Hello , ground a bit wet , however , it was nice and sunny today and no rain for at least a week but freezing temperatures , put fleece over plants in G/H Still lots of pruning needed
Set to be dry and sunny all week here but freezing too with occasional afternoon highs of maybe 4C. Makes a nice change from all the wet so we can at least get some tidying done if not planting and sowing.
@biofreak I've sent you a PM about your parcel, its reference no and likely arrival day.
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)."
Thank you so much Obelixx..neighbour will take it in as I am off to UK today until Thursday to sort out O/H affairs. Cold and frosty here, but managed to prune Budlea and Raspberries yesterday plus had super bonfire!! No way am I sowing anything yet. 23-25th January Flower Days on hotbed sow Cauliflower..they should be ready to prick out in March. Biodynamic Calender says divide snowdrops..I haven't seen one yet!! Have you? Plenty of Daffs and Tulips coming up plus one Cowslip in flower. Still managing to drink afternoon tea outside. Big mug.4 Woolies. Wellies and wooly gloves! 26-27th January Leaf Days Start some Lettuce off. On hotbed start off Cabbages. 28/29th January Fruit Days house descending on 28th so no gardening recommended after 9.55am. Stay in bed!! Sow Broad Beans and Round as opposed to Wrinkled Peas.
30/31st January Root Days. Sow Onions. I still prefer Sets and still haven't got that Garlic in!! Does anyone have any full proof methods to grow onions from seed?? So many varieties I would like to try. Must dash to get to pack and drive up to Dieppe. Speak soon
Geoff Hamilton used to sow his onions in modular trays, with a few seeds per cell. He'd then let them grow on till they either needed a bigger pot or it was warm enough to go outside, under cloches if needs be. No dividing of the plantlets so make sure each wee clump has enough space around it at planting out time so each onion can swell.
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)."
Hi Everyone Thank you so much Obelixx for the Mulberry which greeted me yesterday on my return from Dieppe.. beautifully packed. At the very least I must pay for the postage.. message me with details. Weeded pots around Post Box as tulips peeping through. Plus attacked Irises in Bank removing all grass from around roots,plus replacing with leaf mould. Clouding up now so delighted that I got a couple of hours of serious weeding done. Hope you have all enjoyed your weekend. Will try Onion seed again, Thanks for tip.
Glad it survived the postal system and I hope it does well for you @biofreak. No need to refund the postage but thanks for offering. I hope the assorted cats and dogs are all OK and pleased to see you home.
It's been freezing again here but dry again so today I just watered treasures in the polytunnel and fed the citrus plants in there. Everything outside is very slow which is just as well given the frosts.
It should get warmer in the next few days but I have patchwork on Mondays and physio on Tuesdays and Fridays takes out half a day but I hope to get the garlic in on Tuesday pm and maybe sow some onion seeds in modules. I'm planning to clean out the hen house and finish laying the tile floor in there on Wednesday - to keep the mice out - and do some clearing and tidying ready for sowing other seeds such as PSB, chillies and leafy brassicas as appropriate.
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)."
Hi Everyone. Hurray...got my Garlic and Ebenezer White Onion sets in at last!!! Beautiful weekend then dog/vet drama Wed/Thurs...thought I might have to have my 17yr old italien greyhound put down as he was so distressed after me being away in UK ten days sorting out O/H deceased affairs. Vet said it was all too much for him losing his Master then thinking I had disappeared as well...doggy nervous breakdown!! Gave him painkillers for arthritis and bruising after he had thrown himself against kennel walls (he has always gone to these kennels who only take seven dogs ..and he has always been happy so not kennels fault)..Calmed down alot now, but very clingy, never used to garden with me, now coming into Polytunnel..out of Polytunnel..into shed..out of shed. I weed he digs!! Sleeps on his Master's pillow (never did that..whining all night) Poor little soul. At least the weather has held for him to be outside wearing his Winter Jacket at Farmer's Market this morning, and everyone gave him cuddles.
So Weather..what will February bring?? From 3-5th February milder than usual and wet in places. 6-12th February varying widely globally between wind/rain and episodes of drier weather. 13-19th February turning very Wintery strong possibility of snow. 20-25th February warmer but wet again. 26-28th February At last warmer period and drier
I have cleared some of my Raised Beds and found loads of worms which is a good sign, plus some caterpillars for my little Robin who chats away to me on a tree stump in the middle of my plot.
