Black Forest Squash sounds interesting. Beautiful day today but only 2c at the moment so shall wait until after midday to pop outside and put rest of onions in. We tend to watch French TV when we are away at Garden Fairs and staying in hotels. They do have wonderful nature and tourist programmes. We only tend to watch the French News at home, which is stupid really because there are some good programmes especially on Channel France3 and Arte. Birds singing their hearts out this morning. This weekend sees the Fete de Chandeleur (Candlemas) Main road in local town full of Nurserymen selling off bulk bundles of Roses/Shrubs/Evergreens and Conifers plus Bush Fruit and Single Fruit Trees ranging from 2yr old standards to giant ones straight from the orchard..how on earth some people get them home I have no idea, but they always sell out!!! Picked up some really good hedging last year...10euros for 20 roots of evergreen shrubs. Hazel very popular and Box. Mahonia. Hydrangeas. Rhododendrons around 8euros each for 10litre pot and always good stock. Side streets full of Crepe Stands as that is the food to eat This weekend. Also competition for local butchers as to who can make the best dish with Tripe or 🐷 Pigs Trotters...normally boiled and vile!!! Usually rain or snow and freezing cold..but everyone goes to it😊😊
You would also need a big trailer!!! Everything is so tempting😊😊 Pushkin just gone outside after lie in...his Silver Tabby fur and tail all bushed up against the cold looks like a Koala!! Ah he's heading for the Polytunnel as a bit warmer in there..no turned left across the Potager and working his way along the Shrubbery back to the Bird feeders. Obviously after best end of sparrow for lunch. (For those of you concerned about this...he rarely catches anything as he starts chattering when he sees birds and they just fly away) . Farmcat just turned up with crumpled ears...cat fight about to start! Will add jobs for next few days this afternoon, bacon sandwiches beckon!!!
Lunar Gardening Guide 25th Jan (after 1.40pm) to 27th Jan Flower Days. Start of Tuberous Begonias and Cannas in Conservatory or heated greenhouse. Keep between 15-20c and water occasionally making sure not to dampen too much. On 27th no gardening recommended before 11.20am as Noeud descending. 28th Jan Moon descending in front of Scorpio so Leaf Days. Prick out Salad Leaves sown between 8-10th Jan in a covered seedbed. Cut Hazels for Bean or Pea Sticks. If no frost forecast prune large trees. 29-30th Jan switch over from Moon descending and ascending at 11.22pm on 29th so no gardening recommended on 30th before 12.15am as Moon perigee. Fruit Days. In heated greenhouse or Conservatory at no lower than 20c sow some Aubergines. Peppers and Chillies, plus a few Tomatoes for extra early crops. Cover with Glass lifting off for a brief period in the afternoon to avoid condensation. 31st Jan Root Day. In warm nursery bed sow some Turnips. Remember these are only guidelines if you are incredibly lucky with the weather and temperatures. If you are still with snow/frost and horrors..stay in bed!!! Happy Gardening!!
No gardening in view here yet. Far too cold plus I have to be clean to take cats for annual jabs tomorrow midday, Rasta dog for her haircut on Wednesday morning and SM run on Thursday. Friday is a trip to Cholet with pals for an exhibition and craft fair - Fils Croisés - so lots of embroidery of all kinds plus some patchwork, crochet and knitting.
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)."
Hello , tripe and pig trotters , that bring back memories , you never see them for sale anymore or any recipes for them My dad used to like them but personally I couldn’t stand it
When a frost is forecast I’ve been putting a candle 🕯 in the greenhouse and its just enough , not sure it would work if we get some really bad weather thou
Not going anywhere near tripe or pigs' trotters. The first is just horrid and the second requires far too much work to prepare and far too much energy to cook as it needs so long. Not worth it.
I am, tho, tempted to try a vegan haggis this Friday cos Possum raved about one she had in Edinburgh in November. Couldn't do one on Burns' night cos we have dance class and practice Tues, Wed and Thurs this week.
Freezing here again but - so far and touch wood - plants in the polytunnel have been OK. It remains to be seen how the plants in pots against the south facing house wall have coped with all this cold stuff. No sign of the broad beans I sowed down in the veggie patch.
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)."
Being a Scot love Haggis but can't import it this year. Cholet is a lovely place...should be a good fair. We exhibited at Salon de la Gastronomie there many years ago. ..great region. Surprised you are still cold..Normally La Rochelle is warming up a bit now. Never tried a candle in greenhouse GWRS. I assume you buy the Church Candles because they last so long? Biodynamic Association placed a note out yesterday to see if everyone agreed Dawn Chorus seems to have arrived earlier...have you noticed anything different? Hoping to clear old raised bed area for balance of Breton Rose Onion Sets this afternoon...chickened out yesterday despite sunshine just too cold!
