Gosh your raspberries look alot neater than mine have ever done! Mine always seem to just take off and take over the garden! Put Garden Bench out for cats yesterday afternoon (We call it their bench because they commandeer it for sunbathing. We can just squeeze on the end with a cup of tea or coffee if we're lucky!) It was lovely and warm and now we are back to square one today with cold and wind. Just can't win. Will dig out Rosemary Jelly recipe if you like Obelixx. It is buried under seed packets/books and all other sorts of gardening flotsam and jetsam that I am trying to sort out in the warmth indoors. Must freeze balance of broccoli -just coming on too fast for us to eat. Shouldn't complain -normally we only have a small crop. Bio Association meeting all cancelled which is a great shame as interesting lectures planned this Season. Still some Garden Fairs have revamped their dates to October including the Crazy Nettle Fair and 1001 Forgotten Vegetables -so all is not lost.
Bio , like the sound of 1001 forgotten vegetables 🌶
This year we are going to see if we can grow Chick Peas from dried ones from kitchen cabinet , managed to get some marigold & sweet corn seeds from super market today , it seems everybody is having a go at growing stuff , which can only be a good thing Stay safe
If like me you have spent the whole w/e in the garden, who can blame us, wasn't it brilliant?!! At last I could get to grips clearing raised beds and sowing Sweetcorn in pockets of 5/Mangetouts Oregan Giant (New to me) Good old Kelveedon Wonder Peas and sowing 36 Tomato seed saved from 2 stunning cherry tomatoes last year/4 Polka Yellow Courgettes and 4 Marketmore 76 Ridge Cucumbers (A first also) Used 4/5th April Fruit Days to get this lot done. Then I tackled one Flower Border and ran out of puff! Actually glad today (7th) is a non gardening day due to the Moon being perigee (nearest point to Earth) and the fact that it is a Full Moon tomorrow which often messes my sowings up (They have consistently grown weak and spindly when sown on Full Moon descending -Has anyone else noticed this?
Whilst my Cherokee Potatoes are beginning to sprout, they are nowhere near ready to plant, but for those of you who are more advances try popping in a few tomorrow 8th April as we have Root Days with Moon descending in Virgo. (When the Moon is in front of an Earth Constellation like this, it is the best time to sow or plant Root Crops as you have the additional positive forces from the constellation in co-ordination with the Moon)
9/10th April - Flower Days with Moon descending in the Air Sign Libra (When the Moon is in front of an Air Sign it is flowering plants that take priority, this includes Broccoli/Cauliflower and Artichokes on the Veg Front. Plant up new Dahlia and Lily Tubers as well so they get a head start in Pots with plenty of mature manure and compost to maintain moisture during hot dry periods.) Prick out Geraniums sown 27-28th January and Prune Spring Flowering shrubs if they have finished flowering (Mine have only just started!)
11/12th April - Leaf Days with Moon descending in Scorpio (When the Moon is in front of a Water Sign the major plant activity can be found in the Leaves. This is a good period to sow Salads/Leeks/Cabbage and Spinach to get a good strong quick crop) Prick out Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts sown 24-26th March.
I can't find my Rhubarb! I think it may have succumbed to the wet. Has anyone else had this problem -or is it just late? I have 2 plants in 2 different places but nothing to show for it. They are 3yrs old so should appear. Comfrey is doing well though ad of course that really prefers damp ditches. The birds are pairing up now. 2 Robins in the front -2 in the back and one single in the middle which might be last year's baby. Great arguments amongst the Blue Tits and Sparrows as to who is going to marry who this year. Fights round the Seed Tray are quite vicious! Boots the Bengal is back in Hunting Mode. Sunday BEFORE 2PM!! 5 Fieldmice/1 Vole/1 Shrew and 1 Rat -The latter thank goodness dead. O/H sent out to remove it off lawn -I have an aversion to rats and snakes. Why do my cats bring them back???!!!! Boots slumbered for the rest of the day -worn out!
So there we are. Keep your news coming in, with lighter evenings we can do even more outside, what a joy.
