Gardening

[Sue]

I was given an orchid when Dad died three years ago . It flowered for 15 months, rested for about a year and has been in full flower again since last July. It was nice that it was flowering on the anniversary of his death last Saturday.

[Sue]

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[Stanley]

I'm getting close to the gardening season. I shall shortly have to cut all the dead stems down in the front garden and start hoeing!

[Stanley]

Gardening is upon us again. I am a minimal gardener but like to keep tidy. I had already cleared the dead growth and disposed of the old stems. Yesterday I hoed it and treated the weeds in the path with Round Up. If any perennial weeds pop up I shall spot dose them as well. I shall get some blood fish and bone and top dress it as soon as the shops open and have had a word with a source and arranged for four bags of FYM to be spread on it. The Ladslove and the chives have survived as usual. The Lemon Balm is stirring and there will be some mint as well. I may sow the bare patches with something..... or get some plants. I shall have a word with daughter Susan.....

[Stanley]

Just to keep the series of pics in order so we can see progress....



We now need to hoe this superb horse muck in... The worms will love it. (I saw several when I was hoeing the other day, always a good sign... My little helpers!)

[Stanley]

I spent ten minutes gently hoeing the horse muck in yesterday evening. I have about 6" of fine tilth on top of the harder under-strata. I am having to fight the urge to sow seeds or stick plants in. I shall consult my daughter Susan and be guided by her. I have this idea that planting potato chits might work and break the ground up... Any views?

[LizG]

That will work but they tend to take over. You get spuds for the next forever.

[Wendyf]

My garden got neglected last year, some of it was completely untouched so everything got a bit more out of control than usual. I'm determined to get a grip of it this year so will post some before, during and after pictures!

This was my first small veggie garden tucked away in a sheltered corner where a previous owner had half built a block pigsty. I didn't touch this area last year, and my plan is to make it into a fruit garden. There are a lot of slugs around though as there is an old water storage tank collecting spring water in one corner which is constantly running.



The deep beds in the main veg garden need digging over, I'm still picking purple sprouting broccoli from last years brassica bed.



This years root bed is dug over and onion sets planted out. The netting contraption is to keep the cats off until they are well established!



Things look a bit more promising in the poly tunnel! A small row of broad beans in the first bed just poking through, autumn planted garlic in the next bed which should be ready to lift on the longest day (traditional apparently) a few lettuces from an autumn sowing coming on nicely now. The umbrella cloche is plonked there ready to clean up...I usually put tender seedlings under it once they come out of the propagator to give them extra protection..the spring frosts can creep in to the tunnel. Ooh, and a few new strawberry plants in planters down the side. Protection from the cats using the place as a giant litter tray is essential at this time of year.
One big problem is re-hydrating the soil...it gets very dry over winter and the water just runs straight through.



Right, must get back out there!

[Sue]

Try the gel crystals, inert but hold lots of water. I use them in the plant pots in France

[LizG]

Great photos Wendy. I look forward to the next lot. Looks like you have a market garden there, what happens with all the extra produce?

[Stanley]

Makes my front garden look a bit amateurish! No surprise there though, it is! You're doing well Wendy.....

[Wendyf]

Try the gel crystals, inert but hold lots of water. I use them in the plant pots in France

Good idea Sue, I might give that a go.
Liz, when things go well I give stuff away, but it's not that easy growing things up here so I don't get heavy crops. I love growing basic things like potatoes, onions and carrots that will keep through the winter. We are still eating home grown potatoes, carrots & garlic though they are all starting to sprout now. There are still peas, broad & runner beans in the freezer.

[plaques]

Wendy, I was thinking of giving 'sugar snap peas' a go this season but don't know much about them. Have you ever tried to grow them?

[Wendyf]

Yes, like mangetout they are quick to grow and produce good, delicious crops. I have stopped growing them because I wasted so much...you can't eat enough of them and they don't freeze well.

[Stanley]

Now there's a thought......

[LizG]

Can you grow soy beans there? They are small plants, produce well and freeze well. Just a bit fiddly because you cook them in the pod and then pod them. Fresh soy beans are delicious.

[PostmanPete]

Yes, like mangetout they are quick to grow and produce good, delicious crops. I have stopped growing them because I wasted so much...you can't eat enough of them and they don't freeze well.

I like mangetout but I couldn't eat a whole one..............

[Wendyf]

I'm getting a deja vu feeling.....

[Stanley]

Cette echange et un melange d'idee bon et Francais maL.....

Later at 11:30. I cracked and got £4 worth o0f blood fish and bone at Majestic discounts and scattered it on the front garden. Whatever we put in (and the stuff that's already in there waiting to burgeon forth) will not lack for nourishment!

[Stanley]

The garden yesterday after hoeing in the blood fish and bone. Looking forward to the rain. This is a coiled spring waiting for a rise in soil temperature!

[Sue]

My garden has been thoroughly watered by the grandchildren who found two plastic bottles two jugs a washing up bowl and the waterbut the best toy ever invented. i have a clean patio and a clean garden table, and beautifully watered pots. How ever some of my daffodils may have to learn to swim.

[LizG]

Conjured up a great picture Sue. Far better they play outside than vegetate in front of the TV. I'm sure the daffodils will survive!!

[Stanley]

The rain did a good job yesterday. The worms will be loving the flavours going down to them!

[plaques]

We have hundreds of daffodils out in bloom but why do 99.9% of them point east? Even in the most sheltered positions they point east. Just wondering why?

[Stanley]

An Islamic plot?