We are half way between La Rochelle and Nantes @biofreak and, being 20kms inland from the Atlantic, have different weather from both. No dawn chorus at the mo tho there was a lot of activity in the couple of sunny days we had last week and there are plenty of birds at our feeders.
Dull, misty and freezing again today but should be warm enough to go out to play on Saturday. I have shallots to plant on the first suitable day and some seedlings of annuals, perennials and wildflowers to prick out in the polytunnel and ornamental beds to weed and make space so I can plant out some hostas later. Hoping the hens will keep the slimesters down as I no longer use even the good pellets.
No rose onion sets here but I have seeds to sow later on.
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)."
Weather always different in littoral areas..we are the same but do tend to get Jersey weather as we are bang opposite so little micro climate really. You can get Rose Onion sets from Graines Baumaux if you did decide to add some. Warming up nicely now but 60kg Seville Oranges turned up this morning so must make a start to make Preps for Marmelade. Will take me a fortnight to prepare this lot, but it all goes in the freezer as 1kg packs and then all I have to do is thaw packs as I want them and add Sugar. Each pack makes 7 to 8 jars and I make 4 varieties so busy times ahead!!
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Birds singing their hearts out this morning. This weekend sees the Fete de Chandeleur (Candlemas) Main road in local town full of Nurserymen selling off bulk bundles of Roses/Shrubs/Evergreens and Conifers plus Bush Fruit and Single Fruit Trees ranging from 2yr old standards to giant ones straight from the orchard..how on earth some people get them home I have no idea, but they always sell out!!! Picked up some really good hedging last year...10euros for 20 roots of evergreen shrubs. Hazel very popular and Box. Mahonia. Hydrangeas. Rhododendrons around 8euros each for 10litre pot and always good stock. Side streets full of Crepe Stands as that is the food to eat This weekend. Also competition for local butchers as to who can make the best dish with Tripe or 🐷 Pigs Trotters...normally boiled and vile!!! Usually rain or snow and freezing cold..but everyone goes to it😊😊
Pushkin just gone outside after lie in...his Silver Tabby fur and tail all bushed up against the cold looks like a Koala!! Ah he's heading for the Polytunnel as a bit warmer in there..no turned left across the Potager and working his way along the Shrubbery back to the Bird feeders. Obviously after best end of sparrow for lunch. (For those of you concerned about this...he rarely catches anything as he starts chattering when he sees birds and they just fly away) . Farmcat just turned up with crumpled ears...cat fight about to start! Will add jobs for next few days this afternoon, bacon sandwiches beckon!!!
28th Jan Moon descending in front of Scorpio so Leaf Days. Prick out Salad Leaves sown between 8-10th Jan in a covered seedbed. Cut Hazels for Bean or Pea Sticks. If no frost forecast prune large trees.
29-30th Jan switch over from Moon descending and ascending at 11.22pm on 29th so no gardening recommended on 30th before 12.15am as Moon perigee. Fruit Days. In heated greenhouse or Conservatory at no lower than 20c sow some Aubergines. Peppers and Chillies, plus a few Tomatoes for extra early crops. Cover with Glass lifting off for a brief period in the afternoon to avoid condensation.
31st Jan Root Day. In warm nursery bed sow some Turnips.
Remember these are only guidelines if you are incredibly lucky with the weather and temperatures. If you are still with snow/frost and horrors..stay in bed!!! Happy Gardening!!
My dad used to like them but personally I couldn’t stand it
When a frost is forecast I’ve been putting a candle 🕯 in the greenhouse and its just enough , not sure it would work if we get some really bad weather thou
I am, tho, tempted to try a vegan haggis this Friday cos Possum raved about one she had in Edinburgh in November. Couldn't do one on Burns' night cos we have dance class and practice Tues, Wed and Thurs this week.
Freezing here again but - so far and touch wood - plants in the polytunnel have been OK. It remains to be seen how the plants in pots against the south facing house wall have coped with all this cold stuff. No sign of the broad beans I sowed down in the veggie patch.
Dull, misty and freezing again today but should be warm enough to go out to play on Saturday. I have shallots to plant on the first suitable day and some seedlings of annuals, perennials and wildflowers to prick out in the polytunnel and ornamental beds to weed and make space so I can plant out some hostas later. Hoping the hens will keep the slimesters down as I no longer use even the good pellets.
No rose onion sets here but I have seeds to sow later on.