{"id":42913,"date":"2026-04-11T11:41:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T10:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ossettweather.com\/gardening2022\/?p=42913"},"modified":"2026-04-13T09:25:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T08:25:26","slug":"april2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ossettweather.com\/gardening2022\/susan\/april2\/","title":{"rendered":"Steady Progress Despite the Fickle Weather"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Last week brought a little bit of everything\u2014sunshine that hinted at summer, followed by a sharp return to colder, windier days. Just enough to keep us gardeners guessing, and the planting plans constantly under review.<\/span><\/p>

In my previous post, I bemoaned the likelihood that we would fail in our plan to follow the tradition of planting our first potatoes over Easter. With Easter Monday being the final day of the holiday, would we manage a last-minute success?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At home and in the garden<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

I finalised the plant list for our new border and have now ordered all the perennials. It proved quite difficult to source everything on the list suggested by Gemini, but after tweaking a few varieties, I managed to find a nursery that could supply the lot.<\/span><\/p>

We couldn\u2019t find the plants locally, so collecting them this week will make for a pleasant afternoon out.<\/span><\/p>

I now need to find a couple of clematis to fit the overall scheme\u2014more on that next week.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At the allotment<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Easter Monday<\/span> \u2014 our last chance to get potatoes in the ground over the Easter period.<\/span><\/p>

We woke to clear blue skies and sunshine, which made us optimistic, although experience told us that could easily change by the afternoon when we planned to head to the allotment.<\/span><\/p>

Thankfully, the weather held\u2014for once\u2014and we set off… with seed potatoes, onion sets, and garlic.<\/span><\/p>

We have plenty of potatoes waiting to be planted, but our aim was simply to make a start by planting four of the varieties we\u2019re trialling this year: <\/span>Harry, Jacky, Caesar,<\/span> and <\/span>Mozart<\/span>. Each year, we grow a selection we haven\u2019t tried before; if a variety performs well, it often earns a place in future plans.<\/span><\/p>

Planting trial potatoes<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>

Planting didn\u2019t take long\u2014I simply dug a hole with a trowel, dropped in a seed potato, and covered it over.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Late frosts often blacken newly emerging shoots. They do recover, but it sets them back, so this year we\u2019re trying to give them some protection by erecting an enviromesh tunnel over the bed. This will be removed once the risk of frost has passed.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After the potatoes, I planted the onion sets and garlic, pushing them into shallow drills filled with multipurpose compost, which we find gives them a good start. This bed was also covered with enviromesh, but unlike the potatoes, this will remain in place to protect against onion fly and allium leaf miner.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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While I was planting, Martyn covered our cherry tree with netting. Without it, wood pigeons would quickly decimate the tree\u2014not just the fruit, but the blossom and young leaves too.<\/span><\/p>

Netting the cherry tree<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tuesday<\/span> could easily have been mistaken for summer. We returned to the allotment in the morning to plant more potatoes\u2014this time <\/span>Ulster Prince<\/span>. The seed potatoes were large, so many were cut in half to make them go further. Each piece needed at least two shoots, and the cut surfaces were left to dry before planting.<\/span><\/p>

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Ruby came along to supervise, although at times her nose was in danger of being planted along with the potatoes.<\/span><\/p>

Ruby helps on the plot<\/a><\/p>

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Thursday<\/span>, we started planting up our new strawberry bed. There are still plenty of plants growing on in the greenhouse that aren\u2019t quite ready to go out yet.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Out and about<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

The green transformation is now gathering pace, helped along by those vibrant blue skies. Suddenly, everything feels alive again.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bluebells are spreading\u2014far more vibrant in real life than any photo ever manages to capture.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Both of the Nostell swans were on the nest. As they take turns incubating the eggs, perhaps we were witnessing a quiet changing of the guard.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ruby had a busy week. After supervising potato planting and enjoying a long afternoon walk, it was time for a shower ahead of her grooming appointment the next day.<\/span><\/p>

Her coat had reached peak fluffiness just as the weather turned into the warmest of the year so far. She was a wonderfully soft bundle, although daily brushing had become quite the task. Ruby doesn\u2019t enjoy showers or grooming in the slightest, but needs must.<\/span><\/p>

After her haircut, she always poses for a photo. This time, she\u2019s a shadow of her former fluffy self\u2014but no less lovable.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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So, despite the weather\u2019s best efforts to keep us guessing, we made more than just a start\u2014proof that even when plans are under review, there\u2019s still plenty to be done and achieved.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Until next time, stay safe and stay well.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week brought a little bit of everything\u2014sunshine that hinted at summer, followed by a sharp return to colder, windier days. Just enough to keep us gardeners guessing, and the planting plans constantly under review. In my previous post, I bemoaned the likelihood that we would fail in our plan to follow the tradition of 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