhh the joys of crop growing.
Let's get this show on the road
I braved the cold and took a trip up to the lottie yesterday, first visit since before Dad passed away. The sun was shining, although it was perishing cold. Gales were forecast for 3pm but I needed to get some fresh air and spent a nice hour just wandering around.
All in all it looked quite nice and tidy. Did a wee bit of clearing up and picked a couple of swedes that have lasted well with only a couple of nibbles here and there. There's still about half a dozen left, one is promised to the M-I-L when she gets back from her week away in the sun and one is going to a chap at work who has professed in interest in my crops.
I forked over a few of the beds and was pleasantly surprised them quite loose and crumbly. I was even more pleased that the tools were still where I left them.
So now the planning starts. What to grow this year ? I've not concentrated enough over the last season and have forgotten most of what I had learned, so it will really be starting from scratch again.
I want to try sweetcorn again. What I did manage to harvest last year, was lovely, sweet and tender. Trouble is half the cobs weren't pollinated properly, so I'm going to read up on what I can do better.
Peas. I was well happy with last years crop but need to think about how to keep them from falling all over the ground. Broad beans which I have learned to love, so more of them.
My runner beans suffered through lack of attention and timely picking, so I think it will just be a small run this year.
More swedes as I seem quite successful with them. And I'll try the white beetroot again. Didn't managed to get anything edible last season but that was purely down to lack of attention and duff spacing. I still like the idea of a kitchen that doesn't resemble an abbatoire, so they'll definitely be on the list.
The seed catalogues have started dropping through the door so I think that will be a job for today.
More bad weather forecast for today, but I've got loads of planning to do, so am really going to extract my digit and get the brain back in order !
Can't wait to start sowing and get back into the saddle again. Spring is only just round the corner ............. isn't it ? :-D
Hope you're all well, and I hope to be able to spend some more time on the blogs this year. Neglect will not be tolerated.
xxxx
All in all it looked quite nice and tidy. Did a wee bit of clearing up and picked a couple of swedes that have lasted well with only a couple of nibbles here and there. There's still about half a dozen left, one is promised to the M-I-L when she gets back from her week away in the sun and one is going to a chap at work who has professed in interest in my crops.
I forked over a few of the beds and was pleasantly surprised them quite loose and crumbly. I was even more pleased that the tools were still where I left them.
So now the planning starts. What to grow this year ? I've not concentrated enough over the last season and have forgotten most of what I had learned, so it will really be starting from scratch again.
I want to try sweetcorn again. What I did manage to harvest last year, was lovely, sweet and tender. Trouble is half the cobs weren't pollinated properly, so I'm going to read up on what I can do better.
Peas. I was well happy with last years crop but need to think about how to keep them from falling all over the ground. Broad beans which I have learned to love, so more of them.
My runner beans suffered through lack of attention and timely picking, so I think it will just be a small run this year.
More swedes as I seem quite successful with them. And I'll try the white beetroot again. Didn't managed to get anything edible last season but that was purely down to lack of attention and duff spacing. I still like the idea of a kitchen that doesn't resemble an abbatoire, so they'll definitely be on the list.
The seed catalogues have started dropping through the door so I think that will be a job for today.
More bad weather forecast for today, but I've got loads of planning to do, so am really going to extract my digit and get the brain back in order !
Can't wait to start sowing and get back into the saddle again. Spring is only just round the corner ............. isn't it ? :-D
Hope you're all well, and I hope to be able to spend some more time on the blogs this year. Neglect will not be tolerated.
xxxx
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Winding up for the winter
Well what a year. Nothing to do with crop failures, but the personal front has been nothing short of tragic.
We lost Mum in February, her mum - my Nan in August and then on 11/11 we lost my Dad.
So I'm sitting here in Sidcup once again, planning a funeral and thinking back a year ...... if we knew then what we know now, I'd have given up before I even started.
So this winter is going to be very quiet. The lottie had been pretty nearly put to bed a month ago, just a wee bit of tidying up to do when I get home.
I'd cleared out the g/h on the plot before I left too and deposited all the spent compost in various raised beds at the lottie. The soil levels are rising steadily.
I'm even going to have to start a blog for the Sidcup plot and I've got a fair size garden, room for a few raised beds and already got a greenhouse in place which doesn't need much apart from a good old wash.
So folks, I truely hope you've had a better year than me and mine. Look forward to seeing you all in the Spring when hopefully my life will be back under control and I will have a masterplan for the three plots !
Take care of yourselves and have a Happy Christmas !