On the 4th no gardening recommended before 1.05pm as Moon apogee. 6/7/8th are Fruit Days with Moon in front of Fire Sign Leo♌. If you have no frost prune Escalier fruit and Kiwis and Vines. Take Cuttings from Currants and Gooseberries, plant them in three's about a metre apart in new Fruit Bed. You will be surprised how quickly they take..Earth up Broad Beans when they get to 20cms to stop Root Rock if Spring storms hit. 9/10/11th February Root Days. In all areas on ground that has not been recently manured, plant Shallots and Rose Garlic. Space rows 20/25cms apart to allow for bulb growth. Plant some Early 🥔 Potatoes. (I always wait until Easter or as the French say until the Lilac flowers) but Seed Potatoes are in the shops now. What's your preference?? 12th February no gardening recommended before 11.40am as Noeud descending.
Well that gets us into next week. Your Mulberry likes it's new home Obelixx and fenced round securely with chicken netting cats have been told NOT to investigate to test out claws!! I let them scratch one tree only..my 9yr old Melrose Apple which seems none the worse for wear after cat gymnastics!!
Happy Gardening and have a good Weekend..so nice to start lighter evenings again..I am sure the Dawn Chorus has also begun..what do you think??🦃💥💥🌛
He's grieving @biofreak and just needs time to adjust and feel secure with just you. Our Lab gets daft when OH disappears for a few days and then lots of bouncing and wagging when he returns and both dogs and cats get more clingy when one of us is absent.
I was hoping to get my remaining mulberries planted this weekend but OH has dinged a muscle or something in his lower back and hip area and can't wield the spade or the rotavator. They'll just have to hang on a few days. Both of us at the physio today which was entertaining.
I have patchwork homework this weekend for a full day workshop we're running on Monday and then I am free to garden and get mucky clearing beds, tidying all the pots and trays ready for sowing and weeding round emerging bulbs. Happy days.
No noticeable dawn chorus here but we do have shutters that muffle noise. However, the bird feeders are very busy and then there's clear pairing up and mating activity going 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)."
@biofreak , thanks for weather update , which is proving interesting , mild for so far and no rain , however , frosts due from Monday for a few days I to have have got garlic planted plus shallots & onions , however had to water them today as ground dry Decided to plant broad beans under clouche today Pruned Pear trees today , hopefully do apple on Sunday
Sorry to hear dog pining Hope trip to U.K. went well Take care
Posts
Still lots of pruning needed
@biofreak I've sent you a PM about your parcel, its reference no and likely arrival day.
Thank you so much Obelixx..neighbour will take it in as I am off to UK today until Thursday to sort out O/H affairs. Cold and frosty here, but managed to prune Budlea and Raspberries yesterday plus had super bonfire!! No way am I sowing anything yet.
23-25th January Flower Days on hotbed sow Cauliflower..they should be ready to prick out in March. Biodynamic Calender says divide snowdrops..I haven't seen one yet!! Have you? Plenty of Daffs and Tulips coming up plus one Cowslip in flower. Still managing to drink afternoon tea outside. Big mug.4 Woolies. Wellies and wooly gloves!
26-27th January Leaf Days Start some Lettuce off. On hotbed start off Cabbages.
28/29th January Fruit Days house descending on 28th so no gardening recommended after 9.55am. Stay in bed!! Sow Broad Beans and Round as opposed to Wrinkled Peas.
30/31st January Root Days. Sow Onions. I still prefer Sets and still haven't got that Garlic in!! Does anyone have any full proof methods to grow onions from seed?? So many varieties I would like to try.
Must dash to get to pack and drive up to Dieppe. Speak soon
Thank you so much Obelixx for the Mulberry which greeted me yesterday on my return from Dieppe.. beautifully packed. At the very least I must pay for the postage.. message me with details.
Weeded pots around Post Box as tulips peeping through. Plus attacked Irises in Bank removing all grass from around roots,plus replacing with leaf mould. Clouding up now so delighted that I got a couple of hours of serious weeding done. Hope you have all enjoyed your weekend. Will try Onion seed again, Thanks for tip.
