The diary of two novice gardeners and chicken keepers
Posted in Allotments on Apr 29th, 2010
Tibouchina is a large shrub native to Brazil and can grow to about fifteen feet. I bought this plant from Lidl for £1.99 without knowing a thing about it. I had never come across it before but the flower looked nice and the small plant had the look of a Clematis about it. However, on investigating [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 28th, 2010
I planted twelve little plants from my last Sweet Pea sowing of Spencer Mix and have bought a few more seeds, 50p a packet from Alan Romans, to add to the obelisk. The first to be sown are the Pip Tremewan, named after the breeder. The second are Zorja Rose which I have grown before and saved [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 25th, 2010
I woke up this morning to the sound of rain. We have had a couple of weeks without a drop and have enjoyed rising temperatures and sunshine which have been welcome after the coldest Winter in a decade. Ideally I would want light rain overnight every night followed by dry sunny days but unfortunately nature [...]
Posted in Yoga on Apr 23rd, 2010
Yoga is my latest passion. I have been thinking about trying it for years and done nothing about it but on Mother’s day this year Deb and Sean, my son and his partner, got me all enthused again. Deb has been going twice a week for about a year now and can’t recommend it enough. The lady that I was [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 22nd, 2010
Following the non-germination of my other sweetcorn I have bought some Sweetcorn Northern Extra Sweet to try again. I shall just germinate the kernels by putting them between two pieces of damp kitchen towel then put them directly into the bed on the allotment. They cost nothing as they were free when I bought five packets [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 22nd, 2010
I have sown one seed of cucumber Long White received today from Thompson & Morgan. They cost 68p for 28 seeds. I have now tried all thirty of the Jack Frost and not one germinated so I am trying one of these and hoping for more success. Germination should be 7-10 days. Germination update – through [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 20th, 2010
Wednesday, April 14 – After weeks of reduced activity, Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland erupted beneath its glacier ice cap, which by midmorning was spewing out a substantial stream of steam and ash. By midday the surrounding rivers had risen by 10 ft and a plume of ash had risen through the air to four miles [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 18th, 2010
Jemima, our white Call Duck, is sitting on a nest of fertile eggs so I hope she has some luck this year. This is her second season and last year she only had one surviving duckling. Puddles, her mate is standing guard on top of their hutch and warding off all comers. We only have four [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 18th, 2010
Rob’s first week off is over and we have been very lucky with the weather. Although the lack of rain has meant lots of walking back and forth carrying full watering cans we have been able to get loads done on the plot and at home. Both the brassica tunnel and the new cage are [...]
Posted in Allotments on Apr 16th, 2010
I bought more roses for the garden at home. I am trying to build up a rose bed at the side of the house. I am hoping that they will be duck proof and brighten up a shady part of the garden that already has an old Silver Birch and a fir tree plus two shrubs [...]