RIP Dad, no more 3 putting now eh ? ...... "Yeah yeah yeah"
Ron Bryer
21/3/28-11/11/08
We lost Mum in February, her mum - my Nan in August and then on 11/11 we lost my Dad.
So I'm sitting here in Sidcup once again, planning a funeral and thinking back a year ...... if we knew then what we know now, I'd have given up before I even started.
So this winter is going to be very quiet. The lottie had been pretty nearly put to bed a month ago, just a wee bit of tidying up to do when I get home.
I'd cleared out the g/h on the plot before I left too and deposited all the spent compost in various raised beds at the lottie. The soil levels are rising steadily.
I'm even going to have to start a blog for the Sidcup plot and I've got a fair size garden, room for a few raised beds and already got a greenhouse in place which doesn't need much apart from a good old wash.
So folks, I truely hope you've had a better year than me and mine. Look forward to seeing you all in the Spring when hopefully my life will be back under control and I will have a masterplan for the three plots !
Take care of yourselves and have a Happy Christmas !
RIP Dad, no more 3 putting now eh ? ...... "Yeah yeah yeah"
Ron Bryer21/3/28-11/11/08
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Swede seedlings are through
But were fast becoming slug brunch. Working along the line they were. Might have to get some standby modules sown. Now I remember why I don't sow direct ! Thinned the survivors and surrounded them by a ring of animal friendly pellets and put the fleece back over.
Got the bean trellis up. Cheated and used the one from last year that I'd taken down intact. Slung some cardboard up the centre as a mulch to keep the weeds down.
All the Sutton broadies now germinated.
Beetroot has avoided being munched so far.
Planted out sweetcorn and peas and surrounded them with fleece wall to keep off the chill. Covered the whole bed with the remains of the multipurpose compost with JI as a mulch.
Tatties only just coming through. The ones on the plot are still bigger by far.
Uncovered another of the beds intended for the courgettes. Gave it a bit of a fork and turnover. One bed left to work on. The comfrey plant at the back of the plot is growing nicely, may steal a few leaves to sling in the bottom of the courgette holes along with a handful of manure.
Got a hose rigged onto the tap and filled the butts.
Had a bit of a weed round everything.
Garlic doing ok but a bit yellow at the edges.
Sunflowers starting to germinate under their cloches. Chard not put in an appearance yet.
Painted plot number on watering can and wheel barrow in an effort to remind the people that want to borrow them where to bring them back to. Lost two sun tunnels now and a watering can. You don't mind if people want to borrow, but at least have the decency to return them after they've finished. Got to buy myself a new watering can for the plot now !
Weather was overcast and large amounts of drizzle and blooming cold. Sun is out this morning but there's a 10k race on which will prevent me getting into the site until after lunch. That will give me chance to do some watering on the plot ............ and to go and get a new watering can ! The beauty of the drizzle was that nothing needed watering. Don't suppose the rain got very far down though.
Had a trim round the front edge flower beds and have promptly knackered my wrist again. Need to build some arm strength up. Got the salt out for the slugs which was fun ! Poor pansies are more or less stumps !
No idea what I'm going to plant to go over the arch this year as I didn't sow any sweetpeas until very late, and those that were donated by a lady at work have gone on the plot.
Have got nasturtiums (hey - arch idea ?), poached egg plant, turnips, marigolds still to plant out that are sitting back at home, along with the courgettes and beans. Had to resow some purple teepee dwarf beans as the majority had refused to germinate. May sow some extra runners direct as well (busily searching out packets now) .............
Hi ho, Hi Ho, it's off to B&Q I go.
xx
Got the bean trellis up. Cheated and used the one from last year that I'd taken down intact. Slung some cardboard up the centre as a mulch to keep the weeds down.
All the Sutton broadies now germinated.
Beetroot has avoided being munched so far.
Planted out sweetcorn and peas and surrounded them with fleece wall to keep off the chill. Covered the whole bed with the remains of the multipurpose compost with JI as a mulch.
Tatties only just coming through. The ones on the plot are still bigger by far.
Uncovered another of the beds intended for the courgettes. Gave it a bit of a fork and turnover. One bed left to work on. The comfrey plant at the back of the plot is growing nicely, may steal a few leaves to sling in the bottom of the courgette holes along with a handful of manure.
Got a hose rigged onto the tap and filled the butts.
Had a bit of a weed round everything.
Garlic doing ok but a bit yellow at the edges.
Sunflowers starting to germinate under their cloches. Chard not put in an appearance yet.
