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Weekend 6 April
On the plot,
All the grass paths have now been strimmed.
The raspberries are now shooting again, so we tidied the beds that they and the alpine strawberries share. These strawberries will be in their third year and according to what I have read should be discarded as they only produce fruit well for two years. We will see -
Also tidied around the blueberries and cranberries. The blueberries will be into their third year and cranberries second. So far we haven’t had much fruit so here’s hoping they will start to come into their own soon. They certainly have some healthy looking buds.
The remaining brassica plants that were well over their period of usefulness, some sporting flowers, have been removed and the beds weeded and dug over.
Started to gather some paving slabs from different parts of the plot to create a base for a proposed shed!
The last of the onion sets – Fen Globe (yellow) and Red Baron (red) have been planted. These are heat treated sets, this is supposed to destroy the part of the bulb that produces flower so they shouldn’t run to seed so let’s see if it works. It will be interesting to compare them with the ordinary sets that we have planted. According to Monty Don, onions are going to be in short supply this year.
Also sowed parsnips -
In the garden,
As on the plot the lawn has been cut for the first time and we have done lots of pruning and tidying. The brown wheelie bin is full again. We don’t really have room for composting in the garden.
Our pieris shrubs haven’t done very well flowering-
A pair of blackbirds have decided to nest in the garrya which is due for a severe pruning so it looks as though pruning will have to wait.
We actually have two male blackbirds behaving in a way that I have never noticed before. I think they may each have claimed a part of our garden and are protecting their territories. They don't chase and fly at one another as I have seen often but sort of walk toward one another and then away again sort of stomping their feet. They seem to be carrying on like this whenever I look out -
The male birds are all singing their ‘look at me songs’ at the moment. A dunnock gave us a full blooded performance this week It’s amazing at how a little bird that is often overlooked or mistaken for a sparrow has such as complex, attention grabbing song. Still he is related to the blackbird, the song thrush and the robin all of which have lovely songs.
The fish in our pond are now demanding food again – strange isn’t it – people say fish can only remember for a few seconds, so how come after several months of no food do they remember just the exact position to come to beg and also know to beg when they see us about but only us and not visitors? The fish also welcomed two new friends this week and the pond filter has been cleaned out for the first time this year.
The magnolia is beginning to flower and the first buds of the rhododendrons and azalea are starting to open. The pink camellia is also now doing its stuff and looks lovely.
We planted some more snowdrops which were still in leaf (in the green) as this is time to plant them. The native primroses, fritillaries and wood anemones are now flowering really well. I have also spotted some self sown seedlings around the hellebores and so they will be potted up to see what colour flowers they give.
The pears tree is in bud and the figs have survived! Let’s hope that I haven’t spoken too soon – not sure that the gunnera has made it though though and it’s just a waiting game with respect to the tree fern which is really looking sorry for itself now that the brown fronds have been trimmed. We pop a ball of fleece into the crown so just hope this has been enough protection.
In the greenhouse
The greenhouse had a spring clean this week.
The grapevine knows that spring is in the air and has started to shoot. It has been cut back hard as it was taking over the whole greenhouse.
In the propagator
The chilli peppers – Annaheim – are pushing through. We have never grown chilli peppers before but the seeds were free with a magazine and so we couldn’t let them go to waste.
Out and About:
Seem to have had more than our fair share of hail this week. That doesn't do young shoots a lot of good.
We have also had rain, strong winds, snow, sleet and sunshine. Some days have in fact been quite pleasant. At least the snow hasn't settles though -
The trees are beginning to sprout. The hawthorn and weeping willow trees look especially fresh. The green at this time of year is really uplifting. I love it!
There also seems to have been a mass flowering of daisies and dandelions.
Unfortunately the rape also seems ready to burst into flower so no doubt I’ll start again with snuffles and sneezes. I hate the stuff!
Weekend 13 April
On the plot
Started preparing a base for our proposed shed.
