Today was a perfect spring day, the first nice day since last week some time. We have been benighted with wind and rain and have used our time off to improve matters in the (home) garden. We did nip up to the plot last week very quickly to plant six more strawberry plants - Hapil - but as it was so whistlestop we didn't bother recording anything. We also had a quick visit from our friend Mr B who is mightily impressed with the plot.
Whilst garden activity was paramount, we also spent time sorting out the seeds we are planting from home. The broccoli and leek seedlings seem to be OK in the coldframe (now with hinged lid - cool), the peas planted in the gutters are springing up and the onion seedlings were priced out to little peat pots.
We also sowed all sorts of other seeds - tomatoes (3 sorts), basil, parsley, aubergine, courgette, sweetcorn (2 sorts), butternut squash, marigolds (again), sunflowers (ditto) and lettuce. They are snug and warm in new propagators in a new plastic greenhouse thingy nice and handy for the house.
But today was a different matter. We actually sowed seeds in the ground that you, dear reader, have seen being so lovingly tended over the last few cold months. The earth now is a revelation following its uncovering after winter months under plastic - after all the rain and cold, it is now warm crumbly brown soft soil that responds to hoeing and raking. N once more amazed, as he was by the luscious soil our original compost pile became.
In the garlic bed (Bed 1) we added 3 rows of carrots (Flyaway), 4 rows of radishes and 4 rows of salad leaves in between garlic rows. Both garlics are looking good. No vampire trouble for us methinks and who knows, Elephant Garlic might win a prize at the local produce show.
We unveiled Bed 2 and sowed the following - 4 rows Excellenz and 2 rows Kelvedon Wonder peas; 1 row Napoleon onion; 1 row Red baron onion; 2 rows of Harlequin carrots (leaving room for successional sowings). Both beds covered anew with the eco-mesh (bar the Elephants, who can hold their own against birds).In a daring move, 2 small rows of each of the onions was planted in the Pagoda in between the summer raspberries as they are not going to do much at all this first year. N was dubious (nothing new) but I am confident onions and raspberries will get along perfectly well.
Also in the Fruit Cage, our second blueberry bush planted - so they can, err-hm, stimulate each other. Both now sitting comfortably on ericaceous compost.
An inspection of the seedbed revealed a scattering of seedlings which were later identified as broccoli. We have put home-made cloches (bottle tops) over them to give them some protection. Remember this is Ironman broccoli though so it is well-hard innit - it is the first of the seedlings to appear. Nothing yet from the others, nor from the grass seed - we may need to make do with a leisure area of dirt and stones.
Nice chats with our plot neighbours, including Leo the dog who is most friendly. (N adds that there were some remarks questioning the perpendicularity of his Fruit Cage construction. Pshaw - all he cares is that it's still standing.) The ladies are pondering the addition of a greenhouse to their bank, and this makes us consider how to make the most of ours. It already has daffodils, and may be home to our pumpkin crop, perhaps also courgette (zucchini) and anything else rabbits don't eat.We have a new neighbour who is clearing out the plot opposite. We try to offer encouragement. He has lived in the village for 30 years so it goes to show that it is never too late to get into allotmenteering.
We are all geared up for the open meeting in the Falcon on Thursday. And very excited about the real prospect of actually growing things properly now.
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