Painted plot number on watering can and wheel barrow in an effort to remind the people that want to borrow them where to bring them back to. Lost two sun tunnels now and a watering can. You don't mind if people want to borrow, but at least have the decency to return them after they've finished. Got to buy myself a new watering can for the plot now !
Weather was overcast and large amounts of drizzle and blooming cold. Sun is out this morning but there's a 10k race on which will prevent me getting into the site until after lunch. That will give me chance to do some watering on the plot ............ and to go and get a new watering can ! The beauty of the drizzle was that nothing needed watering. Don't suppose the rain got very far down though.
Had a trim round the front edge flower beds and have promptly knackered my wrist again. Need to build some arm strength up. Got the salt out for the slugs which was fun ! Poor pansies are more or less stumps !
No idea what I'm going to plant to go over the arch this year as I didn't sow any sweetpeas until very late, and those that were donated by a lady at work have gone on the plot.
Have got nasturtiums (hey - arch idea ?), poached egg plant, turnips, marigolds still to plant out that are sitting back at home, along with the courgettes and beans. Had to resow some purple teepee dwarf beans as the majority had refused to germinate. May sow some extra runners direct as well (busily searching out packets now) .............
Hi ho, Hi Ho, it's off to B&Q I go.
xx
Saturday, May 10, 2008
James Whale
Don't know if you've ever listened to the man but if he does anything he speaks his mind. He's just been sacked from Talksport for doing just that.
You may or may not agree with what he says but you should fight for his right to say it.
There's far too much censorship in this country these days.
Freedom of speech ? Don't make me laugh.
Want to find out what's going on ? Visit his website at http://www.jameswhaleradio.com/
and do just that.
Get on your soap box before it's too late.
You may or may not agree with what he says but you should fight for his right to say it.
There's far too much censorship in this country these days.
Freedom of speech ? Don't make me laugh.
Want to find out what's going on ? Visit his website at http://www.jameswhaleradio.com/
and do just that.
Get on your soap box before it's too late.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Sowing direct scares me
but today I took the plunge.
As the M-I-L turned her nose up to turnips and wanted swedes instead, I've sown a row of Best of All swedes and chanced a half row of Beetroot Albina Vereduna and Wodan.
As the soil is still pretty heavy, I'd raked the bed, formed a couple of channels with a hoe, filled them with compost and sowed the seeds in there. Covered it with a fleece hoop network for some reason. Primarily to keep the scorching sun off as the babies pop through, but also to protect from the night chill. No-one else on the plot has done it, so I'm thinking "overkill", but like I say in the title, sowing direct scares me and I don't want to find a couple of rows of compost in a few days time and no bloomin seedlings !.
Perhaps already mentioned, where this bed is sitting, was where the cow poo was initially dumped last autumn before spreading it over the other beds. We'll see what incredible hulk mutant roots appear.
Water is running out. Down to half in both butts now, but had to give the broadies another soak - more of The Sutton germinated now.
Had another rake of the 5x5 and stuck all the big lumps which wouldn't break down, around the sunflowers leaving the rest of the bed looking pretty even but very dusty.
Possible showers tonight ........ I'm wanting a good heavy load !
Never satisfied ? Moi ?
Au revoir les jardinieres (made up word, probably wrong but you get the idea).
xxx
As the M-I-L turned her nose up to turnips and wanted swedes instead, I've sown a row of Best of All swedes and chanced a half row of Beetroot Albina Vereduna and Wodan.
As the soil is still pretty heavy, I'd raked the bed, formed a couple of channels with a hoe, filled them with compost and sowed the seeds in there. Covered it with a fleece hoop network for some reason. Primarily to keep the scorching sun off as the babies pop through, but also to protect from the night chill. No-one else on the plot has done it, so I'm thinking "overkill", but like I say in the title, sowing direct scares me and I don't want to find a couple of rows of compost in a few days time and no bloomin seedlings !.
Perhaps already mentioned, where this bed is sitting, was where the cow poo was initially dumped last autumn before spreading it over the other beds. We'll see what incredible hulk mutant roots appear.
Water is running out. Down to half in both butts now, but had to give the broadies another soak - more of The Sutton germinated now.
Had another rake of the 5x5 and stuck all the big lumps which wouldn't break down, around the sunflowers leaving the rest of the bed looking pretty even but very dusty.
Possible showers tonight ........ I'm wanting a good heavy load !
Never satisfied ? Moi ?
Au revoir les jardinieres (made up word, probably wrong but you get the idea).
xxx
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