Fruit, Veg, Flowers and Slugs

I mentioned in a post last week that I planned to get in the Greenhouse this weekend and get to work preparing it for the season ahead and I am happy to report I was able to on Sunday afternoon - in fact I managed to get three-and-a-half hours out in the garden on a lovely if slightly chilly afternoon.  The beds in the Greenhouse have been weeded, as I mentioned before it beggars belief where and how weed seeds get to but bugger me they get everywhere. The soil was then lightly turned over before a decent helping of blood, fish and bone, chicken manure pellets and some new fresh compost was scattered over them in turn; each scattering receiving a light turning over to mix in nicely with the soil. Finally the beds were given a thorough soaking to help get all the nutrients breaking down and getting to work.  Having completed the main job of the day the six Geranium cuttings (Pelargonium if you're posh) that I have been looking after through the winter having taken them from plants

I should start this post by making it abundantly clear I am in no way expert or have any type of qualifications. This article is based purely on my experience.   The world and their wife seem to be talking about health and wellbeing, mindfulness, mental health etc these days and perhaps understandably with all the country has been through over the last twelve months. There are a thousand and one articles in print and online on how to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.  A question I have been asked is has gardening helped me through the lockdowns? In short yes, I think it has.  For months now I have been unable to attend any of the sporting events I usually would, no nipping to the boozer for a few pints with the lads as I would normally at least once a week, no having family and friends over for drinks and a BBQ. In fact, I have gone days at a time with no actual human contact as such other than video meetings on Microsoft Teams and alike. No doubt many of y

 The Runner Bean and Tomato seedlings are growing on strongly in the conservatory, pretty much every seed having germinated. I do have two beans that appear to have failed but I will give them a day or two yet to pop their heads up or the contents of those pots will be consigned to the compost heap.  I will be preparing the greenhouse at the weekend, washing down the glass and a bit of general weeding of the beds, it's surprising how weed seeds seem to get into anywhere, plus I will be adding some blood fish and bone to the soil. It's a job I actually quite enjoy and all being well with the forecast weather being fine it should be a lovely hour or so under the glass getting some warmth into my old bones as well as the soil. There is something about working in the greenhouse in spring with the sun shining that just makes you feel better. Apologies in advance to my neighbours for the singing along to the radio.  I will be keeping an eye on the weather forecast and providing the n

Over the winter I finished the two new raised beds on the veg patch to match the three already in place in which I grow Strawberries and Raspberries. They are pretty simple constructions, I certainly did not inherit any of my old Dad or Grandads carpentry skills, they are simply big old railway sleepers cut to size and held together together with six inch nails! Word of warning for anyone thinking of doing similar, railway sleepers take some cutting by hand! I am a fairly hefty bloke but it is a fair old workout sawing through them even with a decent well looked after saw. You may want to hire a chainsaw or similar power tool unless you are a glutton for punishment like me.  Last weekend I sowed some Parsnip seeds, Gladiator F1, and the first row of Dwarf French Beans , a purple variety called Amethyst, and thankfully it has stayed relatively warm and sunny here so all being well over the next few days the first of the beans may pop their heads above the soil. I will sow further rows

 I had ordered some Miscanthus Indian Summer grass for one of the beds and they duly arrived this week from Thompson & Morgan. I already had two planted at the back of the bed which now holds four; don't look like much at the moment but hopefully the bronze stems and feathery seedheads will look stunning planted as they are behind some French Lavender bushes as the season progresses. In theory, it's the first time I have tried this planting scheme, the golden colours of the grass should sit beautifully behind the green foliage and blue flowers of the Lavender, in theory. Only time will tell I suppose but I am hopeful and look forward to seeing how the bed progresses over the summer.  The Cosmos Purity seeds were sown on a rather dull evening here with no real plan as yet as to where the plants may go as and when they have grown to a suitable size. They are a lovely flower and can fill a border with their white flower, much loved by bees, butterflies hoverflies and alike.

 As mentioned in a post early this week I have been busying myself flicking through various plant catalogues and browsing numerous websites. As predicted a somewhat foolish purchase has been made. Not foolish in that it is an Agapanthus Ever White, Agapanthus are possibly my favourite plant spectacular beauties that they are, but foolish in that I have just paid £14.99 to Thompson & Morgan for a plant they expect to despatch in September!  A classic case of the heart ruling the head, I saw the picture, decided I had to have it and hit the buy button. All I have to do now is wait for 26-weeks for my plant to be delivered. That's right half a year! By the time it is despatched I will have completely forgotten I have purchased the thing and will then have to panic buy a pot to plant it into!! I don't know about parental controls on laptops and mobile phone I need some kind of plant buying control on my electronic devices!  Cheers 🍺

It was a quiet weekend for me with the weather still too cold to really get going on the veg patch. The temptation was to direct sow some seeds into the plot on Sunday, the sunny days of early March can trick you if you aren't careful, but it can still drop to freezing or less overnight and has done a couple of times here recently. Many gardeners refer to it as 'fools spring' a few sunny afternoons lulling you into the belief the spring has sprung only for old Jack Frost to show up and burn your fingers, and any seedlings, in the blink of  eye.  The Tomatoes that were sown in pots are coming along nicely in the conservatory and the Runner Beans sowed just over a week ago are just beginning to poke their heads above the compost. They are currently situated on the conservatory table with the Tomatoes on the tumble dryer - I doubt I am alone in running out of space indoors for seedlings.  In the Greenhouse the Sweet Peas sown last autumn are growing strongly and I have nipped