Continued weeding and tidying beds but the ground is really wet.
The plum trees are in full flower. The cherry tree planted last year is in bud and the kiwis look to have survived – fingers crossed. The greengages are also starting to show buds.
Regardless of the weather the dandelions are starting to make an appearance along the grass paths. I do try to deadhead – (well live head them really) so they don’t get the chance to form seed heads but it can turn out to be a full-
In the garden
The native primroses and fritillaries are flowering well now.
The pieris have new red shoots but it will only take a frost one night to put paid to the display.
One of the rhododendron’s is coming into flower. The magnolia buds are starting to open but seem reluctant to go the whole way and who can blame them?
The blackbirds are collecting for their nests – if this weather continues they’ll need extra bedding to keep the eggs warm.
The hostas are starting to shoot just at the right time to provide a tasty meal for the resident slug population. They are on tubs so have some protection.
There is also a faint sign of hope that the gunnera has made it through the frosty spell and the fig is also just showing a tiny bud or two.
In the greenhouse
Sowed turnip – Aramis (I wonder the turnips will smell nice – think about it!), peas – Early Onward, Avola and Sugar Ann (a sugar snap variety).
Sowed rocket and mixed salad leaves
Sowed herbs, parsley – French (Plain leaved), lemon coriander and basil – Sweet Genovese
Tomato seedlings raised in propagator potted on – Sebastopol and Sasha Altai
Pricked out Brussels sprouts -
Emptied out earlier sown peas early onward which had rotted away in seed trays, germination was very poor as a result of very cold damp weather. Our green house isn’t heated.
Aubergine, sweet pepper and Brussel sprout seedlings have been damaged – it looks as if a mouse has been at them. We think mouse damage. The surviving aubergine and sweet pepper seedlings have been potted on and moved into a propagator. It has been so cold that they are not growing.
In the propagator
Sowed flower seeds mesembryanthemum – Sparkles Mixed and achillea – Summer Pastels. Some have actually germinated already too
Out and About
Lots of rain again and often it has been quite cold although we have had one or two bouts of sunshine.
Daisies are making an appearance in grassy areas.
The hawthorn bushes are really starting to sprout in the hedgerows and join it the green march towards some sort of spring.
Also noticed some spring lambs in the fields on the way to work.
Also paid a short visit to a local nursery where they were selling off dahlia tubers and Japanese anemones -
Weekend 20 April
On the plot
Too much miserable weather again to do too much but we did manage some more tidying up of beds and more work on the shed to be’s base.
Also dug up some really good carrots – I think they must have kept growing over winter – we left them in the ground and covered them with a thick layer of straw and then popped some environmesh over the straw and it has worked really well. Fresh carrots dug straight from the ground in April – can’t be bad. We probably won’t be able to keep this up too much longer as the tops are now starting to shoot!!
In the garden
Cut back the branches of the garrya that I could get to without disturbing the nesting blackbirds.
The crab apple trees are progressing well and will soon be in full leaf.
The magnolia flowers are really suffering though. I don’t think the display will be as spectacular as usual this year. The flowers that have dared open are rather bedraggled – there again every time that I have gone out to try and garden this week I have come back looking bedraggled too!
In the greenhouse
Transplanted chilli peppers -
In the propagator
We are trying lots of different varieties of tomato this year. In previous years we have just had outdoor tomatoes but last year’s blight has convinced us to grow some in the greenhouse as well this year! Sowed tomato seeds – Tondino di Manduria, Red Siberian, Legend, John Baer, Ailsa Craig (all red varieties), Yellow Perfection (yellow) and Black Crimea (a black tomato?).
Also sowed seeds of Sweet Pepper -
Out and About
The oil seed rape is painting the fields yellow – oh joy!!
The hawthorn hedges are also looking fresh and green which at least goes some way towards compensating for the above.
Weekend 27 April
On the plot
Spring has sprung at last and it is actually pleasant to work on the plot. We continued to clear weeds from some beds and also strimmed the grass. This doesn’t seem to worry the dandelions too much though as they seem to grow new flowers in a few hours.