Finally planted Garlic , shallots & onions 🧅 at allotment today
Weathers ok at moment , so decide to do it , just incase February is freezing 🥶 ?
picked last cabbage
It's been freezing again here but dry again so today I just watered treasures in the polytunnel and fed the citrus plants in there. Everything outside is very slow which is just as well given the frosts.
It should get warmer in the next few days but I have patchwork on Mondays and physio on Tuesdays and Fridays takes out half a day but I hope to get the garlic in on Tuesday pm and maybe sow some onion seeds in modules. I'm planning to clean out the hen house and finish laying the tile floor in there on Wednesday - to keep the mice out - and do some clearing and tidying ready for sowing other seeds such as PSB, chillies and leafy brassicas as appropriate.
Hurray...got my Garlic and Ebenezer White Onion sets in at last!!! Beautiful weekend then dog/vet drama Wed/Thurs...thought I might have to have my 17yr old italien greyhound put down as he was so distressed after me being away in UK ten days sorting out O/H deceased affairs. Vet said it was all too much for him losing his Master then thinking I had disappeared as well...doggy nervous breakdown!! Gave him painkillers for arthritis and bruising after he had thrown himself against kennel walls (he has always gone to these kennels who only take seven dogs ..and he has always been happy so not kennels fault)..Calmed down alot now, but very clingy, never used to garden with me, now coming into Polytunnel..out of Polytunnel..into shed..out of shed. I weed he digs!! Sleeps on his Master's pillow (never did that..whining all night) Poor little soul. At least the weather has held for him to be outside wearing his Winter Jacket at Farmer's Market this morning, and everyone gave him cuddles.
So Weather..what will February bring??
From 3-5th February milder than usual and wet in places.
6-12th February varying widely globally between wind/rain and episodes of drier weather.
13-19th February turning very Wintery strong possibility of snow.
20-25th February warmer but wet again.
26-28th February At last warmer period and drier
I have cleared some of my Raised Beds and found loads of worms which is a good sign, plus some caterpillars for my little Robin who chats away to me on a tree stump in the middle of my plot.
On the 4th no gardening recommended before 1.05pm as Moon apogee.
6/7/8th are Fruit Days with Moon in front of Fire Sign Leo♌. If you have no frost prune Escalier fruit and Kiwis and Vines. Take Cuttings from Currants and Gooseberries, plant them in three's about a metre apart in new Fruit Bed. You will be surprised how quickly they take..Earth up Broad Beans when they get to 20cms to stop Root Rock if Spring storms hit.
9/10/11th February Root Days. In all areas on ground that has not been recently manured, plant Shallots and Rose Garlic. Space rows 20/25cms apart to allow for bulb growth. Plant some Early 🥔 Potatoes. (I always wait until Easter or as the French say until the Lilac flowers) but Seed Potatoes are in the shops now. What's your preference??
12th February no gardening recommended before 11.40am as Noeud descending.
Well that gets us into next week. Your Mulberry likes it's new home Obelixx and fenced round securely with chicken netting cats have been told NOT to investigate to test out claws!! I let them scratch one tree only..my 9yr old Melrose Apple which seems none the worse for wear after cat gymnastics!!
Happy Gardening and have a good Weekend..so nice to start lighter evenings again..I am sure the Dawn Chorus has also begun..what do you think??🦃💥💥🌛
I was hoping to get my remaining mulberries planted this weekend but OH has dinged a muscle or something in his lower back and hip area and can't wield the spade or the rotavator. They'll just have to hang on a few days. Both of us at the physio today which was entertaining.
I have patchwork homework this weekend for a full day workshop we're running on Monday and then I am free to garden and get mucky clearing beds, tidying all the pots and trays ready for sowing and weeding round emerging bulbs. Happy days.
No noticeable dawn chorus here but we do have shutters that muffle noise. However, the bird feeders are very busy and then there's clear pairing up and mating activity going on.
I to have have got garlic planted plus shallots & onions , however had to water them today as ground dry
Decided to plant broad beans under clouche today
Pruned Pear trees today , hopefully do apple on Sunday
Sorry to hear dog pining
Hope trip to U.K. went well
Take care