Hello , we have just picked our first sticks of Rhubard , coming up nicely , also noticed some flowers On them , so we cut those off , lack of rain .We are having to water the plants , although March can be a dry month for us Yes bird active and lots of butterflies 🦋
No wonder Bengal need a rest 🐈 Its so quiet , a few cars and only a couple of RAF planes ✈️ Moon should be very clear hear Stay safe
Bengal hungover!!! Hasn't caught anything else since Sunday! -Despite reports I thought that the Moon was a bit of a let down last night. Perhaps it is because I prefer the BIG golden harvest ones. Anyway, just read Trump wants to start mining there and/or Mars! Oh dear -words fail me. Anyway projects today -spread wood ash from bonfire over new compost heap then top with upside down turf taken from widening flower border so O/H can mow more easily (he says preferably in straight lines -hates island beds!!) Treat Roses with Horsetail (Prelé) Purin to prevent Blackspot. Take tips out of Broad Beans to encourage Pod growth. Keep weeding prospective Dahlia Bed.Pot up new Lilies and Dahlias still in packets. -Send O/H out for more Organic Terreau Universal or Geranium compost. People so busy buying food that at the moment there is a good supply of Terreau (In Uk John Innes etc) available. garden Centres are shut but Supermarkets sell a good selection.
Doubt if I shall get all of the above done today and I still have shallots and red onion sets to put in Orange Boxes -let alone Spring Onion Sets!! -Still a colder w/e will be a good time to do this. Also String of Garlic starting to sprout in kitchen -I like to plant the outer bulbs and always get a good crop in the Autumn. Autumn planted Garlic doing really well in Orange Boxes. Must put some photos up if I can remember how!!
O/H came back from Aldi bearing gifts!!! -2 dozen geranium plants and 24 pansies. Spoiled the surprise by saying that he found them in the 'rubbish bin'!!! -Still there is nothing wrong with them and I call this true love as he NEVER brings me flowers or plants!! Think it is because I am stuck at home for a month as have weak Immune System.
So keep the news coming in -What are your new projects this season. Isn't it great to have time to concentrate on the garden and enjoy nature 7 days a week 24/24!
Not here! Decorating, regular newsy mails for the patchwork club and sewing too but yes, getting stuff done outside when I can. Spent yesterday converting my "party" barn to a "potty barn" - removed all the bits of wood and fencing into OH's work barn and cleaned and organised everything else so I now have a cupboard unit and shelves on which to organise pots and 3 tables at the open north end where seedlings can catch light without being frazzled.
More painting today but I shall sow carrots later on and plant out pots of bulbs if I have time.
Minstrel brought us a baby mole a few nights ago. After much strange squeaking it played dead till OH found it and put it in the hedgerow across the road. Nothing since but it'll be swallow time soon so I've cleared their main nesting room in the ruin so she can't get near them.
Didn't see the moon last night as we had thin cloud cover but it was eerily bright even so.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Good morning all Another lovely sunny day hear , nice weather seems to make this lockdown bearable
Currently cutting lawns and will do some tidying up in garden today Getting lots done on allotment , so pleased we are allowed to go there . Although some local Councils have closed there , other than feeding chickens 🐓.
O/H has now repainted both sheds and I’ve replaced all the broken fence posts and even started replacing the fencing fabric , fortunately we had all ready bought the materials we needed before these strange times started
All the Autumn sewn items are growing well including spring onions , took the clouche of it yesterday
Bio , just remembered , I said I would let you known how the Pickled Cucamelons where , well I’m pleased to say they tasted fine , o/h also did a jar with garlic 🧄 and they where good as well . Would recommend trying them , if you can get the seed of course Another day in garden , a bit cold , going to allotment tomorrow
Easter Saturday was stunning weather wise , had to put on sun cream , good job I’d cleaned garden furniture and got sun umbrella ☂️ out , we had Saturday & Sunday off
Posts
Stay safe
Stay safe
Yes bird active and lots of butterflies 🦋
Its so quiet , a few cars and only a couple of RAF planes ✈️
Moon should be very clear hear
Stay safe
More painting today but I shall sow carrots later on and plant out pots of bulbs if I have time.
Minstrel brought us a baby mole a few nights ago. After much strange squeaking it played dead till OH found it and put it in the hedgerow across the road. Nothing since but it'll be swallow time soon so I've cleared their main nesting room in the ruin so she can't get near them.
Didn't see the moon last night as we had thin cloud cover but it was eerily bright even so.
Another lovely sunny day hear , nice weather seems to make this lockdown bearable
Currently cutting lawns and will do some tidying up in garden today
Getting lots done on allotment , so pleased we are allowed to go there . Although some local Councils have closed there , other than feeding chickens 🐓.
Stay safe
Another day in garden , a bit cold , going to allotment tomorrow
Easter Saturday was stunning weather wise , had to put on sun cream , good job I’d cleaned garden furniture and got sun umbrella ☂️ out , we had Saturday & Sunday off