At last we also managed to plant most of our potatoes – Juliette, Nicola and Charlotte using our labour saving method of course which has served us well now for several years.
We planted some cowslips and bluebells around the plum trees and also some daffodils that we dug up from the middle of one of our paths. We thought that we had dug them all up last year but obviously missed quite a few.
Planted more broad beans – Jade and the strawberry plants (Flamenco, Mae and Marshmello)that we took from runners last year along with a couple of new varieties. We bought some ever bearing ones called Flamenco (I wonder if it really means what it says).
Took some cutting of whitecurrant and blackcurrant – the plants are getting a bit old but the blackcurrants have especially large juicy berries so it is worth having s go at getting them to root whether or not it is the correct time of year.
The cherry that we planted last year is in flower and the kiwis are budding. The blackcurrants, blueberries, red currants and gooseberries are also flowering.
Sowed carrot seed-
We managed to half cover the communal plot with weed suppressant membrane before we ran out of the stuff!
In the garden
Lots of tidying up in anticipation of sitting out on warm days. The lawns were cut for the second time this year. I also cut all the dead leaves from many of our ferns to reveal the shepherd crook like new fronds forming.
We have a plant in our garden that it an absolute menace (I think it is some sort of linaria or toadflax) – it was bought as a tiny alpine some years ago when it looked fairly harmless but since then spreads at an alarming pace. Every tiny bit of root that is left in the ground just romps away. I have been battling with it for years and so far it is winning hands down. I reckon if I stopped pulling as much as I can find of it out, it would take over the entire garden in a matter of a few years.
Planted a tree peony and some cowslips.
One positive thing to come from the poor spring weather is that the camellias seem to be staying in full flower for a lot longer. The magnolia and one of the rhododendrons are now in full flower and the pieris – Forest Flame -
We removed the fleece from the centre of the tree fern but haven’t moved it too far away just in case. The centre of the plant looks fairly healthy so hopefully it will soon produce new fronds. The gunnera too is showing signs that all is not yet lost although the slugs seem to have decided that the arum lily is not going to be allowed to grow this year.
Starlings are gathering bits and pieces of straw and dried garden debris (surprising that they can find anything dry!) to build their nests. We have had a female blackbird who appears to have lost her tail feathers living in the garden. Not sure what has happened for her to lose her tail and initially I was a bit worried as it seemed she couldn’t fly very well, however she seems to have been content to hop around the garden, feed from the bird table and flutter into bushes and trees should the need arise. Now her tail is also showing signs of regrowth so hopefully she will be OK.
In the greenhouse
Planted some strawberries – El Santa -
Pricked out rocket, lettuce – Webbs Wonderful, mixed salad leaves, tomato -
Sowed flower seeds, nemesia -
Sowed vegetable seeds, leeks – Oarsman & Autumn Giant, cabbage – Puma & Kalibos, broccoli -
Repotted some streptocarpus plants – the ones that we have in the house are now flowering.
Potted up sweet peas – Bright & Breezy and Galaxy Mixed
Also potted on some mint taken from one of our herb tubs, some goji berry plants that Joe gave us last year and some apricot plants grown from stones last year. I wonder when we will enjoy our own goji berries and apricots?
Planted the cuttings taken from the whitecurrant and blackcurrant bushes on the plot.
In the propagator
The nemesia seed (dust) that were sown earlier in the week had begun to germinate by the weekend.
The petunia and second lot of mesembryanthemum seed are also spending time in the propagator.
Out and About
The wild cherry trees in the hedgerows are coming into flower and the gorse on the commons is also flowering well now. If you get close enough to it you can detect the faint smell of coconut.
In fact it seems that blossom time has really arrived as many garden and hedgerow trees are in full flower.
The greening up of the countryside is also in full flow. Unfortunately so is the yellowing of the fields.
